Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historical mining community in Wales, in the historical county of Merionethshire, although currently part of the unitary authority of Gwynedd. The population of the community of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 demographics, consisting of the nearby village of Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the fourth most populous community in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, as well as Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 puts the population of Blaenau itself at around 4,000. Blaenau Ffestiniog was at one-time the second largest community in North Wales, behind only Wrexham. After reaching 12,000 at the peak growth of the slate sector, the population fell with the decline in the demand for its slate. Today the community counts heavily on vacationers, that come for destinations that include the nearby Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate market decreased, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has actually also declined, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourism industry has actually come to be the town's biggest employer. The revitalized Ffestiniog Railway and the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are preferred visitor destinations, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill mountain biking centre. Recent destinations include the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which also currently includes the Bounce Below slate mine activity centre.
