Benallt Copper Mine

Industrial archaeology buffs will find plenty to fascinate them at these Victorian copper mine remains, scattered across the hillside above Llanberis. The workings date from the 1860s when copper mining briefly flourished in this corner of Snowdonia before the easier pickings in Chile and Australia made Welsh operations uneconomical.

What's left today are the stone foundations of engine houses, spoil heaps, and sections of tramway that once carried ore down to the valley. It's not a preserved site with interpretation boards - just honest ruins slowly being reclaimed by bracken and sheep. The main engine house is the most substantial survivor, its walls still standing to window height.

Walkers tackling the higher reaches of Snowdon often stumble across these remains without realising their significance. From Caernarfon, it's a proper hike up through rough terrain, so only dedicated industrial heritage enthusiasts or serious walkers should bother. Families would find it heavy going with little reward at the end.

The views back towards the Menai Strait are lovely on a clear day, but you'll get better vistas with less effort elsewhere in the area. If you're staying at one of the nearby sites like Bryn Gloch or the campsites around Llanberis, it makes for a challenging half-day expedition for those who appreciate the region's mining heritage rather than just its natural beauty.