Tirwedd Llechi Gogledd Orllewin Cymru / The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales
Yesterday it was announced that the bid for assigning World Heritage status to slate quarrying areas of Eryri / Snowdonia was successful. This means that the area is acknowledged as an important cultural landscape. In the 19th century these quarries “roofed the world”.
Here is the official Web site:
Of course I mention it here because you can enjoy the heritage whilst also enjoying a SOTA activation or two. Here’s their map, but with the SOTAs added:
Base map ©Crown copyright 2021 Ordnance Survey. Media 018/21
You’ll note a lot of linear features, which are of course the pioneering railways, serving to export slate from the quarries, such as the Ffestiniog (GW/NW-016 and GW/NW-025 - cross over the remains of Rhosydd and Cwmorthin quarries and more besides) and, to the south, the Talyllyn serving Bryn-Eglwys quarry (GW/NW-033 and GW/NW-036).
Two of my favourites are actually the Prince of Wales and Gorseddau quarries. These sit either side of Moel Hebog (GW/NW-014) towards, respectively, GW/NW-024 and GW/NW-045.
Among the many good video presentations for the heritage bid is this one for that area:
If you’ve activated in GW/NW you’ve likely tripped over bits of heritage already. I hope the new status will improve access, aid interpretation and help preserve the artefacts. They are so full of history – the industry, its effect on the rural landscape, the people, especially the workers at the command of the aristocratic owners.
