Hydroelectic station visitor centre offering tunnel tours, kids' play area, climbing wall and cafe.
The Electric Mountain Visitor Centre is located at Llanberis in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. Visitors to the centre are able to take a tour of the nearby Dinorwig power station. The ground floor of the centre is fully wheelchair accessible and there is a lift to the first floor. Also on site is a shop and a cafe.
The tour starts with a film and then continues with a bus trip ( hydraulic lift ) deep inside Elidir Mountain to view the hydro electric Dinorwig power station. N.B. The tour commentary can be hard to follow if you have a hearing impairment so please advise the guide if you are having difficulty. An access statement which has been compiled by a member of Electric Mountain staff who is also a wheelchair user is available to download from their website.
Please note there is limited on access the bus so electric wheelchair users who can transfer will need to do so in order to be able to take the tour and there are two wheelchairs on site available to loan. If you will need to use one of these please state so when booking.
Electric Mountain Llanberis
The centre can be accessed via either the main car park or a lay-by on the main road at the front of the building.
Car Park: This is situated to the side of the visitor centre with four allocated bays for blue badge holders and has a firm surface. A pay and display machine is in use and is centrally located. There is a firm level path to the main access area of the visitor centre and two wide swing gates from the designated car park. Distance from car park to visitor centre is 65 metres.
Lay-by: This is opposite the main automatic sliding doors of the building. Distance is 11 metres and it is a drop off area. The curb here has not been lowered. There is a slight downwards gradient from the curb to the main entrance.
Access around the shop and tills is good. Two manual wheelchairs are available within the centre. Toilets and baby changing facilities are on the ground floor and there is a disabled toilet fitted with a grab rail.
Café: This is located on the ground floor with good all round access. There is a tea garden attached to the café which is accessible via sliding doors. The garden is level with grass and firm paths. The distance from the Café to garden is 5 metres.
Tour: The tour involves underground tunnels and caverns which may affect people suffering from claustrophobia, therefore we advise people suffering from claustrophobia not to embark on a tour. This starts from the first floor which is accessible by lift. The audio visual film has an induction loop system. Benches are provided. After the film a guide will escort you down a ramp which has a gradient of 1 in 12 and is fitted with grab rails. Assistance is available if required, or the lift could be used.
There are no toilets once on the tour. Lockers are provided for personal belongings which are restricted from the tours. Please note that personal medication is allowed. The distance from the locker room to the tour bus pick up area is 20 metres. Paths are level and firm.
Tour buses have semi low floors. A designated wheelchair friendly bus is available. Safety straps are in place to safeguard wheelchairs.
The distance to the Power Station from the Visitor Centre is .75 miles. The first stop offers an option to get off the bus and have a closer look at the machinery. The route is over a slightly uneven concrete floor that can be wet, it is also on a downward gradient without a handrail. It also involves climbing twenty four steps split between three flights of stairs which take you up to the next viewing level. Ear plugs are available if desired. Visitors with mobility problems may stay on the bus while the driver reverses the bus to the pick-up location. Visitors are able to alight here and meet rest of the group, thus avoiding the stairs.
The second stop is at the "Viewing Gallery". There is a ramp with a slight upwards gradient with a handrail when getting off the bus. The remainder is level flooring. There are exhibition panels on the walls. Chairs are provided for a short film. The bus is re-entered at the same point.
The bus then returns to the centre through a different exit tunnel, then uses the original route off the bus to the locker rooms and back to the café/shop area.
Local Information: Other attractions within close proximity are Snowdon Mountain Railway, Llanberis Slate Museum and Llanberis Lake Railway.
There is a local bus service and local taxi phone numbers are available from the reception desk. The nearest mainline railway station is 15 minutes away by car or 30 minutes bus ride, located in Bangor.
The nearest Doctors' surgery is opposite the main doors across the road.
Mobile telephone coverage is good in this area but please note that mobile phones are not permitted on the tours.
