I want to share with you one of the most amazing places I've visited in North Wales: the Ynysypandy water-powered mill. This is a stunning three-storey ruin that used to be a slate-slab mill back in the 19th century. It's located near to Criccieth and on the fringes of Eryri / Snowdonia National Park, it has some of the most beautiful views you can imagine.
Licence: Crown Copyright - Royalty Free worldwide with attribution in line with Crown Copyright Licencing Agreement.
The story behind the Mill
The Ynysypandy Mill was built in 1855 by the local contractor Evan Jones of Garndolbenmaen here in North Wales. The mill was designed by a famous engineer called Sir James Brunlees, who also worked on railways all over the world (including São Paulo in Brazil would you believe?) The mill was built like a foundry, but it looks more like a ruined abbey church with a remote, atmospheric backdrop. It had two main floors, each connected to the railway that went to the harbour at Porthmadog. It also had an attic and a basement in one corner, and a huge waterwheel that was powered by the river nearby. The mill had big arched windows and a slate roof that was one of the the best in the area.
The mill had expensive machinery that could cut and polish slate slabs for export. But the problem was that the slate from the quarry was being declined by the market due to the diminishing quality of the slate therefore it lost the business over time. The mill closed after a few years, and was left to ruin by 1870. It is now an ancient monument that is looked after by Cadw, the Welsh historic environment service. This site is part of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site.
How to get there
The Ynysypandy Mill is just off the A487 road, just a couple of miles from Criccieth. You can park at the Llyn Cwmystradllyn reservoir car park, which has a sign from the road. From there, you can walk to the mill, which is about half a mile away. The walk is very easy and flat, and it takes about 15 minutes.
Or you can take a bus from Criccieth to Garndolbenmaen, and then walk along a lane that leads to the mill. The bus takes about 20 minutes, and the walk takes about 30 minutes.
What to see and do
The Ynysypandy Mill is a great place to explore and learn about the history of slate mining in North Wales. You can see the remains of the waterwheel pit, the machine rooms, the slate dressing floors and the loading bays. Check out the architecture and craftsmanship of the building, which is one of the most remarkable ruins in the whole of Gwynedd.
Llyn Cwmystradllyn reservoir
You can also enjoy the views of the Llyn Cwmystradllyn reservoir and the mountains of Snowdonia from the mill. The reservoir is a great place for walking and birdwatching, and it has a picnic areas. You can walk along its shore or go around it in a circle that takes about an hour taking in the Gorseddau quarry. You can see the ruins of the slate workings, inclines and tramways that were part of the same project as the mill.
The Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant farmhouse, which is about 4 miles from the mill. This is where William Morgan, who translated the Bible into Welsh in 1588, was born. You can see his original Bible and other things related to Welsh culture and language.
Conclusion
The Ynysypandy water-powered mill is a hidden gem that shows you a bit of the past of North Wales. It's a great place to visit for anyone who loves history, nature and architecture. You can combine it with other walks and attractions in the area to make a full day out. It's always fairly quiet here too - especially if you like getting away from touristy areas. For more information about walks around North Wales visit Wales by Trails
