The Great Laxey Mine Railway offers a wonderful journey on this historical railway originally constructed to serve the Isle of Man's Great Laxey Mine. Passengers can today ride in a tiny carriage running from the old Laxey lead mine entrance, a quarter mile along the line, which once carried lead and zinc ores from the mine, and on to the Valley Gardens which is now the terminus, and once was the mine's washing floors. Along the way you'll pass beneath the main Laxey to Ramsey road and the Manx Electric Railway and through the longest railway tunnel on the Island, hauled by a replica of one of the original steam engines. The Great Laxey Mine Railway offers a fascinating journey and insight to when the loaded wagons carried the metal ores, there's also a not to be missed Laxey Wheel close to the terminus, which built in 1854 to pump floodwater from the mine, and the largest working waterwheel on the island.READ MORE

Snaefell Mountain Railway is located on the eastern coast of the Isle of Man running from the village of Laxey and was built all the way back in 1895. Still operating today with the majority of it's original Victorian rolling stock, take a fascinating journey on this Victorian electric tram from Laxey to the summit of Snaefell, the only mountain on the island. Enjoy view to England, Scotland, Wales and even Ireland on a clear day. Snaefell Mountain Railway also runs from Laxey to Douglas and Ramsey stopping along the way at all the glens along the route, come for a fascinating and historical journey in these beautiful old trams.READ MORE

Salzwelten Hallstatt is a salt mine and fascinating attraction in Hallstatt, Austria where they showcase the oldest wooden staircase in all of Europe and you learn about the 7000 year old history of salt in an ancient salt mine. Your adventure starts with a panoramic funicular ride up the mountain, and the path then leads to the tunnel mouth of this unique and mystical underground world. First dug by hand over 3000 years ago, the tunnels go many kilometres and deep into the rock interior, come view where miners laboured and toiled so long ago. Home to the new Bronze Age Cinema, located 400 metres underground, projecting an animation and fictional story of a young boy and the oldest ancient staircase, it's fascinating. Salzwelten Hallstatt also has a subterranean salt lake reached by fast miners slides, where you enjoy a multimedia show about the white gold that has been mined here forever, and then you take the miners railway back to daylight and the Hallstatt High Valley, this unique experience is not to be missed.READ MORE

South Wales Miners Museum in Cynonville, Port Talbot, Wales offers a historical journey back in time into the working life of a miner, complete with replica miner's tunnel, photographs and artifacts from days of old. There's a dark room to explore showing true underground conditions, as well as an authentic Blacksmith shop, Lamp room and antique Engine house. The South Wales Miners Museum was the first mining museum in Wales and is family friendly although does depict the hardship children and adult miners had to endure, and audio guides are available free of charge, and educational sessions are offered throughout the year. The museum shop has a wonderful array of mining books and DVD's, CD's, lamps, coal figures, magnets and keyrings, so stop by there too, a fascinating visit and insight into mining days of yesteryear awaits.READ MORE

The Independence Mine State Historical Park in Wasilla, Alaska offers a wonderful insight into Alaska's gold mining days, and here visitors can learn what it was like to live and work in one of Alaska's largest gold mining camps. Enjoy a self guided interpretive tour through the mine camp, it's a fascinating adventure tourism experience of displays about mining, natural history and the Independence Mine story. This historical site offers all the interesting artifacts, exhibitions and more at the Mine Managers's House, so begin your tour there.READ MORE

The Great Orme Mines in Gwynedd are constantly changing. New discoveries are being made each year. Since excavation began on the Great Orme Mines in 1987 over 100,000 tons of 19th Century mine waste has been removed to uncover a small section of the original prehistoric landscape.READ MORE

Slate does not warp shrink or rot and is a very versatile product. At Inigo Jones Slate Works in Gwynedd, there is an opportunity to have a go at calligraphy and lettercutting on a piece of slate that you get to keep as a souvenir.READ MORE

Sygun Copper Mine in Gwynedd offers a rare opportunity for those with a sense of adventure and curiosity, from the young to the elderly, to discover for themselves the wonders it still shelters after being abandoned in 1903.READ MORE

Llechwedd Slate Caverns in Gwynedd is not your average museum. Set in 2000 acres of land above the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog we?re a living, working slate mine that has been active since opening in 1836.READ MORE

Visit The Coppermines Coniston Slate in ConistonREAD MORE