Get fantastic views of a pair of nesting choughs that have made the cavern their home for the last nine years

Choughs at Llechwedd Slate Caverns

6 April to 31 July 2009

What's so special about us choughs? Some say that King Arthur was magically changed into a chough when he died. Perhaps it's because we choughs do have a bit of mystery about us. It’s not every day you’ll meet royalty, so drop in to our cavern for an audience.

For a start, we nest in the caverns right here below the wild Welsh hills, and our shining feathers and blood-red legs and bills make us look a bit - well - special. You're not likely to bump into us in many places because we're the rarest British members of the crow family.

Entry to the site and visitor centre is free; trips into the caverns on the Miners' Tramway tour cost £9.45 for adults, £7.15 for children and £7.95 for seniors.

When can you see us?

You can see us very day from 6 April to 17 July. Llechwedd Slate Caverns are open every day except Christmas Day between 10 am-6 pm.

What's at the site?

Watch us close-up on the nestcam in the visitor centre, or take a trip deep into the caverns aboard the Miners' Tramway. If you’re lucky, you might even spot us flying in and out of the cavern with food for our noisy chicks.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to bring wheelchairs on the trams. You can get a bite to eat from a number of places, including the Victorian Confectionary Shop, The Miners' Arms pub, serving a full lunch during the summer months, a café serving hot meals and light snacks and a retail shop.

How to find us

By rail
Blaenau Ffestiniog train station is approximately 0.75 mile from Llechwedd Slate Caverns.

By road
Llechwedd Slate Caverns are situated on the A470 between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Dolwyddelan, only 0.75 mile from Blaenau.

Still got some questions?

Telephone: For details of tour times, call Llechwedd Slate Caverns on 01766 830306. For information about the project, call RSPB Cymru on 029 2035 3008.
E-mail: cymru@rspb.org.uk

Why not make a day of it?

The Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland Railway runs from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog on a 13.5 mile journey through the picturesque Welsh valleys.

The beautiful Italianate village of Portmeirion, scene of the cult TV series The Prisoner, is about 20 mins away by car, or go to Minffordd Station on both the Cambrian Coast line and the Ffestiniog Steam Railway lines.

You can enjoy a date with ospreys just 12 miles away at Pont Croesor.

• The Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland Railway
• Portmeirion

This is a partnership project with Llechwedd Slate Caverns.