Sygun Copper Mine | Caernarfon | Wales | United Kingdom

Sygun Copper Mine

Sightseeing attraction | Caernarfon | Wales | United Kingdom

Sygun Copper Mine - A Fascinating Journey into Wales' Industrial Past

The Sygun Copper Mine near Caernarfon, Wales, is a historic copper mine that delves deep into the industrial past of the region. It is one of the most significant preserved mines in Wales, offering a fascinating insight into the lives and work of 19th-century miners. Today, it is one of the few disused mines open to visitors, allowing exploration of the original tunnels, impressive underground caves, and sparkling mineral formations.

Historical Background
Mining has a long tradition in Wales, and the Sygun Copper Mine is an important part of this industrial heritage. The copper mine was actively used in the mid-19th century when the demand for copper was high. Copper was a crucial metal for various industries at that time, including shipbuilding, electronics, and coin minting.

During its heyday, the mine was one of the region's most significant sources of copper. Workers extracted the ore under extremely harsh conditions, often underground with simple tools and sparse lighting. After the mine closed in the late 19th century, it fell into obscurity but was restored in the 20th century and made accessible as a historical attraction.

Exploring the Mine
Today, Sygun Copper Mine is a unique visitor destination that allows experiencing the original mining environment. Visitors can explore the narrow, winding tunnels and admire the colorful mineral deposits that have formed over decades.

Highlights of the mine include:
- Underground caves with impressive stalactites and stalagmites formed through natural processes.
- Glittering copper and iron oxide deposits that make the walls shimmer in vibrant red, green, and blue tones.
- Original preserved tunnels and mining passages showing how workers extracted and transported the ore.
- Multimedia presentations illustrating the history of mining, the hard work of miners, and the industrial significance of copper.

A special feature of Sygun Copper Mine is the opportunity for self-guided exploration without guided tours. This gives visitors the freedom to discover the mine at their own pace.

Above-Ground Attractions and Surroundings
In addition to the actual mine, the surroundings of Sygun offer other exciting attractions. The mine is located amidst the beautiful landscape of Snowdonia, one of the most spectacular national parks in Britain.

Possible activities in the area include:
- Hiking and nature exploration: The mine is situated in a picturesque valley with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
- Visiting the nearby village of Beddgelert: This charming Welsh village is known for its legends and idyllic stone bridges.
- Gold panning and treasure hunting: An interactive attraction for children and families focusing on the search for gold and other minerals.
- Exploring relics from the mining past: The area has remnants of old mining machinery and buildings to discover.

Significance for Wales' Industrial Heritage
Sygun Copper Mine is not just a tourist attraction but also an important part of Wales' industrial heritage. It commemorates the hard work of miners and the economic importance of mining to the region.

By restoring the mine, a significant part of Welsh history has been preserved and made accessible for future generations. The combination of historical mining, natural beauty, and interactive elements makes Sygun a crucial educational and experiential site.

Conclusion
Sygun Copper Mine is a fascinating destination for history enthusiasts, nature lovers, and adventurers alike. It offers an exciting blend of underground exploration, industrial heritage, and breathtaking scenery. With its well-preserved tunnels, glittering mineral deposits, and the opportunity for independent exploration, it is a unique attraction in Wales that provides insights into the region's industrial past while offering an unforgettable experience in the spectacular setting of Snowdonia.

Contact details

Web

http://www.syguncoppermine.co.uk/

Phone

+441766549795

Address

Beddgelert

LL55 4NE Caernarfon

Map view

Reviews

337 Reviews

Flugette

19.12.2024

We enjoyed visiting the Sygun Copper Mine and seeing how the mines used to work in times gone by. The mine was full of fun animatronics and figures of miners and the lighting was gave you the feel of what the conditions may have been like when it was a working mine. There are a lot of stairs going up as you start at the bottom of the mine and work your way out to the top, so if stairs aren't your thing, I wouldn't recommend. It was also quite damp in there, so sensible footwear is advised. The shop at the end of the tour was full of nice art work and the such like, but we found it a little to pricey for us.

jane harrop

28.10.2024

Very impressed with Sygun Copper Mine today. Despite the changeable weather our family group were able to enjoy going around the mine, some metal detecting and the playground. The toilet facilities were excellent and the cafe sold delicious, very reasonably priced pasties.

S Soogumbur

28.10.2024

Amazing! Great setup surrounded by stunning scenery.

Tobie Ruddock

16.10.2024

A great location showing the history of the area and the story of the mine. As well as hosting historical and palaeontological artefacts. As a 6'4" person I did have to crouch a lot when navigating the tunnels, glad hard hats are provided!

Darren Eveleigh

06.10.2024

Kids loved this. Went at 10am midweek when there was no one else there, was great. Can slightly agree with some of the other comments that it is perhaps a little over priced, but then again, how many mines do you get to go in? Feels very safe, and the tour is fascinating and humbling.

