Dinorwic Quarry Walk
This walk explores the fascinating old Dinorwic Slate Quarry in Llanberis. At one time the quarry was the second largest slate quarry in the world, after the nearby Penrhyn quarry at Bethesda.
The site is now home to the National Slate Museum, covering more than 700 acres (283 ha) consisting of two main quarry sections with 20 galleries in each. The site is a fine place to explore on foot with towering walls of slate backed the mountains of Snowdonia.
The walk starts from Dinowic parking area at the western end of the site, just above Llyn Padarn. From here you can pick up the village tramway trail and follow it south east across the quarries towards Nant Peris. Around here you can pick up trails along Llyn Peris before heading back to the car park.
Postcode
LL55 3EU - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsDinorwic Quarry Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Dinorwic Quarry Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Dinorwic Quarry OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Dinorwic Quarry Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The site is part of the wider Padarn Country Park where you can also enjoy the Llanberis Lake Walk and the Llanberis Waterfall Walk.
The quarry is one of the significant sites on the Snowdonia Slate Trail which runs through the area. The circular long distance trail can be used to visit several of the other historic mining areas located in the World Heritage Site. Heading north along the trail would take you to Bethesda where you could visit the Penrhyn Quarry which was the largest slate quarry in the world during the 19th century. Heading south along the trail would take you to Dorothea Quarry where you'll find the remains of the old mining houses and a series of scenic lakes including Llyn Nantlle Uchaf.
The Llyn Peris Walk takes you up the steep zig zag path at the northern end of the lake. There are some fabulous views down to the lake from this elevated position.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Snowdonia Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Disused Quarry Barracks, Dinorwig Quarries. A row of roofless quarrymen's barracks in the Dinorwig Quarries.
The exposed slate surfaces, spoil heaps, and weathered rock faces have become a haven for a range of specialised flora, including hardy lichens and mosses that cling tenaciously to the bare stone, as well as pioneer vascular plants like saxifrages and cushion-forming species that thrive in the crevices. The extreme conditions of acidic, low-nutrient soils and an exposed microclimate foster these rare botanical communities, creating a striking contrast against the remnants of its industrial past.
The north-eastern section of the vast Dinorwig Quarry, which once employed 3000 workers.
In addition to its botanical treasures, Dinorwic Quarry supports a diverse assemblage of fauna that has adapted to its rugged environment. The rocky fissures and slate surfaces are teeming with invertebrates—various beetles, spiders, and other arthropods find refuge in the crevices—while the steep quarry walls occasionally provide nesting sites for birds of prey such as kestrels and peregrine falcons. Smaller birds, including choughs and skylarks, are often seen flitting across the open spaces, and small mammals like voles and shrews manage to eke out an existence in the sheltered corners of the disused workings.
Air compressor, Ponc Australia. This shed contains this Ingersoll Rand motor driven compressor and a Tilghman compressor. More than one book has made the mistake of caling this a steam engine. The motor has been smashed for the windings.
Quarry Inscription. Stone placed above the doorway to commemorate the visit of T.R.H Duke & Duchess of York, April 27 1899, to the site.
Beyond its ecological significance, Dinorwic Quarry is also of considerable historical and industrial interest. Once one of the largest slate quarries in Wales, it played a pivotal role in the region’s slate industry, leaving behind an enduring legacy of impressive stone structures and quarrying infrastructure. Today, the dramatic and almost otherworldly landscape not only draws nature enthusiasts but also serves as a poignant reminder of the quarrymen who laboured here. The juxtaposition of the stark, engineered past with the vibrant, resilient natural regrowth makes Dinorwic Quarry a fascinating destination for those interested in both industrial heritage and the power of natural reclamation.
Victoria Slate Quarry at dusk
Railway Carriage Shed at Stabla. This building dates from 1895 and was used to house passenger carriages for the Dinorwig Quarry line. These were used, morning and evening, to transport men to their work and back. The line ceased operating in the early 1960s. During the past decade the shed was used for stabling horses and donkeys, but, in August 2006, it was gutted by fire. The railway line ran along the now grassed area parallel with the building and was separated from the adjoining road by a slate fence.
Capel Jerusalem with Dinorwig Quarries in the background
The Dinorwig Tramway Bridge at Clwt y Bont. The tramway crossed the Afon Caledffrwd at Clwt y Bont. The main axis of this once separate village, long since merged with Deiniolen, follows the line of the old tramway. The bridge is built of waste slate.