"The events are all part of the 2009 Mining Heritage Weekend organised by Ceredigion County Council's PLWM Project in association with the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust. All the conducted walks will be led by the trust's Robert Ireland. People wishing to follow the conducted walks are advised to dress appropriately, in case of extreme weather conditions, and to bring refreshments and drinks.

On Saturday morning, 22 August, the weekend kicks off with a guided walk around the famous Esgair Hir mine - once claimed to be "the richest in all Wales" - and the neighbouring Esgair Fraith mine.

Everyone interested in following the guided walk should aim to be at the Nant Y Moch Reservoir car park, at OS grid reference SN 7563 8624, at 10:00am or at the road junction on the Talybont to Nant Y Moch road , at OS grid reference SN 7235 9096, at 10:30am.

On Saturday afternoon, 22 August, 2009, the destination is the Hafan Quarry mine in the afternoon. This area near Talybont was where the Plynlimon & Hafan tramway was built in 1897 but closed in 1899.

The tramway was a seven and a quarter mile narrow gauge railway built to serve the lead mines and quarries in the Pumlumon uplands. The meting pint for the afternoon walk is the lay-by on the single track Talybont to Ponterwyd road at grid reference SN 7365 8855 at 2.00pm.

On the evening of Saturday, 22 August, 2009, from 7:00pm, there will be an opportunity to enjoy talks in the historic Hafod Arms Hotel at Devil's Bridge. The hotel was originally built as a small hunting lodge in 1787 by Thomas Johnes, the then squire of the nearby Hafod Uchtryd Estate where Johnes established a world-renowned picturesque landscape.

The Hafod estate is a most popular destination for circular walks and is now administered by Forestry Commission Wales and the Hafod Trust.

Sunday 23 August 2009 sees yet more guided walks, starting at the former mine at Ystumtuen near Ponterwyd. The meeting point for the morning walk is within the village of at Ystumtuen, by the old mine site, at OS grid reference SN 7380 7883, at 10:30 am. Car parking has been arranged.

The final event of the 2009 Ceredigion Mining Heritage Weekend, on the afternoon of Sunday 23 August 2009, will feature a guided walk visiting some of the mines in Cwm Rheidol. The meeting place will be the lay-by on the road from Capel Bangor to Cwm Rheidol at OS grid reference SN 6977 7947, at 2:00pm.

The PLWM project is managed by Ceredigion County Council and supported by the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The PLWM project aims to create an improved 'Sense of Place', based on industrial heritage, for the Ceredigion uplands . Over the next two years, the project aims to assist physical upgrades to former mining sites and create a richer visitor experience through enhanced interpretation; the improvement of facilities, events and activities in the locale."

Article written by Natalie Moyce, PLWM project officer.