Anne Woods

02.10.2024

Amazing place to visit. This experience enables you to really understand the hardships people endured, unbelievable. It was claustrophobic at times and the stairs challenging but not all in one go. Places to rest. The hard hats were essential as we had a few bumps along the way. Highly recommended, fantastic history and so important to preserve this.

Steve Gibson

26.09.2024

Charming diversion from a rainy day in North Wales. Very interesting and informative self guided tour, and dog friendly though small dogs might struggle with the steeper steps. Would definitely recommend to all

Charlie Power

08.09.2024

The mines were pretty interesting, the colours are fantastic, however the recommend height for visiting these mines is around 4’8, making the hard hats really quite necessary as you will at some point knock your head. The small museum attached was good, and made a nice start to the adventure. Caught it on a rainy day but it was beautiful nonetheless.

Catherine Edwards

25.08.2024

Lovely little trip to the Sygun Copper Mine. Very interesting self guided tour up and through the mountain. Gives you a good insight into what life would have been like for the miners in such cramped and horendous working conditions. On arrival, head to the visitors' centre to pay and grab your hard hats (you'll need them!). There are a lot of metal steps inside and quite dark passages, so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with mobility issues. They've got a little museum and cafe at the visitors centre to look around. The tour will take about 40-60minutes. You can extend your day by going for walks from the centre and there's a play area for the kids.

Adella Saunders

22.08.2024

We really enjoyed looking around this mine. We spent about an hour there. There are lots of steep metal steps to climb and it’s very wet inside. It was fascinating learning about the history of the miners. A beautiful view at the end and lovely walk down the hill back to the car park.

Richard Whitehead

20.08.2024

Interesting mine, went round it with the dog. Atmospheric and week reconstructed.

C Smith

20.08.2024

Fantastic place to visit but beware the mine has a lot of steep metal stairs

Amber Page

17.08.2024

£40 for a grumpy lazy lad on the desk to mumble, put your helmets on, and do it yourself. A previous visit a few years ago we had a tour guide, that was wonderful, we wanted to share that experience with the kids. We made that experience ourselves. The cafe is non-existent. It's the grumpy lad if you can get him to move and make a cup of tea for an extortionate price. A disappointing experience.

Mary Lou

08.08.2024

Visited today and it was very busy. The tickets are purchased in a small building which also served as the cafe, gift shop and museum. It was a disorganised mess! This small space was packed with a mixture of people who wanted to buy tickets, look in the gift shop and order food to eat in a small seating area. After purchasing your tickets you are directed over to the a corner where you had to fight for a wet, dirty and broken helmet before cleaning and disinfecting it yourself. The staff here looked flustered and I was unfortunate enough to be served by an irritated staff member at the cafe who was abrupt and unfriendly in his manner. Despite the disorganised start, the self guided tour itself was enjoyable, but a little short. Walking through the mine was an interesting experience and the views at the end were stunning! There is an option to walk around the lake after the mine but we left to visit the quaint village of Beddgelert of which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Francis Bell

08.08.2024

We went to visit on a very wet day. The weather didn’t help but it was what it was, an old copper mine. You need to stoop down most of the way through. The different levels make it interesting. I think they could do with some overall improvements. The commentary was very quiet and could hardly hear over children talking. It was also rather slow paced and not very engaging especially for children. There are some mannequins dressed as miners set up in various places. Some of them are really starting to fall apart.

Andrew Worgan

06.08.2024

Stunning location and the self-guided tour was perfect. Really good value, lots to see including some fantastic stalactites and stalagmites, my pictures don't do it justice. Plenty to do above ground too.

Robert BECHOUX

26.07.2024

Très jolie expérience. Une plongée dans l'histoire de Snowdonia.

Emma Mist

24.07.2024

Really interesting place. The mine itself was fun to go into, we went when it was raining but you may get a little wet with any weather due to the water naturally running through the mountain. There are spots throughout the mine that give some information, engaging and good to learn about how it worked. There are steep steps to walk up but not all in one go, would encourage wearing a solid pair of shoes, you get a choice of hard hats before going into the mine. The views at the end coming out of the mine are equally as striking. Plenty of free parking.

