Go Below Underground Adventures

Useful Information

Location:	Meeting point is at the Conwy Falls Cafe, from Betws-y-Coed follow A5 south for 3 km. Conwy Falls and Cafe are signposted. (53.065869, -3.776500)
Open:	All year daily after appointment. Online booking mandatory. [2020]
Fee:	Underground Challenge: Adults GBP 49, Children (10-15) GBP 39. Challenge Xtreme: Adults GBP 59. [2020]
Classification:	Slate Mine
Light:	headlamps
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=5-7 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	not wheelchair accessible
Bibliography:
Address:	Go Below Underground Adventures, Conwy Falls Forest Park, Pentrefoelas Road (A5), Penmachno, Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0PN, Tel: +44-1690-710108. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2014	Go Below LTD incorporated.
APR-2023	Deep Sleep, the deepest underground hotel opened.

Geology

The rocks mined here were slates, which were used as roofing slates. The slate is conveniently bedded between layers of granite, giving integral strength to the rock, which was a big help for mining.

Description

Go Below is a sort of climbing and cave trekking adventure venue which—seems to us—is a copy of the successful Bounce Below. Actually, they tell that Bounce Below "have regrettably chosen a very similar name to ours". We have no idea who was first, both were founded in 2014, so neither had an established name which was "copied" by the other. It seems both names were actually selected with the extreme sports terminology in mind. Obviously, this kind of extreme physical activity under difficult conditions meets the zeitgeist. So if you love to do extreme sports without proper light, have fun. We, on the other hand, don't really support this kind of venue, as it goes against both the ideas of safety and nature conservation that we are trying to spread.

In 2023 they added the possibility to stay underground by erecting wooden huts in a part of the mine which is 420 m below the ground. It is called Deep Sleep and boasts to be the deepest underground hotel in the world. This title was until then held by Sala Silver Mine, which also offers overnight stays. But there is a basic difference: at Sala you just mount the cage, the mine elevator, and ride down. Here its 45 minutes walk to the mine entrance plus a 1 hour trekking through an abandoned slate mine, to reach the hotel. At least the huts have free wifi.

All trips start at the Conwy Falls Cafe. Participants are equipped with climbing harness, helmet with headlamp, and Wellington boots. We recommend wearing old clothes because they might get dirty, if you have some sort of caving gear or an overall, that's even better. Do not wear too warm clothes. Despite the low temperature, you will be warm from all the climbing. Fleece is recommended. Bring clean clothes to change afterward, a towel and a big plastic bag for the dirty stuff.