Quarry Explorer

All aboard! onto a military 4 x 4 truck and up, up, up, for a quarryman’s eye view of Blaenau and beyond. Congratulations to Llechwedd on the opening of yet another innovative attraction - Quarry Explorer.

It’s exciting if you go for just the ride and the views but much more so being combined with the history of slate mining. As you are driven around, eight of you either side of a bench on the back of the truck, it is easier to understand the scale of the workings and the hardship endured. It was a tough life and our guide, with a microphone and portable speaker, told us the story.

This new offering costs £20 and lasts about 90 minutes – a wonderful introduction to the world of slate. Full details, including excellent aerial film, on the Llechwedd website.

Downhill and Zip - exciting ways to descend a mountain

There are so many great things to do in Blaenau Ffestiniog and yesterday, Sunday 13^th July, was a perfect opportunity to see people getting their adrenaline fixes; it was the weekend of the DH-Ffest organised by Antur Stiniog. I thought DH would stand for Down Hill but I’m told it’s Drum House, where the cables were wound round, lifting and lowering slate wagons up and down the mountain.

This is what it looked like at the top of the mountain:

The uplift road built for the downhill bikers is now also used by Zip World, getting people to the start of the first of three quadruple zip wires. The first leg is almost a kilometre and the red-suited riders are tiny spots in the distance by the time they reach the end.

If you fancy something as exciting but a little less scary why not try Bounce Below? A tram ride inside the mountain to a slate cavern with a triple-decker trampoline. The highest level is 80 feet above the floor! Walkways and slides lead between the levels with strobe and other lighting effects adding to the atmosphere. 

Next door is another cavern which will be developed this winter into Zip Below; a series of four zip wires reached by via ferrata (Italian for iron road).

Blaenau’s got to be the coolest place for seekers of thrill.

Bounce Below

A triple decker of trampolines inside a cavernous slate chamber; it has to be experienced to be believed. I stepped onto the middle deck some 60 feet above the floor and my 60 years felt like 6. Falling over was effortless and so too the laughs that followed. Getting from one end to the other was a piece of cake with Neil Armstrong type moonwalk strides. Pretty soon and despite the constant year round temperature of 8°C I was sweating from the exertion and nervous excitement.

From here it was up the netting gangway to the top deck 20 feet above. No steps but as you walked upwards, the side netting closed in on you, keeping you safe and secure. Slight tinges of vertigo as lighting revealed how high we were. Then down the slide, so steep at first but quick deceleration through the net tunnel.

This is going to be a smash hit with visitors. Something for everyone from aged 7 upwards; a train ride through the mountain then bounce to your heart’s content. The capacity of the cavern is up to 100 people at a time with as many as 60 on the middle trampoline.  Introductory offer is £15 for a 60 minute session. Further details at www.bouncebelow.net

Zippedy doo daa!

Hazel and Dave take the zip

During our week's stay at Campbell’s Cottage, we noticed in the Guardian that a new attraction had just opened the week before at Llechwedd Slate Caverns near Blaenau Ffestiniog.  A company called Zip World has built a series of zip wires over the slate mines.

As it was only a short distance away from the cottage and I love doing new challenges, this was a great opportunity.  My partner, Dave, was not bothered but when we got there I was pleased that he decided to join in.  Unfortunately, the rain that began as drizzle when we left, changed to the heaviest downpour of our holiday and we spent a few minutes deciding whether to leave it for another time.  However, we were encouraged by the staff to ‘go for it’ and as we were both psyched up for this experience, we decided to do just that.

After we were introduced to the instructors, eight of us were kitted out with orange flying suits, harnesses, helmets, goggles and most importantly, the trolley. This piece of equipment would be attached to each of the three zip wires as we got to them. There were three levels, the first being the longest but slowest, the second the fastest and the last brought us back to earth.

After we boarded the bus which took us to the highest point, we walked with our instructors to the first of the zips.  Each run had four zip wires so you were not on your own. We decided amongst us who was going to be in the first four and then each chose a lane. We were hooked up and our straps tightened.  Not being a lover of heights, I felt quite apprehensive at this point!  A cry of “three, two, one” - then the gates opened and we were off into oblivion!

Wow! Initially, we couldn’t see a thing as we went headlong into cloud which was an incredible feeling but as we dropped lower and the clouds disappeared, the vista of Snowdonia became apparent and there was time to take in the whole panorama.  As there was a headwind, some of us didn’t quite make it to the end on the first run and I had to be rescued by means of a rope!  There was then a short walk to the second run which was shorter but much faster.  In fact, I was told that you went even faster if you rolled into a ball which I did but then a scary moment when I didn’t think I was going to stop but, of course, I did with the help of the brilliant mechanism.  The third zip was just as exciting and by then we felt confident enough to race each other. Dave even managed to get a movie with his iPhone! - see below.

After a short walk back to the cabin, we disposed of our gear and thence to the lovely café for a drink and hot food.

In all, I felt safe and secure and completely trusted the staff and instructors with what was a memorable experience. It wasn’t as scary as I thought, the camaraderie was great and I would definitely recommend it in any weather.

Whilst at Llechwedd, the slate caverns and accompanying workshops are well worth a visit and a new attraction called “Bounce Below“ which was featured on a recent episode of Countryfile, is soon to be opening.  There are also downhill mountain bike trails for the experienced.

Just to clarify that at Zip World Titan at Llechwedd there are three zips and you sit in a comfortable armchair position. You ride at about 50mph – 60mph and it is the largest zip zone in Europe.

This isn’t to be confused with the same company’s Zip World Velocity at Bethesda which is the one where you are lying in a prone position. This is the longest and fastest in Europe but only has one zip wire.

To avoid disappointment, we recommend booking in advance if you can. [Many thanks to Hazel and Dave for this contribution to the Campbell's Cottage blogspot]

Art on the line

Howard Bowcott

It’s not unusual when friends come to stay to take a walk to the pub. But with it being so hot, and someone’s ankle playing up, we chose the easy option; a down train to Tan y Bwlch then an open carriage to Blaenau. Newspapers bought we admired the new sculptures. Howard, the artist, was experimenting with finishes to bring out the colour and texture of the slate. The Queen’s Hotel, newly painted and renamed Ty Orsaf, is looking smart and recruiting staff. I heard the downhill biking above Llechwedd was sold out for the second weekend in a row. The times they are a changing. Back on the train, coasting down to Campbell’s Platform, with a bottle of Purple Moose ... so much more than a walk to the pub.