There are few walking destinations quite as unusual as Parys Mountain, aka Copper Kingdom, ominously looming in the north-eastern corner of Anglesey, Wales.
An old copper mine dating back to the Bronze Age, keen ramblers from far and wide make the journey here to discover the mountain’s rich history, unique vistas and eerie tranquility.
Standing in stark contrast to Anglesey’s luscious countryside flanking the mine on all fronts, Copper Kingdom’s outlandish appearance has even caught the eye of several movie producers over the years, mostly notably being used as a filming location for Mortal Kombat in the 90s!
While today you unfortunately aren’t likely to encounter any martial artists duking it out on the copper mine, the landscape is still nothing short of spectacular and contains several walking trails available for those keen to explore.
If that sounds like something up your alley, be sure to check out our ultimate Copper Kingdom walk guide below for the full lowdown
Interested? Let’s get to it 👇👇
Where is Parys Mountain, Copper Kingdom?
Parys Mountain (Mynydd Parys in the native tongue) stands just south of the coastal town of Almwch in the northeast of Anglesey, Wales.
Don’t be expecting to see a huge mountain jutting up from the countryside as you approach however, since the location is a mountain in name only.
In reality, Mynydd Parys is a small hill with an elevation of less than 150 metres and offers little in the way of incline as you wander around the waymarked footpaths.
History of Parys Mountain & Copper Kingdom
Excavations of Parys Mountain in 2002 discovered evidence of mining dating all the way back to the Bronze Age; making it one of the few spots in Britain with strong evidence for prehistoric beginnings of the British metal mining industry.
Fun fact – Copper ingots with Roman inscriptions have also been discovered here.
While miners had long picked away beneath the Anglesey Mountain surface over millennia, notoriety didn’t truly arrive until in the 18th century, when large-scale industrial mining was introduced to the area.
Transforming Almwch into a global powerhouse almost overnight, this quiet port town quickly came to dominate the world copper market in the 1780s and garnered the nickname ‘Copper Kingdom’; with local mine owner Thomas William’s aptly titled its ‘Copper King’.
As you gaze upon Copper Kingdom, its fascinating to cast your mind back in time to this manic period.
Imagine over a thousand people labouring both above and below ground, all working in unison to extract vast wealth from the mountain.
Witnessing all this hustle and bustle must have been quite the sight I’m sure!
Top tip – For those wanting to learn more about the history of Parys Mountain, why not check out The Copper Kingdom Centre based in Amlwch Port?
Where to park for the Parys Mountain walk?
The car park for the Copper Kingdom walk is located along the B5111, just south of Almwch (postcode LL68 9RE).
The car park is free and possesses an informational board detailing history of the site and its designated walk routes.
Copper Kingdom Parys Mountain Walk
🥾 Distance: 4.8 km (3 miles)
💪 Difficulty: Easy
📍 Location: Amlwch LL68 9RE
How long is the Parys Mountain Walk?
There are two waymarked trails around the Parys Mountain – one long and one short – directions of which can be found on the information board at the start of the trail from the car park.
Both routes are circular and suitable for most abilities, with the longer trail being a full loop around the mine which should take around 2 hours to complete at a leisurely pace.
The shorter trail should take most hikers no longer than 1 hour.
What you’ll see on the Parys Mountain Walk
A guaranteed favourite with the kids, the vibrant hues of red rocks, various points of interest and riveting history of the mine means they’ll be entertained throughout.
Warning – While this walk is relatively easy and suitable for most, please take care with children due to steep drops and uneven rocky underfoot.
With plenty of open space to explore around the Mountain, signposts do warn visitors to stick to the set footpaths however since it is rather easy to get lost in the mine, especially in foggy conditions.
Dotted around the trail you’ll encounter informational points along with a number of interesting relics of the mining industry.
Highlights include an old smelter/furnace, precipitation ponds, Oxen Quarry and a 19th Century windmill which you’re able to enter inside.
In addition to fantastic views of the mountain and its mining remnants, the panoramas looking beyond the site are equally captivating.
Look out to the north to admire Amlwch Port, while direct your gaze to the south to see Trysglwyn’s wind farm.
What has been filmed at Parys Mountain?
The mine has been featured in various shows and movies over the years, most notably TV series ‘Extreme Archaeology’ in 2004 and 90s cheesefest cult classic, Mortal Kombat Annihilation.
While certainly not a serious watch, the film is so bad that it’s actually good in a tragic kind of way.
Unintentionally hilarious throughout, the real kicker however comes in the closing credits where you can see Parys Mountain incorrectly cited as located in England…
I’m sure the Welsh were thrilled with that one!
If you fancy a laugh, I’ll leave a video below showcasing some of the film’s very best (or should I say worst) scenes 😂
Other nearby Anglesey walks
Anglesey truly is a walker’s paradise. For more trails on offer in this spectacular isle, why not check out our ‘8 BEST Walks In Anglesey’ blog post?
Likewise, if you’re fan of historic sites, then you REALLY need to check out the derelict wonder of Porth Wen Brickworks, located just 5 miles north of Parys Mountain.
More resources
Wales is certainly in no shortage of outdoor adventure.
Whether that’s climbing Snowdon, camping out in the gorgeous landscape or taking a dip in one of the many wild swimming spots, be sure to trawl through the Wales section of our blog for plenty more inspiration.
Happy walking 🚶🚶