Corris Mine Explorers

Corris Mine Explorers is a visitor attraction and tour operator based at Corris in Gwynedd, Mid Wales, that runs guided underground explorations of the disused Braich Goch slate mine. The business is described as a company that organises tours of disused mines in Mid-Wales, and it presents itself as one of the best family attractions in Wales and a leading activity or experience in the region. Visitors enter through a hidden door in the mountainside and follow in the footsteps of Victorian slate miners, walking through broad tunnels and cavernous chambers where high-quality Welsh slate was once excavated by hand and by explosive before being shipped around the world. The tours are led by mine guides and are marketed both to the general public and to organised groups and schools. The company promotes its underground experience as an educational and adventurous day out, suitable for families and children as an outdoor activity, and as a venue for school history trips. It also offers gift experience vouchers. The attraction has received recognition from the regional tourism industry: it was a finalist in the North Wales Tourism Awards and was named Best Activity / Experience in Mid Wales 2019/20 at the Mid Wales Tourism Awards. It has also been featured on the ITV programme Coast and Country. The experience is built around the industrial heritage of the Braich Goch Slate Mine. Slate mining around Braich Goch began with open-cast pits on the hillside above the Corris Craft Centre around 1800, and from 1836 tunnels were driven into the hillside to reach deeper seams. After difficult early years in which four different companies failed, the opening of the Corris Railway in 1859 and the establishment of the Braich Goch Slate Quarry Co. in 1864 put the mine on a firmer footing. At its height in 1878 the mine employed 250 men and produced 7,000 tons of slab and roofing slate, which was exported worldwide. Rising costs and falling demand caused the company to collapse in 1906, and another six companies worked the mine intermittently until it finally closed in 1970. Seven levels were excavated over the years; Corris Mine Explorers takes visitors through level 5, and part of the lowest level, level 6, is used by the neighbouring King Arthur's Labyrinth attraction, which visitors can look down on during their underground exploration. Corris lies at the southern end of Gwynedd, a county whose slate mining landscapes were recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The mine itself has barely been touched since it was abandoned in the 1970s, which the operator presents as the source of the tour's authentic, immersive character. A small slate mine exhibition at the Corris Craft Centre provides further information for visitors.

Corris Mine Explorers operates tours of the disused Braich Goch Slate Mine at Corris, at the southern end of Gwynedd in Mid Wales. The mine's own history reaches back to around 1800, when the first slate mining around Braich Goch took place in open-cast pits on the hillside above the Corris Craft Centre. From 1836 onwards, tunnels were driven through the hillside to reach the seam of slate deeper in the mountain. The early years were difficult: four different companies failed before the opening of the Corris Railway in 1859 and the establishment of the Braich Goch Slate Quarry Co. in 1864. During its heyday in 1878 the mine employed 250 men and produced 7,000 tons of slab and roofing slate, which was sent all over the world. Rising costs and falling demand saw the company collapse in 1906, after which another six companies worked the mine intermittently until it finally closed in 1970. Over the years, seven different levels of the mine had been excavated. Corris Mine Explorers takes visitors through level 5, while part of the lowest level, level 6, is used by the King Arthur's Labyrinth attraction; visitors look down on that attraction as part of their underground caving exploration. The mine has barely been touched since it was abandoned in the 1970s, and the operator presents this authenticity as central to the experience. Corris lies within Gwynedd, whose slate mining areas have been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and a small slate mine exhibition at the Corris Craft Centre provides further information. As a modern visitor business, Corris Mine Explorers offers year-round explorations for groups and schools, sells gift experience vouchers, and has been recognised by the regional tourism industry: it was a finalist in the North Wales Tourism Awards and was named Best Activity / Experience in Mid Wales 2019/20 at the Mid Wales Tourism Awards. It has also been featured on the ITV programme Coast and Country.

• 2023

  Finalist in the North Wales Tourism Awards.

• 2019

  Named Best Activity / Experience in Mid Wales 2019/20 at the Mid Wales Tourism Awards.

• 1970

  The mine finally closes after being worked intermittently by another six companies.

• 1906

  The Braich Goch Slate Quarry Co. collapses amid rising costs and falling demand.

• 1878

  Heyday of the mine: 250 men employed and 7,000 tons of slab and roofing slate produced, exported worldwide.

• 1864

  The Braich Goch Slate Quarry Co. is established.

• 1859

  The Corris Railway opens, improving transport for the mine.

• 1836

  Tunnels are driven through the hillside to reach the slate seam deeper in the mountain.

• 1800

  First slate mining around Braich Goch begins in open-cast pits on the hillside above the Corris Craft Centre.

Authentic, immersive underground heritage experience marketed as one of the best family attractions and best activities in Mid Wales.

• Guided underground mine exploration tours

• School history trips

• Group explorations

• Gift experience vouchers

1. 1Corris Mine Explorers official websitecorrismineexplorers.co.uk
2. 2History of Braich Goch Slate Minecorrismineexplorers.co.uk
3. 3Corris Mine Explorers on Wikidatawikidata.org