Nenthead Mines

About

enthead Mines is a historic place at Nenthead, near Alston, UK.  This remote valley is covered by remains from the lead and zinc mining industry of the North Pennines, including mine entrances, watercourses, dressing-floors and buildings.  The site is famous for its geology and is notable for rare lichens and plants growing on the metal-rich mine dumps. Most of the valley is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Carrs Mine is an old lead and zinc mine which is open to visitors on Open Days. The NMCS  volunteer team provides guided trips into the mine.

Come and see us at Nenthead!  Check our website for the dates of our Mine trips and site open days. You can go underground on one of our Open Days.

Tours of Carrs Mine are approximately 90 minutes. We provide lamps and helmets. We suggest that you wear outdoor clothing and footwear. The temperature underground is around 8C. The mine is usually dry underfoot, but may be a little muddy in places. We welcome all children who can walk and climb stairs – we don’t take babes in arms underground.

Our Geodays start at 1000hrs and finish at 1500hrs. We spend the morning looking at the rocks and geology on the surface and spend the afternoon studying the minerals and faults underground in Carrs Mine. We suggest a donation of £17.50 per person

The site is open to visitors all year excepting that the buildings and mine are only open on our Open Days.