Cambria Sports Culture CIC Cymraeg

All walksEryri: Yr Wyddfa and Llanberis

Eryri: Yr Wyddfa and Llanberis

Dinorwig Quarry Terraces

Up through the terraces of what was once the second largest slate quarry in the world, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and largely silent.

Distance
3.1 mi / 5 km
Time
2 hr
Ascent
280 m
Difficulty
Demanding
Shape
Circular

Where it is

The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.

The route

Waymarked paths climb from the museum through the quarry levels past the barracks and inclines, returning by the woodland.

Worth knowing

  • Stay on the waymarked routes. The quarry levels are unstable and the drops are unfenced.
  • The barracks where quarrymen lodged during the week are still standing on the upper levels.
  • The museum at the bottom is free and covers the industry well.

What you’ll see

Quarry terraces and inclines, the workers’ barracks, and Llyn Peris below.

Background

Dinorwig employed around three thousand men at its peak and closed in 1969. The Welsh slate landscape became a World Heritage Site in 2021.