The Miners and PYG Tracks
At the top of the PYG Track it meets the Llanberis Path and, at this point you turn left and follow the track to be at the top in about 10 minutes. We decided to come back down the PYG Track to Pen-y-Pass taking one last glance back towards Snowdon and what was a fantastic and interesting walk.
The Walk
The following description was taken from, and colour pictures were provided by, David Knockton (Walks and Walking.com) and are reproduced with permission.
The start of the walk
Frozen Lake at Llyn Glaslyn
Old Mine Buildings
View back down to Llyn Glaslyn
Snowdon from Pyg Track
Brittania Copper Mine
Thanks to Craig Southwick for this picture taken from the Miners Track, October 2010
Although there are rumours, but no confirmed evidence, that mining may have started here under the Romans, the first recorded mine here was in the early 1800's. During the mid 18th century demand for copper began to rise, and it people though it would be worthwhile to take it out of the ground - one such use was for copper bottomed warships. But no one ever got rich taking copper from Snowdon as the costs of extracting and transporting the ore ate into any profits.
The mine is located at Cwn Dyli, and its ruined crushing mill can be found on the shore of Llyn Llydaw. There was a storehouse for the ore at at Pen-y-Pass, and the Pyg Track is thought to be the route the miners took the ore to the store to be dressed.
The mine was worked intermittently, but not very successfully for just over a century, and many lost large sums or money or went bankrupt despite large amounts being invested in various ventures. Although known mainly as the Great Snowdon Copper Mine or Brittainia Copper Mine, the Brittania company owned it from 1898, but sold it to the Penypass Copper Company in 1915 - and then it closed the year later in 1916. In all seven companies tried their luck over 100 years.
Most of the buildings date from the latter half of the 19th Century - a barracks was built to house 100 men beside the lake which gives an idea of the scale the mine was worked on. Of the buildings that stand today the most obvious is the crushing mill beside Llyn Llydaw - a manager's house originally stood beside it.
Originally a men, horses and carts used to cross Llyn Llydaw by raft, but in the mid 1800s the level of lake was lowered to build a causeway across the lake. This was prompted when a raft overturned - the horse drowned and a cartload of ore sunk to the bottom of the lake. Even the causeway wasn't quite safe enough - the postman for the mine (a retired naval rating living at Pen-y-Pass was apparently blown off the causeway and drowned in a strong gale. The causeway taken by walkers is not at the original level, but was raised in 1905 when the North Wales Power Company put in sluice gates to raise the water level.
Although a lovely blue colour, there is hardly any life in the deep water as a result of contamination from the shafts and workings of the old copper mines. But if your of a romantic mind stop for a moment at look at the lake - it's also where the legendary King Arthur came across the Lady of the Lake
Exploring the Mine
WARNING:
Remember mine exploration should not be undertaken without the right safety equipment, footwear and clothing. Old timbers are rotten and likely to snap underfoot. If you are going to explore the mine go with someone who has experience, and make sure someone knows where you are going, and what time you plan to return - a minor accident underground can have dire consequences, and it's very possible that you might get lost if your torch runs out of batteryAsk at a local tourist office for details about recognised Caving Instructors/outdoor centres, who can provide basic equipment and guide you on an underground trip
Some of the 8 levels remain, together with the remains of the Britannia mill Extensive workings can be found on several levels with interconnecting stopes. Some of the upper levels are now blocked, but it is still possible to pass from the top levels through to the bottom. However, most of the woodwork has obviously seen better days, and should be regarded with great care.
The YouTube video below shows what it's like to explore inside the Brittania Mine
If you're thinking of taking the Miners or the PYG Track up Mount Snowden this page gives you a walker's experience of the route in Spring.
This walk in particular gives many sights of old mine workings, so you may find it interesting to know a little more about the mine.
This walk in particular gives many sights of old mine workings, so you may find it interesting to know a little more about the mine.
As you walk up the Miners Track evidence of mining can be seen around you. You are walking these tracks for fun, but the miners before you had another reason for walking up to the summit of Snowdon. Long before the roads were built copper ore still had to be taken from the mine to the sea - with initially no roads taking them round, miners had to carry the ore over the top of the mountain, and then use sledges to take it down the other side. If you start getting out of breath on your walk, just think about how much harder it would be to climb carrying the heavy ore with you, and spare a thought for those long ago miners!
Describes Walk Up Miners Track and Back Down Pyg Track
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And if you're not brave enough to explore inside the mine yourself, the link to the youtube video at the bottom of the page gives you a great taste of what it's like inside the copper mines of Snowdon.
Click the links on the right to go straight to the section of most interest.
Click the links on the right to go straight to the section of most interest.
We started our day driving up to the Youth Hostel at Pen-y-Pass, Gwynedd. It was a beautiful morning with clear blue skies. We were suitably equipped for our walk in sensible walking boots and clothes, and invaluable walking poles. We carried rucksacks with our lunch and extra clothing inside, and thus the walk began.
Pen-y-Gwryd was breathtaking - the lake looked like a sheet of glass and we had to stop to take a picture.
At Pen-y-pass we made the decision to take the Miners Track up to the summit of Snowdon, and then come back via the PYG Track. This way we would get some good views of the lakes of Llyn Llydaw and Llyn Gaslyn. We therefore turned left to start our 8 mile long walk which would pass through some outstanding scenery.
The Miners Track starts as a mostly paved track up to the mine ruins. We could have turned right at this point to join the PYG Track, but decided to stop to take loads of photos of the frozen lake that just begged to be photographed.
Pen-y-Gwryd was breathtaking - the lake looked like a sheet of glass and we had to stop to take a picture.
At Pen-y-pass we made the decision to take the Miners Track up to the summit of Snowdon, and then come back via the PYG Track. This way we would get some good views of the lakes of Llyn Llydaw and Llyn Gaslyn. We therefore turned left to start our 8 mile long walk which would pass through some outstanding scenery.
The Miners Track starts as a mostly paved track up to the mine ruins. We could have turned right at this point to join the PYG Track, but decided to stop to take loads of photos of the frozen lake that just begged to be photographed.
The Britannia Copper Mines were worked up until 1917, and the track was built during the 1800s to serve the mine. The track still resembles the road that Mine Manager Arthur Lockwood used to drive his car to Llyn Glaslyn. After the mine the path gets steeper, and we followed some other walkers up to the summit via a steep and snowy path.
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