Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales, is in the heart of Snowdonia National Park (though not part of the park itself, as industrial heritage wasn't valued when it was established).
This small slate-mining town, 160 mi/257 km north of Cardiff, lies near another miner—but not minor—attraction: Llechwedd Slate Caverns, a former slate mine with an underground tramway that takes visitors deep beneath the surface to the slate caverns.
Topside is a preserved Victorian mining village, complete with sweets shop and pub, that gives you an idea of what life was like for slate miners in Victorian times. The biggest appeal of this town is that it lies at the head of the 13-mi/21-km Ffestiniog Railway, probably the most spectacular narrow-gauge line in Wales. The line runs to Porthmadog on the coast.
Another attraction is the pumped-storage power station, just outside of town. Though this may not sound like much, it's worth a look—the electrical plant has unique power-generating water pumps (there are guided tours, but book in advance).
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