Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
An easily overlooked bit of slate history, the Cemlyn Canal was dug along the line of an existing stream. It linked the tidal, navigable river Dwyryd to Maentwrog village allowing slates to be loaded onto river boats as close to the slate mines as possible.
As with many canals, it's working life was quite short. Once the 'gravity' railway was built from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog this became by far the most efficient way of transporting slates for onward shipping. Initially the Ffestiniog railway relied on gravity the roll the slate trucks down to Porthmadog, though horses were needed to draw the trucks back up to Blaenau. Even so, the railway soon made boat transport along the Dwyryd uneconomic.
For more see here captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/2016/02/cemlyn-canal.html
Music: 'Gently Onwards'
Gently, Onwards
ELPHNT
An easily overlooked bit of slate history, the Cemlyn Canal was dug along the line of an existing stream. It linked the tidal, navigable river Dwyryd to Maentwrog village allowing slates to be loaded onto river boats as close to the slate mines as possible.
As with many canals, it's working life was quite short. Once the 'gravity' railway was built from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog this became by far the most efficient way of transporting slates for onward shipping. Initially the Ffestiniog railway relied on gravity the roll the slate trucks down to Porthmadog, though horses were needed to draw the trucks back up to Blaenau. Even so, the railway soon made boat transport along the Dwyryd uneconomic.
For more see here captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/2016/02/cemlyn-canal.html
Music: 'Gently Onwards'
Gently, Onwards
ELPHNT
