Secret Waterfall

Deep in the bowls of Dinorwic quarry lies a hidden waterfall tumbling from the mouth of a into the pits below. A must see landscape photography location.

What Is It

An enchanting waterfall lies hidden deep in the bowls of the sprawling Dinorwic Quarry, near Llanberis in North Wales.

Here ground water from the quarry’s upper levels flows from the mouth of a disused mining tunnel, cascading into the lower levels of the pit known as California. Lush ferns cover the surrounding slate walls, hugging an old miners track which connects two tunnels creating an epic scene.

This section of quarry is relatively small compared to others within Dinorwic, the walls of California surround and tower over you, giving this pit an intimate, magical and tucked away feel that’s not often found elsewhere in Dinorwic.

What to Shoot

Compositions of the waterfall are a little limited due to the narrow width of the tunnel and miner’s path.

The classic shot of the waterfall uses the exit of the first tunnel to frame the waterfall, and the next adit’s tunnel beyond, which gives images some intrigue and context. You may need to double expose here for the first tunnel which is pitch back.

By stepping beyond the falled boulder that blocks the path, you can use the luch ferns which grow along the miner’s track as foreground interest. These really come into their own in Spring when their greens are so vibrant next to the grey slate.

A very wide angle lens is a must here to get the entire view comfortably in frame; somewhere between 16 and 20mm.

The location does have more to offer than solely the hidden waterfall, so be sure to venture further along the path.

Deeper in California, through the waterfall’s tunnel, there are a several picturesque lone trees to found dotted around the spoil and giant boulders, including one of my personal favourites in the entirety of Dinorwic quarry.

Spring ferns pop along the Miner’s Path linking the adits in California

When To Go

Best Season

The waterfall is usually at it’s best after periods of sustained heavy rain to really emphasise the flow.

In the wetter months, September onward, yo are more likely to see the fall in spate.

Whilst the falls are rarely totally dry, they do tend to reduce to a trickle in the warmer months and the flow of the falls isn’t that visible. However, don’t rule out a visit in late Spring or early Summer when the lush greens of the ferns here contrast wonderfully with the towering grey quarry walls,

Best Time Of Day

Overcast wet days always suit waterfall photography. Especially in Dinorwic, when rain adds more depth to the colour of the slate walls and vibrancy to the overgrown ferns.

With the sun rising down far down the valley behind Elidir Fawr year round, you can get away with shooting the waterfall quite late into the morning as the high walls of California keep the falls in shadow so you won’t have any contrast issues to contend.

It’s an ideal for a post-sunrise or early morning location - which has the added benefit of being the quietest time in the quarry!

A lone birch on the turn in Autumn deeper into California

How To Get There

Directions to Dinowric’s secret waterfall are fairly straightforward.

Park at Dinowic’s Bus Stop Car park — post code LL55 3ET
Pass The Mills and go through the left hand gate toward the main quarry
Look for a metal gate in the fence on the left hand side of the path; jump over
Follow the gravel path toward Dali’s hole
At the end of the gravel path take the staircases going up to the next level
From here, to your right, you will now be able to see the tunnel entrance
Follow the path, navigate over a section of boulders from a spoil collapse
As you clear the boulders look for a trail near some iron rods descending into Dali’s hole
You will head down slightly then level out to the tunnel mouth
Once in the tunnel, ensure you take the left fork to the entrance to California
You will immediately see the falls at the tunnel's mouth

Trail to the hidden waterfall in Dinowric Quarry, in the California Sinc. Note the mouth of the tunnel above Dali’s Hole.

View on Google Earth

Difficulty

Rated 1 / 5

The waterfalls proximity to the permitted path and lack of any climbing make it very easy to access, unfortunately, this also makes it a very popular location in the quarry.

A few words of caution. The path connecting the two tunnels is a very high and very narrow cliff edge, with a sheer drop — a fall here would probably be fatal. On exiting the mouth of the first tunnel, you will need to navigate around a boulder on an extremely thin section to access the path going deeper into California; it isn’t for everyone.

Crowd Factor

Low to Medium

Chances are you will not be alone here; it’s ease of access make it a very popular spot with casual walkers. A popular climbing route known as Snakes & Ladders passes through California adding to foot traffic. People don’t tend to stay long, so it’s easy to wait them out.

If visiting on the weekend or over national holidays best visited early.

NEARBy LOCATIONS

The Drum House

Moving up the levels of the quarry toward the area known as Australia, there are two charming old Drum Houses. At this location you can combine scenes of industrial dereliction with outstanding views of the surrounding Snowdonia Mountains.

Read the location guide here.

The Drum House with sprees of light on the Snowden Range

Disclaimer

Please read the signs. Whilst a wonderful, enchanting photographic location, with unrivalled opportunities it’s easy to forget that this is first and foremost an abandoned quarry.

Buildings collapse, spoil heaps collapse, tunnels collapse, staircases collapse. Nothing is maintained; everything is decaying after nearly half a century of abandonment and merciless mountain weather. Enter at your own risk.