Introduction
I didn’t intend writing a blog during a short stay with Cal in Anglesey, but this short morning walk, and this afternoon’s rain have inspired me!
Parys Mountain isn’t really a mountain, being only about 340 feet high. It’s just off the A5025, and we parked in a layby just north of Pensarn. It is a disused copper mine.
The walk is about 2.5 miles and took a leisurely hour and a half.
A5025 To Pearl Engine House
It was a pleasant walk down a farm track from the main road. However, there was a house where they kept 4 bouncy and barky full size poodles who took us by surprise.
From here we entered the site, faced with a warning notice.
At a junction of tracks we followed a green sign, which took us up to the landmark Pearl Engine House.
Here, an information board showed the routes around the site. We had joined at point 7. Our route would take us up to the summit at point 9, then down over a bridge between The Great opencast and Hillside Opencast to near point 3, returning via 4, 5 and 6.
The engine house chimney has been rebuilt and is a grand sight.
On To The Windmill At the Summit
This is such a strange environment. There are no trees, and the abundant heather is almost the only plant life.
It’s just a short walk to arrive at the widely visible summit windmill. The windmill was used to supplement the work of a steam engine to pump water out of the mines. The deepest mines were well below sea level.
Of course, the mountain top also boasts a trig point.
The Open Cast Mines
Our route ran down to a wooden bridge across a narrow landbridge between the two massive open cast mines. The photographs don’t do justice to either the vastness or terrain of the mines. The Great Opencast is probably 300m long, and just incredibly deep!
Looking east, Hillside Opencast has massive rocky outcrops and the rocks are surpringly varied in colour.
The view back up Hillside to the wooden bridge is like a film set!
From here, it’s not far till we rejoin our outward route and return to the car.
So, just a short walk, but unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been, and despite the obvious dangers, it’s surprisingly accessible. Well worth a visit!
And Finally….
A walk up a mountain where they could film a western requires……
Theme For An Imaginary Western, by Mountain, of course!
I’ve been there when staying close to it and its was deserted. There is some great industrial remains on the North coast at Porth Wen with a difficult scramble down to the ruins
Thanks Chris. We’re back home now, so Porth Wen will have to wait till next time!
Amazing landscape as you’ve said Graham. Walked it one afternoon when we were on Yns Mon without the kids for a weekend.
Sadly it looks like the caravan is to be sold now after 7 enjoyable years. Oh how I will miss the Island, so close to my heart.
Thanks Matt. You’ll all have amazing memories from those 7 years, and of course you can still visit the island. We stayed in a lovely “couples only” Airbnb for 2.
Hi Graham, Caroline,
Wales has much to offer in the way of walks and Lanscape. An opencast mine has its own industrial beauty. Warning signs of the nature you encountered are not to be taken lightly as people do disappear into old mine shafts & other holes. I think the dog incident is just people behaving badly. The building looked like a pump house, if so, there will be deep mines in that vicinity. Glad to see you two enjoying time together.
Paul & Jill
Thanks folks, it certainly is an interesting and, yes, dangerous place!