Looking for any mines that might be open and accessible in the next week near Nenthead/Allendale/Allenheads please. I am more of a caver than a miner and have only really done trips to the ball room via the Nenthead museum entrance mine. I presume Nenthead museum mine area is closed and hence that is a no go..
Mines near Nenthead
- Thread starter Gemma
- Start date
royfellows
Well-known member
The Nenthead mines are always open, the official trips are into Carrs Mine. You have choice of Smallcleaugh, Caplecleaugh, Rampgill and Brownley Hill. No locked gates. If you are a novice to this I strongly suggest that you wait for opportunity to explore with others who are familiar with the mines. Smallcleaugh is very complex, Caplecleugh is very wet and also dangerous to the inexperienced ( exploring mines not caving). Rampgill is what I would probably recommend for a starter, I spend hours in there and only need thigh wellies. There are also surveys available.
Follow this link, you can get your surveys and may be able to join in with a group:
Follow this link, you can get your surveys and may be able to join in with a group:
The Mine Explorer Society - Mine Explorer Society
nenthead mine exploration , smallcleugh , carr's , rampgill , capelcleugh , nenthead , mine explorer society
www.mineexplorer.org.uk
legendrider
Active member
Roy's advice is sound. Rampgill mine offers many hours of exploration at every level. Its the oblong gated portal on the left in the corner, adjacent to the walled mine yard, at the very top end of the bottom car park. Entering the level, the first item of note is Brewery Shaft on the right about 100yds inbye. Depending on time available, you could do Scaleburn Vein (first LH branch) for a cosy afternoon, or head up to Whisky Bottle Junction and go straight ahead to Hangingshaws Level and Prouds Flats (follow water, seek alu ladder), or turn Left at WBJ and follow Rampgill Vein where there's plenty to go at without even branching off and loads more if you do. Interesting flats up hopper in vicinity of Rampgill Shaft (way beyond Norpex Door) and also just before Boundary Gate.
Have fun
MARK
Have fun
MARK
Speleofish
Active member
Out of curiosity, how strenuous are these trips? I'd be happy to try something that equated to Long Churn (both) or Borrins Moor. I'd be reluctant to try something gruelling these days....
wellyjen
Well-known member
Mostly walking. They are mines, originally designed for human progress, unlike caves which aren't. Some ladder climbs to get between levels. Collapses may mean more difficulties to get by and sometimes deep water, for example in Capelcleaugh.
legendrider
Active member
Scaleburn Vein in Rampgill is mostly a stroll, only one crawly dig before the Whim Chamber and four after; air quality drops off markedly after new dig beyond the the Whim Chamber, but still an interesting trip at that. Some freeclimbing into flats and stopes if desired, otherwise all on the level. Welly deep or less.
Rampgill Vein is substantially wetter and crawlier, a good workout through the 15 or so Norpex digs but no water deeper than occasional knee deep. Lots of free-climbables. Plenty of interest along there, worth the trek. Takes a good hour to reach Boundary Gate from the portal without any sightseeing!
Hangingshaws is a pretty easy walk and mostly ankle deep, but one dig ways inbye ponds up the water to thigh deep, before reaching the ladder into Prouds flat, which is worth a look.
There are several recent videos on You Tube (varying degrees of muppetry) I'd recommend watching anything by Paul Marvin (Patterdale Rescue) as he tends to do straightforward, accessible interesting places without deep water or difficult terrain.
MARK
Rampgill Vein is substantially wetter and crawlier, a good workout through the 15 or so Norpex digs but no water deeper than occasional knee deep. Lots of free-climbables. Plenty of interest along there, worth the trek. Takes a good hour to reach Boundary Gate from the portal without any sightseeing!
Hangingshaws is a pretty easy walk and mostly ankle deep, but one dig ways inbye ponds up the water to thigh deep, before reaching the ladder into Prouds flat, which is worth a look.
There are several recent videos on You Tube (varying degrees of muppetry) I'd recommend watching anything by Paul Marvin (Patterdale Rescue) as he tends to do straightforward, accessible interesting places without deep water or difficult terrain.
MARK
