Way back in the first century, slate or ‘llech' was used to keep a roof over Roman heads at Segontium, Caernarfon. But it wasn't until the 19th century that our mines and quarries began supplying roofing material to the world. At its peak, Oakeley Mine, Blaenau Ffestiniog was the largest slate mine in the world. And Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda the largest slate quarry in the world. In the late 19th century 92% of British slate came from North Wales.

The rise of the slate industry in North Wales created a network of narrow gauge railways, used to carry slate from mountain to port. Which is why today, a trip to North Wales wouldn't be the same without scaling our lumps and bumps aboard an old steam train. You can catch the Welsh Highland Railway at Caernarfon and Porthmadog. Join the Llanberis Lake Railway as it steams around Llyn Padarn, or hop aboard the Ffestiniog Railway, the oldest independent railway company in the world.

At Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Britain's steepest passenger railway descends 450 feet beneath the summit of the mountain. And not far away is Manod Quarry, underground store for Britain's art treasures during World War II (hidden away were works by Rembrandt and da Vinci, and possibly the Crown Jewels), and you can dig deep into our other treasures – like the hidden history of slate at Dinorwig Quarry's Victorian workshops. More time machine than mere museum, visitors to the National Slate Museum, Llanberis can be forgiven for thinking the quarrymen have just downed their tools.

Related Links:
www.attractionsnorthwales.co.uk
www.star-attractions.co.uk