Go Below Wales has always been at the top of our bucket list here at Travel The Unexpected. It’s not your average adventure experience. For about 90 minutes, you’ll be descending beneath the Earth into the deepest publicly accessible underground adventure anywhere on the planet! There are no paved walkways or souvenir photo setups. This is an immersive and authentic tour of the underground, with the added fun of ziplining and abseiling. The idea of lowering yourself into the deep unknown may be terrifying to some. But we’re here to assuage your fears and give you all the information you need to know to “Go Below” with confidence and enthusiasm! If you’re looking for adventure activities in Wales, Go Below is the ultimate find.
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What is Go Below?
Go Below Underground Adventures offers guided underground expeditions through slate mines beneath Snowdonia National Park. You’ll descend approximately 1,375 feet, which is deeper than the Empire State Building is tall! You’ll get to witness caverns that were carved into the mountain almost two centuries ago. Go Below will provide you with all of the equipment you need to stay safe during the journey, from helmets to harnesses, to headlamps, and other safety gear. There will be no natural light once you’ve begun your descent. So the headlamps definitely come in handy!
The Underground Adventures You Can Choose
There are three levels of adventure you can choose from at Go Below. These vary based on length, minimum age, and difficulty, and range from £69 to £129. We think it is priced incredibly fairly given how unique and long the experience is.
Challenge
Go Below Challenge is the shortest underground tour. It lasts for five hours and has a minimum age of 10 years old. There’s 1 abseil, 1 zipline, 3-4 traverses, 1 ladder, and a boat section. This one is listed as medium difficulty, which is the lowest level offered.
Hero Xtreme
Go Below Hero Xtreme lasts for 6 hours and is recommended for 14 years old and up. There are 1-2 abseils, 2-4 ziplines, 10 traverses, 1 ladder, and 2 bridges. This adventure has a difficulty level of “tough.”
Ultimate Xtreme
Go Below Ultimate Xtreme is the longest experience, lasting for 7 hours in total. You have to be at least 18 years old to participate in this Go Below adventure. There are 1-3 abseils, too many ziplines to count, 14 traverses, 2 ladders, 3 bridges, a Goliath Zip, and a free-fall jump. This one is naturally considered tough and is probably best for our most fearless readers.
Go Below Hotel
If you’re brave enough to traverse underneath the Earth’s surface, we think you’re brave enough to spend the night there! Go Below Deep Sleep is their underground lodging. From Saturday evening to Sunday morning, you can descend into the cavern, do 1 abseil, 1 zipline, cross 1-2 traverses, and then reach your lodging. It is the deepest place you can sleep anywhere in the world. The Go Below Deep Sleep price for two starts at £399, including the underground adventure, the cabin, and your meals. The difficulty level of Deep Sleep is considered medium, putting it about on par with the Go Below Challenge. This adventure, however, requires a minimum age of 14 years.
Is Go Below Wales Scary?
Go Below is objectively a little unnerving. You’re trusting the equipment, people, and processes you’ve only just been introduced to to keep you safe. But this company is a well-oiled machine. They’ve been offering these tours since 2003. And you don’t need any prior climbing or caving experience.
Go Below is right for you if you:
- Are in decent shape
- Can climb ladders and navigate uneven ground
- Are comfortable with heights
- Are willing to be in confined spaces for an extended period of time
Go Below may not be the right choice if you:
- Get claustrophobic easily
- Have a deep fear of heights
- Have mobility issues
- Don’t like the dark
What to Wear (And What Not to Wear)
The temperature in the mine is pretty stable year-round at about 50°F (10°C). So you will be a bit chilly, and you can expect to get wet throughout the experience. Here’s what to wear and what not to wear for maximum comfort.
Wear:
- Thermal base layers
- Waterproof outerlayer
- Gloves with grip
- Hiking boots with ankle support
Avoid:
- Jeans
- Cotton
- Shoes without tread
Why Go Below North Wales Belongs on Your Bucket List
There are plenty of adventure activities out there that don’t require much participation. When you skydive, your instructor releases the parachute. When you bungee, the cord pulls you back up. But at Go Below, you are an active participant. You get to navigate the cavern by abseiling, ziplining, climbing, and traversing. The feeling of accomplishment you’ll have at the end is unlike most other adventurous experiences.
Travel The Unexpected is built around highlighting one-of-a-kind experiences you can’t replicate anywhere else. Descending into a flooded Victorian slate mine beneath the mountains of Snowdonia definitely qualifies! Go Below is one of the most unique things to do in Wales, and we can’t wait for you to experience it for yourself.
