Smallcleugh Mine - A Trip Through Time

With: Alan & Clare

Weather: Stormy wild evening

Where: Nenthead, North Pennines

Me Beginning Abseil at "New Pitch" Above Wheel Flats

The weather at the start of 2012 has continued to thwart our underground plans in the same way it did in the latter part of 2011 - this was planned as a caving trip, however, torrential rain made the decision to divert to the Nenthead mines an easy one.

We decided to do some of the easily accessible vertical sections of the mine, a Smallcleugh - Rampgill through trip: in through the Smallcleugh portal & keep right at the fork heading in the direction of 9 crawls. At Luke Hall's sump we took a left and headed for Wheel Flats where we ascended above the Flats to arrive at the recently bolted pitch - this is a nice addition to this section of the mine & it was good to stop by and have a good look at it (picture above).

We then re-traced our steps to Prouds Sump and abseiled down the two pitches into Prouds Sump Flats - an area quite rich in artefacts & well worth a visit. The final descent down a fixed ladder leads into the Rampgill horse level & a long wade out through sometimes waist deep "Baltic Cold" water. Any way its fairly quick back to Whisky Bottle corner this way & soon back on the visitor centre car park.

This is a good evening underground and a good alternative to a trip to the Dales on a wet night.

Clare at foot of 2nd abseil

A Mining Museum

Great Archaeology