Old Slate Quarry
Old Slate Quarry
4.1
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4.1
99 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
34
Average
20
Poor
4
Terrible
0
Damon
Dublin, Ireland6 contributions
Jul 2021
Took a tour of the quarry recently, well worth the time! Visited the quarry with some locals who also had not taken the tour yet, we were all very impressed with the atmosphere and experience. I believe the tour guide's name was Steve or Stephen and he was knowledge, personable and affable in a way that we all enjoyed. Picked up some souvenirs at the end to remember the tour (bring cash if you'd like to do likewise). It's a great experience to add on to a memorable visit to the island.
Tour was kept socially distanced and the quarry itself is well ventilated. Walking is minimal and good for families and adults.
Tour was kept socially distanced and the quarry itself is well ventilated. Walking is minimal and good for families and adults.
Written 9 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Teresa G
48 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Went here not really knowing what to expect. What a very interesting place to visit. The guy who was young but his knowledge was brill and so nice. Took us into the quarry and watching lads working and how it all works. Def worth a trip if in Valentina island. He was saying putting cafe in there next year and the view from there amazing. Beautiful statue of our lady also up in the quarry.
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Four Points Travel
League City, TX127 contributions
Nov 2019
If you are on the island, you should certainly make this one of the stops. The drive up is easy and well marked with spectacular views along the way. Site has easy parking, and descriptive plaques to tell you all about the history of the place. You wont need much time, but still worth it.
Written 30 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ber D
5 contributions
May 2021
This is not a beautiful place in the sense of scenery. But it is a striking place to peak into. High up is the statue of our Lady and St. Bernadette and there was a stream of water flowing like a mini waterfall from the heights because it was a misty afternoon. It is dark and cavernous but a relic from the past and worth visiting. It is operating as a slate quarry again after many years of being closed due to a rock fall.
Written 31 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hanna
4 contributions
Aug 2022
We got there thanks to a map of the island that mentioned the place - it seemed interesting. However, when we got there, there were only two other cars there and basically no signs. When we walked to the cave mouth, there were workers inside, a lot of noise, one sign about the history of the place, and nothing else. We had no idea that we could have had the possibility of going inside - it looked as if it was closed thanks to the workers but there was no mention of either. Wasn't worth the ride there as we missed the Geokaun mountains due to time restraints - should have skipped this to go and see the mountains. If this really is as good as everyone else's reviews suggest, needs a lot better information to guide the visitors.
Written 4 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D P
Wellington, New Zealand8,027 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Went to see the shrine at the slate quarry on Valentia Island and oh yes it’s a Mary perching high above the quarry entrance on a triangular cave like opening…. Nothing really that exciting however park the car and walk right to the other slate entrance and look.
It’s fenced off so you can’t go in but you can get a good look down into the quarry cave and see the cutting machinery at the quarry face.
Now that was worth checking out so don’t miss it by jumping straight back in the car if you e gone to all the effort of getting down here.
It’s fenced off so you can’t go in but you can get a good look down into the quarry cave and see the cutting machinery at the quarry face.
Now that was worth checking out so don’t miss it by jumping straight back in the car if you e gone to all the effort of getting down here.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moylough79
83 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
Unexpected trip, never visited a quarry before so didn't know what to expect..thoroughly enjoyed it. Very knowledgeable and witty tour guide! Great value and cool to see the operations in action.
Written 8 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wendymagz
Matamata, New Zealand1,485 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
The Slate Quarry first opened in 1816 and has been a working quarry on and off since then. The quality of the slate quarried, is so good that it has been used for places like the Paris Opera House and London’s Houses of Parliament and today it’s used for counter tops, tables, roof slate etc. A rock fall closed the mine in 1910, it remained abandoned until 1954 when statues of Our Lady and Bernadette where placed high above the quarry entrance. Various events, including a yearly community mass, are held here – a ladder was built to reach the statues from the ground but only those with a head for heights were able to complete the journey up! The quarry was reopened a number of years ago and Valentia Island slate is again being exported around the world along thus providing local employment. The day we visited here, it was pelting with rain so we didn’t see the place at its best, but it’s quite unique and well worth a visit.
If you like my review, I hope you'll click the 'Helpful' button; those of us who write reviews love to get them and it motivates us to do more.
If you like my review, I hope you'll click the 'Helpful' button; those of us who write reviews love to get them and it motivates us to do more.
Written 20 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim H
Western Ireland, Ireland81 contributions
Sept 2018 • Business
Excellent location with panoramic views of the South Kerry coastline, a grotto and a working slate quarry / mine - the last working slate quarry in Ireland.
Written 30 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pauline872
Western Ireland, Ireland17 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
The walk up to the Slate Quarry from Knightstown through the lovely flora and fauna was a very pleasurable one and not at all arduous. I am 70 and managed it with ease. The views are breathtaking and reaching the summit at the slate quarry with the lovely Marion shrine made it all worth while.
Written 21 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On our first trip to Valentia Island,we were directed by a travel guide to travel west once we crossed the bridge to the island. We told to drive to the 'end of the road, open the farmer's gate, and continue on the dirt road to the coast'. This was on the far-west end of the island. There we passed a firepit with the rusted hulk of a military jeep next to it, and arrived at a vast field of slate pieces. The entire area appeared to be comprised of slate. In the distance (also to the west), we could see very large breakers off the ocean hitting the shore. The stark beauty of the area was overwhelming and we walked around the area for almost an hour before returning to our rental vehicle and returning to the Ring of Kerry route. After reading the current information regarding the slate quarry, we appear to have been directed to a totally different area on the island. I captured the highlights of the visited area on 35mm film.
On our return trip next year, the Valentia Island slate quarry was a 'must-see' return visit.
Henry Goodman
Written 13 August 2016
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