The copper mines on the Great Orme were first worked over 3,500 years ago. The complex is recognised as being the most extensive Bronze Age mine workings found so far in Western Europe.

In the Bronze Age, copper was the first metal to be used, although as a tool it didn't have any significant advantages over stone. Later on, the technique of combining copper and tin to produce the alloy bronze was developed. Due to its strength, bronze was used for making axes, swords and also more personal items such as jewellery and ornaments.

The nearest source for tin would have been Devon and Cornwall, and with much of Britain covered with trees, the tin would probably have been transported to the Great Orme by sea.

Bronze Age people led a more stationary life than those during the Stone Age, they farmed, hunted, fished and lived in circular huts. Evidence of a number of these huts can still be found on the Orme today.

Mining on the Great Orme seems to have declined after the Bronze Age and did not begin on any scale again until the 17th century. On resumption, mining operations concentrated on surface deposits, but as these were exhausted deeper mines were excavated.

By Victorian times techniques for mining had developed and vertical shafts and horizontal adits were created using gun powder enabling access to deeper veins of Malachite. Malachite is the ore from which copper is extracted. The mines fells into disuse again around the 1860s.

Today the mines can be visited by the public where it is possible to explore the underground passageways and old mine workings.

Bishops Quarry

On returning to the summit look out for Bishops Quarry on the left. The rock from here was used to build the old Bishop's Palace, which stood on the west of the headland, overlooking Conwy Bay and was built towards the end of the 13th century.

The Visitors Centre attached to the Summit tram station has an interactive exhibition about the history and wildlife of the Great Orme.

Click here to return to the beginning of the walk.