Planning Your Visit - Learning: National Slate Museum
This booklet has been designed to support your visit to the National Slate Museum. For information regarding activities, workshops and training days look at our website or phone for an Education Pack.
Finding us:
The National Slate Museum is in the middle of the Padarn Country Park, Llanberis on the A4086. From north-west England follow the A55 and exit for Llanberis near Bangor, at Junction 11 onto the A5 and then onto the B4366. Follow signs for Llanberis and Padarn Country Park.
Booking:
All visits must be booked in advance.
Opening times:
10am - 5pm, April - October
10am - 4pm, November - March
All the information in this booklet can be used to complete any risk assessment work required before a visit.
General Information and Facilities
On Arrival
On arrival at the Museum, group leaders should enter the shop to sign the register. If your school group is large, please wait in the archway. You will be met by a Museum Assistant (uniformed attendant) who will be pleased to answer any questions. The shop is also your exit point if you wish to purchase at the end of your visit.
The group leader must give the exact total of numbers visiting to the Museum staff.
All educational groups must be supervised at all times when visiting the Museum, including lunchtime.
Eating Arrangements
All schools wishing to use the sandwich room will need to pre-book when arranging their visit. Half-hourly slots are available for groups of up to 40 at a time.
Toilet Facilities
Toilets are situated in the café at the rear of the site, as well as in Parc Padarn near the coach park. These include facilities for disabled people.
In an Emergency
Fire
In case of fire, an alarm will sound and you should leave by the nearest safe exit. Museum staff will direct you to an assembly point.
First Aid
If First Aid attention is needed please contact one of the Museum Assistants, who will then summon a trained first aider.
Lost Children
Children separated from their group should inform one of the Museum Assistants if they are lost. The Museum Assistant will contact the group and arrange for the missing children to be escorted to the Main Entrance; here they can be collected by an adult from the group.
Any Other Emergency
In the event of any other emergency please contact a Museum Assistant. They are equipped with mobile radios.
Health and Safety
The National Slate Museum is situated in the original workshop buildings of the Dinorwig Slate Company. Much of the original machinery is still in place and care should be taken around the exhibits on the site. Parties should keep to the slate footpaths where possible; slate chippings cover part of the yard and children should be warned not to throw these, not to run and not to play with the piles of cut slates, which can be sharp.
Our Health & Safety information can be downloaded here.
Disabled Access
It is possible to take wheelchairs to every part of the site, except for the pattern loft and into the Fron Haul houses. (However, it is possible to get up the path as far as the front doorway of each house.) There is a lift to the water wheel and the path to the Incline is accessible to wheelchair users. There are designated disabled parking bays in the parking area. A wheelchair is available on request in the shop. The film 'To Steal a Mountain' has an induction loop.
On the Site
Some of the site is outdoors and visitors should wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Access to the water wheel is via an outdoor staircase of some forty steps; a lift is available suitable for four persons. Access to the pattern loft is via a staircase. Access is narrow through the blacksmith's forge and assistance may be required. We have a play area consisting of seesaws and an aerial swing, surfaced with rubber matting, which demonstrates some of the principles used in quarrying and transporting slate. It is suitable for children under twelve and only when supervised by an adult.
Fron Haul
These quarrymen's houses are reconstructed buildings with low ceilings and narrow stairways. Access may be restricted at busy times.
The Incline
The incline can be seen working, weather and staff permitting.
In order to make the most of your visit, please ensure that you arrive at the allotted time. Any delay can seriously effect the visit of other groups.
The Museum reserves the right to ask groups or individuals behaving in an offensive or unreasonable manner to leave.
Additional Information
Preview Visits
Preview visits are available for teachers or group leaders wishing to familiarise themselves with the site before their group's visit. Please phone to book beforehand if you wish to speak to the Education Officer during your preview visit.
Resources
The National Slate Museum Guide (£4) contains details of the Museum. An Education Pack is available. We can provide group video-conferencing sessions, which offer a stimulating approach to preparatory and follow-up work.
