Dinorwic Quarry Walk

4 miles (6.5 km)

Walk Report Ian Jones
Dinorwic Quarry is one of my favourite walks around Llanberis, mainly because there is so much to discover as you make your way through the old workings. The huge slate galleries, abandoned buildings, old tramways and dramatic mountain scenery give the walk a completely different character from a normal countryside route, and there always seems to be another interesting piece of quarry history around the next corner. I did the walk on a clear day, which really brought out the scale of the landscape. The exposed slate, enormous spoil heaps and towering quarry walls looked particularly impressive with the mountains rising behind them. It was also interesting to see how much vegetation has gradually returned to the old workings, with mosses, lichens and plants finding a foothold in places that initially look almost impossible for anything to grow.
The walk starts from the Dinorwic parking area above Llyn Padarn, where the old village tramway provides an interesting introduction to the quarry. From here the route heads across the workings towards Nant Peris, following paths that once formed part of the infrastructure used to move slate around this enormous industrial site. It doesn't take long before the remains of the quarry buildings start appearing, with roofless structures and old machinery scattered among the slate.

One of the things I found most fascinating was coming across the old quarrymen's barracks. These buildings were used by men who lived too far away to travel home each night, and the cramped stone cottages give you a real impression of what working life here must have been like. Walking between the derelict walls, with the mountains rising behind them, it was easy to imagine the place when thousands of quarrymen would have been working here.
Further into the quarry the path crosses the old workings and climbs among the slate heaps, where there are some excellent viewpoints. Looking back across the quarry really brings home its enormous scale. Row after row of galleries have been carved into the mountainside, while old tracks, buildings and quarry structures can still be picked out across the landscape. I stopped several times to take photographs, as the views towards the mountains and Llyn Peris were particularly impressive.

There is something quite remarkable about seeing nature gradually reclaiming such a heavily worked landscape. Trees and shrubs have established themselves among the slate, while mosses, lichens and small plants grow in cracks and on the spoil heaps. The contrast between the stark industrial remains and the greenery returning to the quarry makes this much more than a walk around some old ruins.
The route eventually brings you back towards the lakes, with the scenery opening out around Padarn Country Park. It's worth taking your time around this section, as there are some excellent views across the water and back towards the quarry. The nearby Llanberis Lake and Llanberis Waterfall walks provide good options if you want to explore more of the area.
Dinorwic was once the second largest slate quarry in the world, after nearby Penrhyn Quarry at Bethesda, and the sheer size of the surviving workings makes it easy to understand why. I found it fascinating to see how the quarry has changed from a hugely important industrial site into a wild and atmospheric landscape. If you want to explore further, the Marchlyn Mawr walk takes you higher into the surrounding mountains and provides another perspective on this remarkable slate landscape.
The site is part of the wider Padarn Country Park where you can also enjoy the Llanberis Lake Walk and the Llanberis Waterfall Walk.
Other Local Ideas
The quarry is also one of the key sites on the Snowdonia Slate Trail, a circular long-distance route which links many of the historic slate and mining landscapes within the World Heritage Site. If you wanted to explore more of this fascinating industrial heritage, heading north along the trail takes you towards Bethesda and the vast Penrhyn Quarry, which was the world's largest slate quarry during the 19th century. Heading south takes you to Dorothea Quarry, where the remains of the old mining community sit alongside a series of scenic lakes, including Llyn Nantlle Uchaf.

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Nearby Routes

Llanberis Lake Llanberis Waterfall Padarn Country Park Bethesda Llyn Peris Marchlyn Mawr

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