The Great Orme, Llandudno

The Great Orme is a Limestone lump that rises 207metres (679 feet) out of the sea and is rich in both natural and man-made history. The geology, wildlife, archaeology and landscape are of such importance that much of the headland has been designated a ‘Special Area of Conservation’ and a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’. The Great Orme is 2 miles long, 1 mile wide and is sometimes referred to as Llandudno’s mini-mountain.

A Group of Explorers

In 1985 a small and somewhat diverse group of local mine explorers came together to study, investigate, and promote the history of The Great Orme. Their initial focus was the exploration of the old mine workings with the emphasis on conservation and to create a greater awareness and understanding of the Orme’s Mining History among Llandudno’s residents and visitors.

It was this group that formed The Great Orme Exploration Society (GOES) and this site is dedicated to the achievements of those “pioneer diggers" of the GOES. The site documents their discoveries, photographs, surveys, maps and journals as they endeavoured to promote awareness of what actually holds up the Great Orme.

The Great Orme Exploration Society Limited

The exploration of the Great Orme still continues as there is still much more to discover. Underground guided visits to some of the more accessible mines are offered to new and current members and exploration has now been extended to over ground in the form of our local guided history walks.