The problems and conflicts that arise from the interactions of tourism and recreation development and the range of environments associated with and resulting from industrial heritage explored through case studies of coal mining and quarrying communities in Wales, UK, and Spain. The examples illustrate how certain places attempt to counteract the effects of a process of industrial, social, and demographic decline by taking advantage of their forgotten past and its potential as a tourist attraction in the face of widening cultural and recreational interests. While this type of industrial tourism has been relatively successful in the UK, this situation is not equalled in Spain, as both existing attractions are as yet relatively unexploited and underdeveloped. The reasons for this relative lack of success are described, including cultural, geographical and economic.