The other week, whilst elsewhere in the country people were enjoying a spot of sunshine, I spent some time in Blaenau Ffestiniog in the driving sleet. The aim: to check out how one of Wales’ most deprived mining towns has reinvented itself as a hub for outdoor activities ranging from hiking to biking and zip-lining. The cool thing is how Blaenau has used its slate – both the blessing and then the curse of the town in the past, and the reason it lost out on being a part of the money-spinning Snowdonia National Park – to drive the turnaround. Snowdonia’s new hike, the Slate Trail, passes through town, downhill bikers surge down on some of the country’s most exhilarating black runs from the tops of the old slate quarries, and through long-abandoned mines whoosh some breath-sapping zip lines.
The below article for Adventure.com…
The Welsh Mining Town Transforming Itself into an Adventure Hotspot
Categories: Adventure Travel, Articles, UK Travel
