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Rhiw Bach Slate Quarry from Cwm Penmachno

By Dave Roberts   

on February 11, 2012    3/5 (2)

Posted as a walk in – Europe, Low Level and Easier Walks in Snowdonia, Snowdonia National Park, Wales

Rhiw Bach Slate Quarry from Cwm Penmachno

Route Essentials

Route Summary

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

4.31 km

Ascent

230 m

Time

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Difficulty

Easy Walk

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Rhiw Bach Slate Quarry from Cwm Penmachno Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Rhiw Bach Slate Quarry from Cwm Penmachno

Cwm Penmachno is at the upper end of the Machno valley, and built to accommodate the quarrymen for the nearby slate quarries.

The quarrymen even lived higher up the hills, although all that remains of those dwellings are desolate ruins. This walk takes you up into the remote, yet relatively close to civilisation, quarry of Rhiw Bach where the workers and their families lived, complete with a shop, school and chapel, but no pub!

The men, for that was the way in those days, would walk to Blaenau for a few pints on a Saturday night. I bet their walk back home would have been an interesting one! The women would have to do likewise in order to get to the shops at Blaenau. The tramway they would have followed can be walked today if you so chose, though preferably not in the same state as the inebriated quarrymen returning from the Ty Potas on the weekend!

The Route

Click here to view the full description and download a printable route guide and map.

LinkExternal link
  © Copyright Eric Jones and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Route Start Location:

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
4.31 km 230 m

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Easy Walk

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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