quarry

A hiker, who is known for exploring across Wales, made an incredible discovery and shared footage which has left people stunned as they label it a ‘very special place’

Hikers often head to the hills in Wales to explore the endless landscapes with incredible views, and one Welsh rambler has made a stunning discovery while investigating a deserted farmhouse.

Dan, recognised by his online fans as ‘the Welsh hiker’, is renowned for recording his treks and incredible finds throughout Wales. But his most recent expedition left him utterly astounded.

In a TikTok video, he described how he stumbled upon Dinorwic Quarry (also known as Dinorwig Quarry) – a massive former slate quarry situated between the villages of Llanberis and Dinorwig in Gwynedd.

Dinorwic Quarry (Chwarel Dinorig), which towers above Llyn Peris and Llyn Padarn, was formerly the world’s second-biggest slate quarry, functioning from 1787 until 1969, according to Wales Slate.

READ MORE: World’s tiniest airport has conveyor belt so small passengers ‘can’t stop laughing’READ MORE: Europe’s ‘best city for food’ just 3 hours from the UK – with flights from £14

And while there are physical traces of its rich history, Dan explained the location is now a favoured spot for rambling and rock climbing, Wales Online reports.

The location was thrust into the spotlight back in July when a landslide occurred at the scenic spot. Dan has since shared a video online of his exploration at the location, and claimed people will never believe what exists within.

He stated the views are simply breathtaking. In Dan’s own words, the location provides “stunning views of the surrounding mountains and lakes,” and in the footage, it’s obvious why he wished to showcase its magnificence.

Dozens of people praised the video and flooded it with comments, describing it as “beautiful”. One viewer said: “Amazing video of a very special place.”

Another added: “Great place to explore. You could spend hours there.” A third also replied: “And the goats are blinkin’ massive,” to which Dan responded: “Massive but cool.”

The quarry, operational from 1787 to 1969, boasts over 30 galleries or terraces, each connected to a rubble tip. A notable feature of the quarry is that they are also linked to one of the inclined railway systems.

After the site closed in 1969, it was quickly acquired by a company that developed a hydroelectricity scheme in the area, allowing nearly all the structures to survive.

The Australia gallery, housing a large mill building and electrically powered equipment from the 1920s, is a prime example of this.

Although Dinorwic Quarry is deemed an abandoned industrial site, it’s not entirely unused. Parts of the site have become a popular destination for activities like climbing and hiking, and it even hosts a power station.

Mining operations ceased in 1969, leaving behind a dramatic landscape filled with ruins, old machinery, and railway tracks that highlight the area’s rich industrial heritage. Perhaps this is why so many people find the site so fascinating to visit.

Speaking about the safety of exploring the site, Llechi Cymru said: “The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales is undoubtedly fascinating, but by its very nature can be remote, dangerous and challenging.

“A significant proportion of the landscape is within private ownership and some of this on land where no public access is permitted.

“Before you set off to explore the slate landscape, ask yourself, am I allowed to access this site? Do I have the right gear? Do I know what the weather will be like? Do I have the knowledge and skills for the day? Go to AdventureSmart.uk to find out how to enjoy your visit safely.”

A DESPERATE mum has issued a heartbreaking plea for her missing daughter to “please come home”.

Amy, 36, was last seen near Quarry View Garden Care in the village of Chinnor, Oxfordshire, at around 1pm on Saturday.

3

She is known to regularly visit The Quarry in the area, with police urging members of the public to “call 999” if they see her, Oxford Mail reports.

In a fresh appeal to find her, mum Trixie Sophie said: “Ami please come home your family miss you your children.

“Miss you. You don’t need to tell anybody where you are. Just phone your mum.

“Wherever she is I will come and get her. She can come home to me.

“I won’t tell anybody, we just want you home safe my darling with your family.”

Amy has been described by police as a white woman, around 5ft 5ins tall, of a slim build and was last known to have blonde hare – though she frequently dyes it.

She also has three stars tattooed behind her left dear, a black out stop watch and a love heart tattoo on her wrist and fortune cookie tattoo on her ankle.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “Have you seen Amy? She is 36-years-old and missing from Aylesbury.

“Amy was last seen at around 1pm on Saturday near Quarry View Garden Care in Chinnor.

“She is a white woman, around 5ft 5ins tall, of slim build and was last known to have blonde hair, though she frequently dyes it.

“Amy has three stars tattooed behind her left ear, a blacked out stop-watch and love heart tattoo on her wrist and a fortune cookie tattoo on her ankle.

“She is known to frequent The Quarry, Chinnor.

“If you see her, please call 999. If you have information on her whereabouts, please call 101 or make an online report, quoting 43250444275.”

3

3

AVP, the biggest and longest-running professional volleyball league, hosted beach volleyball matches for the first time in an NBA arena this past weekend.

Hosted at the Intuit Dome, crews were tasked with bringing 300 tons of sand from a quarry in Palm Springs, which is roughly 16 truck loads. AVP is looking for creative ways to attract a new audiences to the sport, often hosting their marquee volleyball events in unconventional locations.

Timelapse of Intuit Dome transforming into an indoor beach vollyball court. (Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)

A wooden sandbox was constructed to contain the prewashed sand and form a single court.

It took the crew, which consists of about 150 people for a change over a typical event at Intuit Dome, five hours after the conclusion of the event to ready the arena for Clippers season ticket-holders the following day.

Rescuers have already pulled a dozen injured people from the debris during a gruelling search effort at the site.

At least 10 people have been killed after a stone quarry collapsed in Indonesia’s West Java province, with the country’s disaster agency saying search efforts are ongoing to find missing people buried beneath the rubble.

The collapse took place early on Friday at Gunung Kuda mining site in Cirebon, West Java. Footage from the scene of the accident shows excavators moving large rocks and emergency workers placing victims in body bags in an ambulance.

Footage circulating online showed rescuers struggling to retrieve a body from the devastated area. Another showed people scrambling for safety as thick dust rose from a pile of rocks and soil that had collapsed.

Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB) said at least 10 people had been killed, but gave no estimate on the number of people missing. It said heavy machinery – including three excavators – were buried and rescue operations would continue throughout Saturday.

Rescue teams have already pulled a dozen injured people from the debris during a gruelling search effort, according to Cirebon district police chief, Sumarni, who uses a single name.

Sumarni said authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse, adding that the owner and quarry workers have been summoned for questioning. He said police, emergency personnel, soldiers and volunteers – supported by five excavators – are trying to locate any further trapped workers. Rescue efforts are being hampered by unstable soil, risking further slides, he added.

On his Instagram account, West Java governor Dedi Mulyadi said the site was “very dangerous” and did not “meet safety standards for workers”. The governor added that the mine was opened before he was elected and he “didn’t have any capacity to stop it”.

Mulyadi said he has taken action to close the Gunung Kuda mine and four others in West Java considered to be endangering lives and the environment.

Illegal mining operations are commonplace across Indonesia, providing a tenuous livelihood to low-wage workers while coming with a high risk of injury or death due to landslides, flooding and tunnel collapses. Much of the processing of sand, rock or gold ore also involves workers using highly toxic materials like mercury and cyanide with little or no protection.

In May, torrential rain triggered a landslide and floods near a small mine run by local residents in the Arfak Mountains in Indonesia’s West Papua province, killing at least six people.

Last year, a landslide also triggered by torrential rain struck an unauthorised gold mining operation on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, killing at least 15 people.