Four days to discover the heart of Cumbrian mining - the Lakeland history beneath our feet. Covering Langdale, Greenside, Coniston & Honister
Step into the heart of Lakeland mining with expert guides by day and Tom McNally’s unforgettable underground world by night
Three historic mines, three brilliant experts, and one inspiring underground evening
Day 1: Elterwater, Great Langdale - Mark Hatton - How it all began, followed by Tom McNally Underground Photography Talk & 2 Course Dinner at Langdale Hotel
Day 2: Glenridding, Ullswater - Warren Allison, Greenside mines
Day 3: Coniston - Phil Jonhstone, Coniston copper mines
Day 4: Borrowdale - Special tour underground of Honister slate mines & Fleetwith Pike Hike
**Day 5 (optional extra mountain day +£45) ** Langdale Pikes Geology Tour by Liz jolley
Date: Monday 20th April-Thursday 24th April
Start / Location: Great Langdale
£290
Included in the price:
4 x Guided low level hiking days with qualified local guides and a Lakeland mines expert
1 x Evening Talk with Tom Mcnally on Monday at The Langdale Hotel
1 x Evening dinner at The Langdale Hotel on Monday
NOT included in the price:
Accommodation (but see recommendations below)
Packed lunches (although we can provide lovely healthy packed lunches for £15 each - on request)
NOTE: Transport each day is not included, but we can arrange car sharing each day between participants.
ACCOMMODATION:
The Langdale Hotel has offered 15% discount for our break. Use promotional code 'HIKINGHIGHS' when booking
The Quiet Site, Ullswater have offered Luxury Glamping Cabins for the 3 nights for £330 (a reduction of £60).
Event program & details
Monday 20th April - Walk with Mark Hatton national mining history expert - Elterwater
How it all began, Elizabethan times with German miners. Elterwater was the site of gunpowder production, hear more about this too! This is not a strenuous hike, and will be approximately 8km on the valley floor with a marginal amount of ascent.
After a meet and greet we will take a short wander to hear the gunpowder story, followed by afternoon tea.
Monday 20th April - Evening: Photographic Underground Journey
told by Tom McNally. Tom is an award winning documentary, adventure sports and lifestyle photographer.
A 2 course dinner at The Langdale Hotel Is included following Tom’s talk
Tuesday 21st April - Glenridding, Ullswater
Tales of Greenside Mines will be told as we walk and talk with Warren Allison, who’s parents both worked at the mines (Read about Warren Allison’s connections to Greenside below)
Route details: Approx 10km & 550m ascent
At Greenside they mined for lead between 1825 and 1961. They became the wealthiest mines in the UK as they discovered a vein of silver. This mine was the first in the UK to have hydro electric power underground, created by the power of the water off Helvellyn slopes.
Throughout its life the mine employed hundreds of people from all over the country. Some walked many miles from far away villages with a week's supply of food, travelling back at the weekend to see their families.
Wednesday 22nd April - Coniston
Coniston Coppermines, The story of Boulder Valley, beneath and beyond.
Phil Johnstone, owner and inspiration behind the Coppermines valley as we know it today, will talk us through the mining historical timeline of this splendid valley and its people.
Route details: Approx 8km & 600m ascent
The first miners here were the Germans in the 16th century, & mining thrived here until the 1950's
Phil Johnston, Owner of Coniston Coppermines tells his story with the mines below.
Thursday 23rd April - Honistor, Borrowdale
The Hidden Honistor tunnels: Underground, and levels unseen, by the general public, this special tour and journey deep under Fleetwith Pike will be lead by an expert crew member of Honister Slate Mines. Adorned with helmet and headtorches, you will be blown away by what we find and learn.
Route details:
Morning underground is an easy walking tour, Approx 3 km & 100m ascent
Afternoon hike onto Fleetwith Pike will be 6km with 400m of ascent approximately.
Nestled deep in the heart of the Lake District, the current owners of Honister are the proud guardians of the Westmorland Green Slate. This magnificent 450 million-year-old stone carries with it stories from aeons past, they been hewn from this very mountain for many a generation.
Optional extra £45 Friday 24th April - Langdale Pikes Geology Tour with Liz Jolley
A true fell walking day out onto these iconic mountains. This will push the boundaries for those who wish for 1 day out on the tops to complete their week of mining tales and history (we will tick 4 Wainwrights too)!
Mountain Day Walk Details - Distance: Approx. 7.1km with Ascent: 710m
Liz Jolley (geologist) will join us, to talk us through what lies beneath our feet, including visiting the Neolithic Axe Factory beneath Pike o’Stickle, and nearby outcrops of greenstone formed during volcanic activity millions of years ago, from which the axes were made.
You may also like the following events from Hiking Highs:
- Next Monday, 2nd March, 09:00 am, NNAS Bronze (Beginners) 2-day Navigation Course in Penrith
- Next Wednesday, 4th March, 10:00 am, Nordic Walking for the fells, Keswick in Keswick
- Next month, 18th March, 10:00 am, Nordic Walking for the Fells, Staveley, Nr Kendal in Kendal
Also check out other
Trips & Adventurous Activities in Keswick,
Workshops in Keswick.
