There isn't much left of the 19th Century copper mine, but I was curious to check it out whilst I was here. From the entrance, the route down to the mine didn't take long, nor did walking around the mine, (or rather, its ruins). A lot of the area around the mine was roped off (probably for safety reasons), so it was difficult to see inside the structures. Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience, and you could still see the copper deposits on the surrounding rocks, which was cool. It was a sunny day and nobody else was about, so it made for a rather nice stroll.It's definitely worth visiting whilst in Virgin Gorda, but don't make it the only reason you visit (there are far better places to see!)
These copper mine ruins sit right on the water and have great views in all directions. You can see a lot of the rocks that turned green from the copper content in them
copper mine itself. takes about 2 minutes to walk there from the small parking area. There is a board that discusses the history of mining in the area staring with the Amerindians in the 1400s so that was a bit educational.
beautiful old ruins and history. It was a stop on our island self tour. It was a beautiful site and view of water swells.
If you are on Virgin Gorda,put aside an hour to take the drive up the ridge on the southeast side of the island to snap a few shots of the ruins and the crashing ocean below or change your perspective to face north and include the view of Gorda Peak across the bay.
One of the absolute best locations on the island for dramatic sweeping landscape shots. If you time it correctly, you can even catch a few small airplanes landing at the VG airport. If you go at night for any sort of photography, plan on bringing a flashlight- there are basically zero facilities besides a parking area and sign. A photographer's dream, you get dark sky, amazing ruins, far off lights in the distance from the islands, and generally, a totally deserted place to paint with light or do longer exposures.
I am a geology nerd so I found this place pretty darn cool. We found a geocache there and enjoyed looking at the ruins and the view itself. The oxidized copper in the granite was neat to see.
We heard mixed reviews from the forums concerning the Copper Mine. From waste of time to very little to see. We were saying on the island and had some time, so we figured why not?We were pleasantly surprised at what the Copper Mine had to offer. Yes it is at the end of a long winding road but in reality its a mile or so from the boat docks, probably a $5 cab ride tops. There's a small parking area at the end of the road and definitely wear some shoes or hiking shoes, there's a lot of loose gravel with small slopes n such that creates a little loose footing. Read the signs and read the history behind these copper mines, imagine yourself in their positions. Mind boggling really. The structures left are rather historic and inspiring. I say inspiring because this was extremely difficult work at a time modern times. Pretty cool stuff. Now there isn't a whole lot to see structure wise. The mine ruins, while neat, are a standing few and wont take you hours to explore. Our group also spent a bit of time exploring the massive rocks and structures that the mines were built on. I enjoy some mountaineering, hiking and climbing so this area was paradise. I climbed my way out to the extent of the rocks overlooking the ocean and had a back drop of the copper mines. If you enjoy taking in scenic views and just really isolating yourself with the vastness, the powerfulness and the beauty of the natural world and the oceans, spend a bit of time over at the Copper Mine.The history behind the Copper Mines is only one small reason why they stood out so much with me. The natural beauty, the power of the ocean along with the waves crashing into the islands and Mines makes this a bit of a underrated gem. I hate to quote a movie but I will. Matthew Broderick's character (Ferris Bueller) had the following line, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Live this line!
Coppermine Point was a great side trip after a day at the Baths and before watching the sun set at the Mine Shaft Café. There is a placard to describe what you are seeing (cistern, boilers, chimney, engine room), though the map of the paths on the placard doesn’t match the actual path. You can still see the green tinge of copper in some of the rocks in the area. The view across to the airport is beautiful. The visit doesn’t take more than 15 minutes or so.
We went on a rainy day. Nothing much to look at but is interesting and a quick walk around the old mine.