Gold Mining in Wales

Gold

Welsh gold is known to have been mined by the Romans. Welsh gold, which is mined by hand, lies in a band stretching from Barmouth, past Dolgellau and up towards Snowdonia

Welsh Gold was mined by early man because it could be easily extracted from the rock. Unlike South African gold, which is mixed in with the rock and yields just a quarter of an ounce for every tonne mined, pure Welsh gold forms in seams, like coal, which have been known to yield up to 30 ounces per ton.

Gold jewellery like torcs were worn by early Welsh princes as a badge of rank and the tradition is echoed today with this gold being used to make the wedding rings of a number of Royal brides

There are three gold mines in Wales today

• Dolaucothi, near Pumpsaint, Dyfed, owned and run by the National Trust, so can be visited. The mine was operated by the Romans, but after the Romans departure, the mine lay abandoned for centuries. Revival in the 19th century did not last long, with the mine finally closing in 1938. Dolaucothi's fascinating story is today told on the "Miners Way" self guide surface trail and also on guided underground tour.
• Gwynfynydd Gold Mines in Dolgellau started in the 1860's and has proved to be one of the richest gold mines in Britain. Gwynfynydd Gold Mine has now been restored after being inactive, and is again in full production. It has a recorded output of more than 2,000 oz of fine gold since 1884. Visitors to Gwynfynydd are offered the opportunity to visit the working gold mine, pan for gold and experience the search for Welsh gold.
• Clogau Gold Mine in Bontddu, near Barmouth, is a working gold mine which is not open to the public.

Land of  mountains and gold - Wales