Highlight (Segment) • Structure
Dolgarrog Hydro-Electric Pipes
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Gwarchodfa Natur Genedlaethol Coedydd Aber
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MCW73
June 11, 2025
Hiking
The Dolgarrog pipes are a prominent and historically significant feature in the landscape around the village of Dolgarrog in the Conwy Valley, North Wales. They are part of a hydro-electric power scheme that has been in operation for over a century.
These large pipes carry water from the Carneddau mountains to the Dolgarrog hydro-electric power station, which was originally built to provide cheap electricity for an aluminium smelting plant established in 1906. While the aluminium factory has since closed, the power station continues to feed electricity into the National Grid.
These large pipes carry water from the Carneddau mountains to the Dolgarrog hydro-electric power station, which was originally built to provide cheap electricity for an aluminium smelting plant established in 1906. While the aluminium factory has since closed, the power station continues to feed electricity into the National Grid.
MCW73
June 11, 2025
Hiking
The pipes are directly linked to the legacy of the tragic Dolgarrog Dam Disaster. In November 1925, the failure of the Eigiau Dam, followed by the overtopping and failure of the Coedty Dam, caused a devastating flood that swamped the village, killing 16 people. This disaster led to the passing of the Reservoirs (Safety Provisions) Act in 1930, which introduced crucial laws on reservoir safety. While the pipes themselves weren't the cause, they are an integral part of the hydro-electric system that was at the heart of the disaster.
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Nearby routes
Best routes near Dolgarrog Hydro-Electric Pipes
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Distance 668 m
Uphill 210 m
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Wednesday 7 October
14°C
8°C
78 %
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Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h
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