Press Release - Best Easter Day Since 2006

The Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog celebrate their 40th anniversary this year. They are also celebrating a great start to the season with Easter Monday marking the busiest April day since 2006.

General Manager Michael Bewick says that "despite the doom and gloom we have been working hard over the last two years to refurbish the site and this is really starting to pay off"

The site has received funding from CADW which will enable them to modernise the iconic deep mine and tramway tours over the next two years. This year will also see the launch of Antur Stiniog's downhill mountain bike trails and working with Zip Land the longest series of zip wires in the world will be at Llechwedd in late 2012/early 2013.

Downhill biking trails under construction.

This season also sees the launch of new family friendly initiatives including an adventure playground which is being completed this week as well as a craft room where kids can enjoy painting their own slate coaster and a chance to win one of the unique Llechwedd old coins by taking part in a free Mini Miners Trail around the site.

A preview of how the downhill biking trails were looking this February can be found below:

Blaenau 30 Celebrations: May 5th - 7th

We are joining Ffestiniog Railway in celebrating 30 years since services returned to Blaenau Ffestiniog. The services between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Porthmadog were crucial to us at Llechwedd as the route for our slate to reach the coast and we are looking forward to being part of the celebrations.

'Early Bird' services will be running on the railway all weekend which will allow ample time for you to hop on a minibus and come and take a tour at Llechwedd Slate Caverns.

As well as special services and the opportunity to see some of Ffestiniog Railway's historic engines there will also be many other events during the weekend including guided walks around the area.

On Saturday and Sunday we will be demonstrating the traditional art of slate splitting on the platform at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Come along and see our slate splitter at work and learn about the Llechwedd mines.

In Blaenau Ffestiniog you can find out more about the town's regeneration plans including a poetry band trail around the town, a velorail on disused rail tracks and the proposed cycle and walking track around Llyn Ystradau at Tanygrisiau.

Ceri Cunnington from Antur Stiniog will be on hand on Sunday and is offering to take a minibus up to show people the downhill cycle trails at Llechwedd which are nearing completion. This exciting development is creating a huge amount of interest in the mountain biking world and is due to open later this year.

Full details of the Blaenau 30 event can be found on Ffestiniog Railway's website http://www.festrail.co.uk/content/publish/specialevents/Blaenau_30.shtml