Penrhyn Quarry

Located in the heart of Snowdonia is one of the largest slate quarries in the world and has been in commercial production for over seven centuries.

Welsh Slate

Welsh Slate is the world's leading supplier of high-quality slate for a range of exterior and interior design applications. Over 500 million years old, the material is widely recognised as the finest natural slate in the world.

Welsh quarries have been supplying the world with the highest quality slate for hundreds of years. Welsh Slate own and operate the famous Penrhyn, Ffestiniog and Cwt-y-Bugail quarries in North Wales.

Natural Welsh slate is sustainable with a life expectancy of well over 100 years and can withstand the most extreme environmental and weather conditions. Combine this with its unique natural beauty, makes Welsh Slate the material of choice for an extensive range of diverse applications.

Roofing

Natural slate from Welsh Slate’s Penrhyn, Ffestiniog and Cwt-y-Bugail quarries is globally recognised as producing the finest roofing slates in the world. It is the heritage and durability which sets Welsh Slate roofing tiles apart from other roofing slates, this is derived from its density and the unique geological formation found exclusively in North Wales.

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Hard Landscaping

Welsh Slate's use in hard landscaping has long been a favourite among architects, designers, home owners, builders, and landscapers. The inherent durability and versatility of Welsh Slate, together with its availability in a range of stunning colours and choice of finishes, make it the perfect solution.

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Exteriors

Welsh Slate is often used for walling, cladding and paving, because it provides the home owner and designer with immense scope for creativity. Available in a variety of exquisite colours, Welsh Slate possesses naturally occurring veining and variations in tone which add to its beauty.

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Interiors

Slate’s versatility, sophistication and durability make it the surface material of choice for so many homeowners, architects and designers, Welsh Slates' unique properties make it practical, easy to maintain, and beautiful to look at. Which is why it's used in interiors from floor tiles to worktops for its natural beauty, hard-wearing properties and uniqueness. Welsh Slate adds a smooth warm to touch finish or texture which gives depth to any space.

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Bespoke

Skilled craftsmen, stone masons and interior designers often choose sawn scant from Welsh Slate because of its unique aesthetic characteristics. Whether unfinished, textured or honed, Welsh Slate sawn scant allows the artisan craftsman to create a host of beautiful individual pieces. Anything from memorial stones and decorative plaques, to a functional rainscreen system or designer kitchen and bathroom worktops.

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Aggregates & Minerals

Welsh Slate is a major supplier of high-quality aggregates and specialist sand to the construction industry for a range of core applications. Welsh Slate decorative aggregates are available in commercial volumes direct from us in three colours and two sizes. Minerals can be used in the production of bituminous roofing felts in a range of pigmented and natural colours and in two grades as well as being bonded with resin to make a variety of products.

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Latest News and Case Studies

General

Why British-made roofing materials still matter on the world stage

Op-ed for Roofing Today from Michael Hallé, Commercial Director at Welsh Slate, part of Breedon Group.

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General

Breedon invests £750k in new saw line at Penrhyn Quarry to boost Welsh Slate roofing slate production

The investment at the Welsh Slate site means smaller slate blocks can be processed into roofing slates, increasing production capacity and reducing waste

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General

Breedon completes £1m mineral plant upgrade at Welsh Slate site to boost efficiency and reduce waste

Major upgrade at Welsh Slate’s Ffestiniog site in Gwynedd, North Wales will increase production of slate granules and powders, while improving safety, efficiency and sustainability.

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Ffestiniog Quarry

CAMBRIAN RAILWAY BUILDING IN OSWESTRY WIND NATIONAL RAILWAY HERITAGE AWARD

The team undertook vital repairs including replacing the hazardous asbestos tiles. with high-quality 500mm x 300mm Ffestiniog Blue Grey Capital-grade slates.

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News

THE NATIONAL GALLERY UNVEILS A NEW ARTWORK HONOURING WELSH SLATE'S CWT-Y-BUGAIL QUARRY

Sir Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery, said the tablet served as a reminder of the crucial moment "the nation's paintings were secreted in caves in the slate hills of north Wales to preserve them for future generations".

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Hard Landscaping

WHAT IS PENRHYN WELSH SLATE? ITS HISTORY— AND WHY IT'S AN EXCEPTIONAL PAVING PRODUCT

From Paving Site’s perspective, Penrhyn Welsh Slate paving offers unique advantages over imported slates — especially those from China or Brazil, which often contain high levels of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃).

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Roofing

CAMBRIAN RAILWAY BUILDING IN OSWESTRY SHORTLISTED FOR NATIONAL RAILWAY HERITAGE AWARD

The restoration was led by skilled craftsmen from local specialists Phillips and Curry Ltd and included the careful removal of hazardous asbestos tiles. These were replaced with high-quality 500mm x 300mm Ffestiniog Blue Grey Capital-grade slates supplied

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News

WELSH SLATE HELPS A STATION BUILDING WHOSE LIFE WAS ON THE LINE

Some 16,000 of the leading UK manufacturer’s 500mm x 300mm Ffestiniog Blue Grey Capital-grade slates now adorn the roof of the historic Grade II listed Cambrian Railways Building in the market town of Oswestry on the Shropshire/Welsh border

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Hard Landscaping

FOUR EASY WAYS TO TRANSFORM YOUR GARDEN – INSPIRED BY AWARD WINNING 2025 RHS PROJECT

A landscaper, who has recently taken part in constructing a multi-award winning garden at the RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse has predicted the garden trends set to take off following this summer’s events season – which include a 1970s throwback.

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News

LEADING LANDSCAPER SAYS 2025 IS YEAR OF THE ACCESSIBLE GARDEN

The team used products from essential materials provider Breedon, including Welsh Slate hard landscaping material from the famous Penrhyn Quarry, prized for its tactile qualities and durability, and Breedon Golden Amber Gravel

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Hard Landscaping

BREEDON DONATES FLAGSHIP PRODUCTS TO RHS SENSORY GARDEN IN RNIB COLLABORATION

Welsh Slate hard landscaping materials from Penrhyn Quarry selected for their accessibility and sensory qualities and Breedon Golden Amber Gravel - the only self-binding gravel of its kind to hold a Royal Warrant chosen for RHS Wentworth garden

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News

A NEW ROOF AT ROSSLYN

Rosslyn Castle, jointly with Rosslyn Chapel, is one of the most significant heritage assets in Midlothian and for the first time in over 350 years the castle has a new permanent roof of Penrhyn roofing slate over formerly ruinous areas

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