Hill forts · North Wales
Dinorwic Quarry
Also known as: Chwarel Dinorwig, Cairéal Dinorwig, Mengleudh Dinorwik
In or near Q1638504.
Dinorwic Quarry — large former slate quarry near Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales and World Heritage Site.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1 h–2 h
- Nearest railway station
- Gilfach Ddu · 1.3 km
- Free entry
- Dog-friendly
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Dinorwic Quarry, the nearest railway station is Gilfach Ddu, located 1.3 km away. Entry is free, and the postcode for sat-nav is LL55 3EU.
About
Dinorwic Quarry is a hill fort in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1787. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Wikidata describes it as: "large former slate quarry near Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales and World Heritage Site.". Coordinates: 53.1231°, -4.0960°.
Photo gallery
360° viewimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
From the Wikipedia article
Dinorwic quarry ( din-OR-wig; Welsh: [dɪˈnɔrwɪɡ]; also known as Dinorwig quarry) is a large former slate quarry, now home to the Welsh National Slate Museum, located between the villages of Llanberis and Dinorwig (formerly Dinorwic) in Wales. At its height at the start of the 20th century, it was the second largest slate quarry in Wales (and thus, the world), after the neighbouring Penrhyn quarry near Bethesda. Dinorwic covered 700 acres (283 ha) consisting of two main quarry sections with 20 galleries in each. Extensive internal tramway systems connected the quarries using inclines to transport slate between galleries. Since its closure in 1969, the quarry has become the site of the National Slate Museum, a regular film location, hiking location, and an extreme rock climbing destination.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The first commercial attempts at slate mining took place in 1787 when a private partnership obtained a lease from the landowner, Assheton Smith. Although this was met with moderate success, the outbreak of war with France, taxes, and transportation costs limited the development of the quarry. A new business partnership led by Assheton Smith was formed on the expiry of the lease in 1809 and the business boomed after the construction of a horse-drawn tramway to Port Dinorwic in 1824. At its peak in the late 19th century, "when it was producing an annual outcome of 100,000 tonnes", Dinorwic employed more than 3,000 men and was the second-largest opencast slate producer in the country. Although…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 53.1231, -4.0960
- District
- Gwynedd
- Parish
- Llanddeiniolen
- Postcode
- LL55 3EU
- Parliamentary constituency
- Dwyfor Meirionnydd
- Established
- 1787
- Nearest railway station
- Gilfach Ddu — 1.3 km
Sources
- wikidata: Q1226688 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Dinorwic quarry (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Chwarel Dinorwig World Heritage Site, from a drone 02.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Dinorwic Quarry?
- Dinorwic Quarry is in North Wales, United Kingdom (postcode LL55 3EU), in the parish of Llanddeiniolen.
- What is Dinorwic Quarry?
- Dinorwic Quarry — large former slate quarry near Llanberis, Gwynedd, Wales and World Heritage Site.
- How do I get to Dinorwic Quarry?
- The nearest railway station is Gilfach Ddu, about 1.3 km away. Drivers can use postcode LL55 3EU.
- When was Dinorwic Quarry built?
- Built or established in 1787.
- Is Dinorwic Quarry a listed building?
- Dinorwic Quarry is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Is Dinorwic Quarry free to visit?
- Yes, Dinorwic Quarry is free to enter.
- How do I get to Dinorwic Quarry?
- The nearest railway station is Gilfach Ddu, about 1.3 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode LL55 3EU.