Banned ‘hidden inexperienced lagoon’ the place nerve agent bomb stash is only one hazard
Despite severe warnings about its dangers, a notorious quarry lauded as a ‘hidden green lagoon’ keeps attracting wild swimmers.
In Gwynedd, Wales is the upper Glyn Rhonwy quarry, disused and surrounded by a 6ft high fence where red flags are constantly waving to warn passers-by of its hazardous conditions, reports North Wales Live.
Over time, the site has seen a slew of troubling incidents, from rockfalls, like the one in 2018, to supposed rumours of dumped nerve agents even though the Ministry of Defence guarantees the venue has undergone comprehensive clearing.
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Adding to these are the dangers lurking beneath the quarry lake, remnants of old mining waste, which could prove treacherous for those bathing or swimming in its depths. “People have been swimming in it today,” shared one recent online visitor, “It is deep and probably rather cold!”
(Image: Brian Reece)
Access to the location persists with gaps in the fencing yet to be mended and a public footpath nearby. The natural beauty of the quarry’s rugged landscape holds a certain charm enticing adventurers to venture in.
Graffiti around the quarry testifies to its regular visits although it’s not as prolific as the lower pit’s evocative ‘art in the dark’
The prospect of a 100MW pumped storage project planned for Glyn Rhonwy’s two pits, approved in 2017, added a new twist. The surge of visitors seeking to experience the elusive quarry echoes fears that the attraction would soon cease to exist.
As it stands, Snowdonia Pumped Hydro has been allotted another extension, until March 29, 2026, when work must commence on the project.
(Image: Brian Reece)
Climbers flocking to a quarry famed for routes like Cracking Up and Clippopotumus have had little trouble accessing the site for years. Meanwhile, wild swimming enthusiasts rave about Glyn Rhonwy’s “fine quality” water and its shale “beach” area.
Daredevils are seen cliff-jumping into the quarry lagoon in YouTube videos, and Google Earth snaps show wetsuit-clad swimmers gearing up for a plunge. Despite warnings that the water “could contain harmful chemicals” the allure of a secluded spot often dubbed online as “beautiful” and a “hidden lagoon” is irresistible.
From above, the waters beckon with a deep, inviting green.
Local residents are torn over the use of the site; some gripe about the rubbish left behind rather than the swimming itself. A few locals scoff at the warning signs, with one bloke branding it “Shocking,” adding, “Young people enjoying themselves! ”
(Image: Brian Reece)
A Cornish visitor took to the web to voice concerns about the dangers of swimming in a certain spot, saying: “I’ve swum there a lot in the past,” but also recounted a harrowing incident: “But I’ve also seen a clip of a lad almost getting hit by several tons of rockfall whilst in the water. You can see why the council aren’t keen and why people are nervous, especially when kids are involved.”
The lower quarry’s dark history as a bomb storage site during World War II has raised eyebrows, with its past moniker RAF Llanberis hinting at its wartime role. Post-war, it became a dumping ground for a massive stash of munitions, including bombs, bullets, and fiery incendiaries.
In an eerie chapter of history dubbed Operation Dismal, a whopping 14,000 tonnes of Tabun nerve gas bombs were stashed at the site after being nicked from Germany. These deadly devices were later shifted to Llandwrog before being chucked into the sea.
The 1970s saw the RAF embark on a six-year mission to clean up Glyn Rhonwy. A Freedom of Information request revealed a chilling find: mustard gas bombs lurking at the site.
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