Underground in Ratgoed Slate Mine

I begin by saying most of this mine is inaccessible and dangerous to explore without sufficient knowledge/guidance. In fact most of this mine is only accessible by abseiling!!! Fortunately I had an experienced guide with me to explore the easier access to part of the mine. (Again please don't attempt to explore this mine or indeed any other if you do not have the relevant expertise or a guide who has). Going into the mine was a little tight bit of a scramble but no big deal. Once inside the whole mine opened up. Tunnels and large chasms soon became visible. The scale of the mining operation provides an awesome sight underground with huge chasms, deep pits etc. It certainly looks like the slate mine was operation was carried out on a major scale. Sorry but the images do not convey the size of the industrial mining carried out. It was a nice cool relief from the heat outside though with cool air drifting through and water dripping with a foggy fine mist in some areas. Some old artifacts are still in place in the mine along with chain fences, pins etc. Well guess we better get onto some images:

Tunnel looks small but it is 6ft-8ft tall so easy to walk in

Another tunnel same scale as above

One of the massive pits in the mine, a fine mist/fog is evident here.

View of another tunnel

Two tunnels of in different areas of the mine

A relic of a teapot/kettle

A heavy duty bolt embedded in the rock

Difficult to scale this underground chasm is about 25-30 metes high I estimate and a the top there is a metal line presumably for running wagons from an upper part of the mine

Horizontal view of the above chasm whith what appears to be a lady of the time pinned to the wall crucifix style (not really, look top left)

As I said water drips down here and there

Metal parts strewn in some area are eventually being consumed by rust

Ratgoed (Yr Allt Goed) abandoned village in Wales

Ratgoed pronounced Yr Allt Goed in Welsh, is now an abandoned village in the heart of the Difi Forest near Corris in Wales. A former slate mining village the quarry ceased production in 1946. The majority of the village has fell into ruin, Ratgoed Hall built for Horatio Nelson Hughes in 1860 still stands but appears unoccupied. The Yr Alt Goed is "Steep Wooded Hillside" and this is where the mine is situated above the village, another post on that later.

Old building

Slate fence of which there are many in the area

Ratgoed Hall

Ratgoed Hall (internal view)

A smaller ruin

One of the more intact structures

Mach Loop March 2018

Another visit to the Mach Loop in March again a mixture of weather which curtailed photo opportunities, but on the plus side created some nice winter back drops. A visit to a slate mine was inaccessible on this occasion and an attempt to find an abandoned village failed. (both on the list for next time)  Nevertheless an enjoyable visit and more aviation photos in the bag. Here are some of the images:

RAF Tornado GR4

RAF Tornado GR4, snow on the hills

USAF OSprey from RAF Mildenhall

RAF Hawk T1

RAF Tornado GR4

RAF Tornado GR4

RAF Hercules C130

RAF Typhoon

USAF Osprey

First visit to the Mach Loop in 2018

Well results from my first visit in 2018 were a bit of a mixed bag, some good, some with snow, some days written off due to weather and a really good day due to weather!!!!! Which is what the Mach Loop is all about. Different watermark as I have a new site in developement for the aviation images: https://jetphotos.co.uk/ So straight away I will post some images as that is what your waiting for, I think?

Royal Navy Hawk

F-15E Strike Eagle

F-15E Strike Eagle

F-15E Strike Eagle

RAF Tornado GR4

RAF Tornado GR4

RAF Hawk T2

F-15E Strike Eagle

F-15E Strike Eagle

F-15E Strike Eagle

USAF C-17 Globemaster Low Flying in Mach Loop Wales

Luckily the first flight of a C-17 low level in the Wales Mach Loop area coincided with my visit.  The USAF C-17 Globemaster from the 315th Airlift Wing is based at the Air Mobility Command, Charleston, USA.  They successfully completed two circuits of the Mach Loop prior to attending RNAS Yeovilton Air Day. Both passes were awesome leaving everyone on the hills amazed at what they had just witnessed.

Mach Loop visit May 2017

A planned two week visit was hampered by rain/mist and sea fog, however I did get some nice images despite being snookered for about 60% of the time. (nothing unusual for the loop) Belgian F16 aircraft were cancelled due to weather and several USAF F15 low fly sorties were called off due to the morning fog/cloud, typically it cleared once they had returned to base. Struggling to get images staying out until 7pm did produce some nice Typhoon passes so worth the wait. Well here are some of the images:

RAF Tornado GR4

Royal Navy Hawk of 736 Squadron

RAF Hawk T2

USAF MC130J

RAF Hercules

RAF Hercules

RAF Typhoon FGR4

RAF Hawk 

RAF Tornado GR4

RAF Typhoon FGR4