Exploring GB

These are abandoned miners' cottages can be found at the disused Dinorwic Quarry, in Snowdonia, Wales.

The quarry here, Dinorwic Quarry, closed in 1969, due to industry decline.

Dinorwic Quarry was once the second largest slate quarry in Wales (and thus, the world).

Since its closure, the quarry has become the site of the National Slate Museum and a regular film location.

The abandoned miners' cottages, scattered across the Welsh countryside, bear silent witness to the hardship and resilience of the coal and slate miners who toiled in these harsh environments.

Snowdonia's mining history dates back centuries, with records of mining activities in the area tracing as far back as Roman times.

However, it was during the 18th and 19th centuries that the region saw a significant boom in mining, primarily for coal and slate.

The harsh, mountainous terrain presented numerous challenges to these miners, who constructed simple yet functional cottages to serve as their homes.

The miners' cottages of Snowdonia were built to endure the relentless weather conditions of the region.

These humble abodes were often constructed from local stone and featured slate roofs, echoing the very materials that were extracted from the earth by the miners themselves.

The cottages were small, typically one or two rooms, and lacked many of the comforts we take for granted today.

Life for these miners and their families was anything but easy.

They worked long, gruelling hours, often in dangerous conditions, and their cottages served as a refuge from the unforgiving elements.

An open fire served as the heart of the home, providing warmth and a place to cook food - candlelight and oil lamps offered the only source of light during the long, dark nights.

Families crowded into these small spaces, and every inch of the cottages was put to practical use.

These cottages also tell a story of tight-knit communities, where neighbours relied on each other for support.

The bonds formed in these mining villages were strong, as everyone faced the same challenges and shared the same hopes for a better life.

Today, many of these miners' cottages stand abandoned, bearing the weight of history in their crumbling walls.

As mining operations declined in the 20th century, so did the need for these cottages.

With the migration of workers to more urban areas, the cottages were left behind, their significance fading into memory.

These ruins, while deteriorating, have a haunting allure that attracts explorers, historians, and photographers.

Some have been preserved as historical sites, giving visitors a glimpse into the harsh realities faced by the miners who once called them home.

Others, however, remain hidden and overgrown, providing an atmospheric and eerily beautiful contrast to the stunning natural landscapes that surround them.

If you'd like to learn more, we suggest you visit the National Slate Museum, open daily from 10am.

The National Slate Museum is located in the Victorian workshops built in the shadow of Elidir mountain, site of the vast Dinorwig quarry.

Writing on TripAdvisor, a recent visitor said: “What an absolutely fantastic museum venue. This location is historical, interesting, interactive and free.

”You can easily spend an hour of two here. There is also a nice onsite coffee shop. Even though it is free we have a decent donation (and suggest others do), as places like this can’t stay open without finding.”

Another person added: “Really recommend so much information and love how much stuff is still there. Loved seeing the drive shaft still there powered by the watermill.

”So interesting to see the old tools and how things were made etc. Walk a little further up to the old hospital to see some pretty views from the little bridge.”