Trip to Moel Ferna Mine -- 10th May 2005

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Trip to Moel Ferna Mine -- 10th May 2005

Group: Paul, Dave

We had explored this old slate mine several times in the past, it provides a good reasonably safe trip with no access problems other than the abseil/ladder down/up the airshaft. The mine is composed of galleries on 7 levels, some of these being connected by inclines and others by heaps of loose spoil dumped by the miners as they worked the upper levels. The mine is liberally adorned with direction arrows painted on the walls and floors - any marked 'out' should be viewed with suspicion as the only way out available now is back up the airshaft!

We parked up at the side of the track (SJ 196594). This is as far as you can take a vehicle as a nearby notice bars all vehicles from hill access. Note:The public road leading up to the track is very steep and narrow with few passing places and is also difficult to spot from the A5 being just a gap in a stone wall. The best direction to approach is from Corwen as this allows you an easier swing into the narrow entrance.

The weather was warm and sunny as we set off following the track to the old mine buildings and it was fairly sweaty work with caving gear and ladders. At the back of the buildings is a faint path in the heather which eventually leads to the airshaft and its tree.

When the mine closed all the other entrances was blown it, although it was it was rumoured that way out used to exist from Level 4 over the 'bridge of death'. Modern explorers have to use the air shaft and this involves either ladders or SRT to drop down (and climb back!) the 30' drop. The tree provides a good anchor, and there are a couple of bits of rail in the ground nearby to provide anchors for safety lines. It is not possible to get a very good hang for either ladders or SRT due to the angle of the airshaft, we have used both in the past and stuck to ladders for this trip.
At the shaft bottom were several horizontal passages, most of these are dead ends as they have been blown in where they join the surface. The continuation is via the passage with the metal rails forming a partial grille and this enters level 5 of the mine. After short while another passage joins from the LHS (this also leads nowhere) and the floor becomes wet. A little further on the passage is closed by a wall pierced by a square hole, climb through this and carry onward.

Just beyond this is a 2' square hole on the LHS wall of the passage and the remains of a piece of corrugated iron sheet which covered it. The hole leads to a vertical shaft which drops for a considerable distance! A little further on is a old wooden gate and through this is a small gallery on the RHS containing a fusebox and a sort of slot in the floor.

The way ahead reveals a passage on the LHS which leads to a collection of galleries and a way down to level 4 and the 'bridge of death'. Continuing onward leads to the first incline which connects levels 5 & 6. The winding drum is on the floor between the pillars and there is the remains of an old wagon upside down nearby.

Just before the incline is a passage on the RHS which leads to a set of caverns. These have various artifacts in them including an old pump and some of the original chains and tackle used to load the slate blocks onto wagons

Continuing around the caverns leads to a short scramble down to an interesting wooden structure which has been built to support the roof. There is a massive pile of stone slabs and this is topped with a stack of timber beams. It is not clear why this was built, maybe there is a weakness in the roof or possibly the unsupported span was thought to be too wide. There is no other structure like this elsewhere in the mine - the normal pillar and cavern technique being used.

Returning to the main trek around the caverns leads to the remains of an old winch and an impressive trail of dry rot threads. When we explored the mine a few years ago someone had placed a circle of stones to mark the boundary and prevent disturbance. In the 5 years which have elapsed the threads have spread over 3' further!

Once back to the main passage the LHS side passage described earlier can be taken. This leads to further caverns, however a LHS descent of the spoil heap leads to level 4 where the 'bridge of death' is located. This spans a massive cavern and took the railway line out to the surface. It appears to be reasonably secure with massive chains bolted into the roof, but the floor is a bit dilapidated and you wouldn't want to fall off - its a long way down!

In earlier times it was possible to get out to the surface by crossing the bridge and carrying on down the main passage. Sadly the passage traverses a lot of weak shaly material and the roof has collapsed. There is a lot of loose debris around and quite a bit of 1' thick mud which makes progress difficult.

On return to level 5 the original incline was climbed and then a scramble up a loose rock pile led to level 6 and the well preserved incline between levels 6 & 7. There is also a very well preserved winch and various compressed air pipes and the inevitable strands of dry rot from decaying timbers.

On a nearby wall is evidence of the date of closure

We headed back to the entrance, through the metal bars and climbed back up the shaft. As we were starting back up the shaft a bat which was flying around kept us company and even settled briefly on a tree branch while Paul sorted out the safety rope.

A worthwhile and entertaining trip, about 3 Hours in total