Timothy wiseman

15.07.2024

excellent attraction, stunning location! hard hat provided at ticket desk! you go in unsupervised and there are 5 commentary points at various places! lots of steps up to mine top and lots of ducking in various areas! great views of valley as you walk down to shop! nice cafe and gift area! near to Beddgelert, which is a beautiful village! enjoy

Scott Chaussee

12.07.2024

The location is stunning, there was plenty of parking, and it was not busy when we went (early July). The staff in the shop were exceptionally lovely and welcoming. The mine itself is terrific, and a good journey for the ticket price. We didn't partake in the additional activities (metal detecting/panning for minerals) but we did think it was a great set of things to do for kids. Absolutely can 100% recommend it!

win task

11.07.2024

Wasn't expecting it will be located in such lush green and so much scenic area. An atmospheric mine that's very interesting. Ley me make your mind clear that it was a real copper mine so don't dream you'll get lifts, excelators or carpet floor inside. It's real with reality so wear strong footwear and waterproof jacket to keep yourself safe from wet under foot and chilly. To get from the entrance to the top of the mine is 186 steps. So get breaks during stepping up. A cup of tea in the modern cafe was very relaxing after the experience. Beautiful views from the top of the mine even best area for a walk around the mine

Mark Robinson

06.07.2024

Very interesting trip, lovely place

Bee Pugh

28.06.2024

Absolutely amazing experience really gave you a feel of what it was like for the men working in the mine. Joshua in the shop was a great guy and very friendly and informative. A great experience and would recommend to anyone.

Ashley Gregory

22.06.2024

Cracking trip to Sygun Copper Mine. The tour is self guided so you can pace your visit to suit your needs. Worth noting it is dog friendly so the pooches can join you on the overground and underground sections. Ample parking nearby and free.

Beantrotting

17.05.2024

Unfortunately did not manage to visit the mine but thank you for allowing overnight stays in the car park and our kids loved the park. Nice walks as well.

Sarah Danby

02.05.2024

Dont waste your time or money. Its £11 per adult. When we got there the girl on the desk was ignorant and looked like she didn't want to be there. She was on the phone and didn't even acknowledge us. Once we had paid we had to get hard hats that were drenched in water. The experience wasn't the best either. You spend the whole time with your back arched trying not to bash your head. It's just a dark tunnel. I expected more information. You listen to some commentary on the way round but it's hard to hear. There are alot of steep steps. Nowhere did we see anything about not recommend for people with disabilities. This is definitely not for people that struggle with breathing problems. The path leading down after you reach the end of the mine is dangerous and steep. The path is made of stones and large rocks that move and roll when you walk on them. This is definitely not recommended for the elderly, kids or anyone who is unwell.Or anyone that wants to actually do something interesting.

Tycho Verheul

01.05.2024

I paid £32 for a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children). I think that is a lot of money for a lousy tour through this mine.

Rob Henebury

25.04.2024

Went to Sygun mine today and really loved it. Narrow winding passages with drip drip from the roof. Climbing up the iron steps high up inside the workings with commentary by loudspeakers. Not for the claustrophobic but I was in my element, makes you appreciate how hard life was for those miners and families. On site facilities were really great. Cafe shop and toilets. Sygun is a real gem in the mountains.

Michael Reid

15.04.2024

Great exploration. A complete eye-opener. Goes deep inside the mountain. Not for the old or infirm but able bodied adults and children will love it. Oh and unless you are very short, you spend a lot of time ducking. Nice little café Wonderful views and quite an education in the lives of miners.

Matt Schofield

05.04.2024

A great spot to visit on a rainy day in North Wales. We spent about an hour here in total and our kids loved the journey through the caves. The views at the finish of the walk through the caves are great too. Would suggest skipping the coffee shop. Top tip - don't turn off the main road until you see a sign for the copper mine. We followed our Sat Nav and took an unnecessary trip down a tiny country road. The turning to the mine is well signposted from the main road.

Sarah Gale

02.04.2024

Great morning spent here. Kids loved the self guided tour as did us adults. The staff were super friendly and we enjoyed a spot of metal detecting afterwards! There’s a play area out the front and a reasonably priced cafe. We walked from Beddgelert, it’s a lovely walk and continued to the lake, which is beautiful.

Dan

02.04.2024

We have been several times and have loved it every time. A real insight into the mines history.

Jody R

30.03.2024

Visited the mine this week on our holiday break and was greeted by a lovely lady called Kerry. She was so helpful and welcoming and great with my kids. She really made our visit fun and advised of plenty to do and visit in the area. Thank you for improving our easter break.

Halle Wade

26.03.2024

Loved it here! The mine tour was great, it lasted around 45 mins from start to finish. I looked around the museum after going through the mine and was pleasantly surprised, there was an assortment of different pieces, very engaging. The cafe was very reasonably priced. Great experience overall, would definitely go again.

Hannah Ward

02.08.2023

Would definitely recommend! The self guided mine tour is excellent and definitely worth the money. There was 4 of us in total, 2 adults and 2 young children and we all equally enjoyed it. There are commentaries scattered throughout the mine tour giving information on the history of the mine, there is plenty to see whilst doing the tour as well. It took us around 40 minutes from start to finish. We also enjoyed doing the gold panning and metal detecting for only £3 each! The gift shop was wonderful, it was very well stocked and had some beautiful pieces (if you’re into crystals it is a must see). The museum was very interesting to look round and had a variety of different historic finds. Overall very pleased with our experience at the mine and would definitely recommend.