Bugeilyn

The lake lies in a shallow depression in a moorland plateau. It is separated from the craggy head of Cwm Dulas Link only by a 200m wide and less than 10m high strip of slightly higher ground, seen on the right at the back in this image.

The view from Mynydd Esgairfochnant takes in Glaslyn in the foreground and the Cadair Idris ridge around SH7113 at the back. In between, yet out of sight, is Machynlleth in Dyffryn Dyfi.

The crater in the foreground is one of the engine shafts, which has been backfilled after operations ceased. To the left are the remnants of the engine house, which had a gap Link on the side facing the shaft for the rope to pass through. The Nant Ddu passes through the gap between the engine house and the spoil tip at the back. The shaft Link , engine house Link and spoil tip Link all have individual entries in the Coflein database. Cyfartha mine is also known as Nantddu mine since most of its buildings are located in the valley of the Nant Ddu. Mine operations at Cyfartha lasted from 1842 to 1881. The ore was mined mostly for its lead and copper content. Cyfartha was an underground mine, with access to the levels through a number of shafts. Power was generated using two water wheels and a horse-powered whim. The water feeding the wheels came mainly from the Nant Ddu, supplemented by a long leat abstracting water from the Nant Goch about a kilometre to the north. Since the water wheels are located lower than the openings of the engine shafts, power was transmitted using a flatrod system, i.e. a series of linked iron rods moving backwards and forwards as the wheel turns (see Wikipedia article on Eylesbarrow mine in Devon Link for details of the mechanism). For a detailed description of the mine, see Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust Link . Cyfartha mine as a whole is listed in the Coflein database Link .

This image shows the gap in the side of the engine house Link through which the rope would have passed down into the shaft (now backfilled) in the foreground. The engine house Link and shaft Link are listed on the Coflein database. Cyfartha mine is also known as Nantddu mine since most of its buildings are located in the valley of the Nant Ddu. Mine operations at Cyfartha lasted from 1842 to 1881. The ore was mined mostly for its lead and copper content. Cyfartha was an underground mine, with access to the levels through a number of shafts. Power was generated using two water wheels and a horse-powered whim. The water feeding the wheels came mainly from the Nant Ddu, supplemented by a long leat abstracting water from the Nant Goch about a kilometre to the north. Since the water wheels are located lower than the openings of the engine shafts, power was transmitted using a flatrod system, i.e. a series of linked iron rods moving backwards and forwards as the wheel turns (see Wikipedia article on Eylesbarrow mine in Devon Link for details of the mechanism). For a detailed description of the mine, see Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust Link . Cyfartha mine as a whole is listed in the Coflein database Link .

The view follows the Nant Ddu as it runs through the surface structures of Cyfartha mine. The photograph was taken from a spoil tip just west of one of the engine shafts. Another spoil tip can be seen on the right, on the other side of the Nant Ddu. The ruined building on the left is the engine house Link , which would have housed a pulley system carrying a rope down the shaft Link . The shaft itself (now backfilled) is between the camera and the engine house, in the depression beyond the grassy patch on the left. The building in the middle distance is a wheel pit Link which once housed a water wheel driven by the Nant Ddu. The engine house was supplied with mechanical power from this wheel pit using a flatrod system. The engine house Link , shaft Link , spoil tip Link and wheel pit Link are all listed individually on the Coflein database. Cyfartha mine is also known as Nantddu mine since most of its buildings are located in the valley of the Nant Ddu. Mine operations at Cyfartha lasted from 1842 to 1881. The ore was mined mostly for its lead and copper content. Cyfartha was an underground mine, with access to the levels through a number of shafts. Power was generated using two water wheels and a horse-powered whim. The water feeding the wheels came mainly from the Nant Ddu, supplemented by a long leat abstracting water from the Nant Goch about a kilometre to the north. Since the water wheels are located lower than the openings of the engine shafts, power was transmitted using a flatrod system, i.e. a series of linked iron rods moving backwards and forwards as the wheel turns (see Wikipedia article on Eylesbarrow mine in Devon Link for details of the mechanism). For a detailed description of the mine, see Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust Link . Cyfartha mine as a whole is listed in the Coflein database Link .

This structure once housed a water wheel, driven by water taken from the Nant Ddu (and supplemented by a leat carrying water from the Nant Goch). The power generated here would have been transmitted mechanically to the engine house Link next to the shaft Link of the mine a short stretch upstream of the Nant Ddu. The function of the structure attached to the side of the wheel pit Link is not entirely clear to me at present. It would seem reasonable that the crank driving the flatrod system to transmit power to the engine house would have been housed in it, but I cannot see an opening for the mechanism to emerge from. The wheel pit is listed on the Coflein[1] database Link . Cyfartha mine is also known as Nantddu mine since most of its buildings are located in the valley of the Nant Ddu. Mine operations at Cyfartha lasted from 1842 to 1881. The ore was mined mostly for its lead and copper content. Cyfartha was an underground mine, with access to the levels through a number of shafts. Power was generated using two water wheels and a horse-powered whim. The water feeding the wheels came mainly from the Nant Ddu, supplemented by a long leat abstracting water from the Nant Goch about a kilometre to the north. Since the water wheels are located lower than the openings of the engine shafts, power was transmitted using a flatrod system, i.e. a series of linked iron rods moving backwards and forwards as the wheel turns (see Wikipedia article on Eylesbarrow mine in Devon Link for details of the mechanism). For a detailed description of the mine, see Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust Link . Cyfartha mine as whole is listed in the Coflein[1] database Link .

This picture shows the structure to the side of the wheel pit Link in more detail. It appears that there is a rectangular gap, now filled with loose rock, in the foreground, which may have housed the crank of the flatrod system. The wheel pit is listed on the Coflein database Link . Cyfartha mine is also known as Nantddu mine since most of its buildings are located in the valley of the Nant Ddu. Mine operations at Cyfartha lasted from 1842 to 1881. The ore was mined mostly for its lead and copper content. Cyfartha was an underground mine, with access to the levels through a number of shafts. Power was generated using two water wheels and a horse-powered whim. The water feeding the wheels came mainly from the Nant Ddu, supplemented by a long leat abstracting water from the Nant Goch about a kilometre to the north. Since the water wheels are located lower than the openings of the engine shafts, power was transmitted using a flatrod system, i.e. a series of linked iron rods moving backwards and forwards as the wheel turns (see Wikipedia article on Eylesbarrow mine in Devon Link for details of the mechanism). For a detailed description of the mine, see Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust Link . Cyfartha mine as a whole is listed in the Coflein database Link .

Looking inside the wheel pit Link at Cyfartha mine from the downstream end. The wheel pit is listed on the Coflein database Link . Cyfartha mine is also known as Nantddu mine since most of its buildings are located in the valley of the Nant Ddu. Mine operations at Cyfartha lasted from 1842 to 1881. The ore was mined mostly for its lead and copper content. Cyfartha was an underground mine, with access to the levels through a number of shafts. Power was generated using two water wheels and a horse-powered whim. The water feeding the wheels came mainly from the Nant Ddu, supplemented by a long leat abstracting water from the Nant Goch about a kilometre to the north. Since the water wheels are located lower than the openings of the engine shafts, power was transmitted using a flatrod system, i.e. a series of linked iron rods moving backwards and forwards as the wheel turns (see Wikipedia article on Eylesbarrow mine in Devon Link for details of the mechanism). For a detailed description of the mine, see Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust Link . Cyfartha mine as a whole is listed in the Coflein database Link .

Here the location of the wheel pit Link by the side of the Nant Ddu can be seen. The stream runs in the trench beyond the structure. The moorland in the background is Cors yr Ebolion. The wheel pit is listed on the Coflein database Link . Cyfartha mine is also known as Nantddu mine since most of its buildings are located in the valley of the Nant Ddu. Mine operations at Cyfartha lasted from 1842 to 1881. The ore was mined mostly for its lead and copper content. Cyfartha was an underground mine, with access to the levels through a number of shafts. Power was generated using two water wheels and a horse-powered whim. The water feeding the wheels came mainly from the Nant Ddu, supplemented by a long leat abstracting water from the Nant Goch about a kilometre to the north. Since the water wheels are located lower than the openings of the engine shafts, power was transmitted using a flatrod system, i.e. a series of linked iron rods moving backwards and forwards as the wheel turns (see Wikipedia article on Eylesbarrow mine in Devon Link for details of the mechanism). For a detailed description of the mine, see Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust Link . Cyfartha mine as a whole is listed in the Coflein database Link .

Built on a large spoil tip originating from Cyfartha mine Link and located at its eastern end, these modern farm buildings include a network of sheepfolds. The Nant Ddu runs in a deep valley between the buildings and the forest beyond Link .

The Afon Clywedog is formed where the Nant Ddu and the Nant Goch merge Link . This picture shows the Nant Ddu just before the meeting point as it descends steeply over a large angled rock slab. Note the trees atop the rock face for scale.

Looking down the spoil tip at the downstream end of the Cyfartha lead mine Link . The Nant Ddu can be seen below as it approaches the point where it merges with the Nant Goch to form the Afon Clywedog Link , at the centre of the picture. On the left, the footbridge taking the path across the Nant Goch can be seen. The path continues to climb steeply onto the northern side of the Clyedog gorge Link , which is hidden behind the trees on the right - there is no room for a path in it.

Here the Nant Ddu (right) and Nant Goch (left) merge to form the Afon Clywedog which disappears round a bend into a 'gorgeous' steep-sided valley Link . The Afon Clywedog is the main feeder of Llyn Clywedog, a large reservoir Link , and then continues to meet the Hafren/Severn at Llanidloes in SN9584 .

The path climbs steeply up the north side of the deep cut the Afon Clywedog has dug Link .

The forces of erosion can be seen in action here. The Afon Clywedog runs in the valley. Since it has to descend by 260m over a distance of twenty kilometres in order to meet the Hafren/Severn at Llanidloes, it has cut a sizeable gorge into the upland plateau. The rocks on both sides of the valley are fairly crumbly, causing regular gravel avalanches and maintaining a uniform slope - the characteristic V shape Link . The angle of the slope is determined by the angle of repose of the gravel, which depends on factors like grain size and shape and moisture content.

The footpath here (such as it is) is well above the valley floor because of the boggy ground that is found beside the river. Even at this height, wet feet and 'that sinking feeling' are a hazard for the unwary!