Combine a walk over the moors with a visit to a local mine museum, including a guided tour into one of the mine adits. Scenery across the North Pennines and Northumberland, followed by this informative talk, combined with tea/coffee and cake. What more could you ask for?

Whether your stay with us is to enjoy the wide-open wilderness spaces by walking, running or cycling, or to explore the area for its many other facets, there is something for you all. Whilst it is believed that Bronze Age and Roman people in the area were the first to use the mineral wealth, the earliest historical evidence points to mines as we now know them starting in the area around the 1100s. These mines, in one form or another, persisted until the mid-1900s, leaving their legacy in the valleys and villages across the North Pennines.
A relatively short walk over the moors, crossing into Cumbria, will bring you to the small village of Nenthead. Despite its small sleepy appearance, this was once an important location for mining such things as lead, zinc, felspar and a by-product, silver. The landscape of the area still bears testament to the industry, but much of the infrastructure has now disappeared. Much of the stone has been reused in other buildings throughout the area. At the eastern end of the village is Nenthead Mines, where some of the mining heritage has been preserved by volunteers.
Carrs Mine in the centre of the site was a site of lead and zinc mining, with the very important by-product of silver coming from the lead as it was smelted on site. The mine is open for tours underground to see the working conditions and marvel at the amazing stonework that still looks like new in certain parts of the mine. The tours are guided by the volunteers, and you will learn about the geology of the area as well as how the mineral ores were extracted. Whilst many of the buildings are now just a few courses of stone high it is still possible to wonder at how busy the place must have been during its heyday.
One of the later additions to the site was the Brewery Shaft, which goes down 100 metres and used to supply air into the mines by utilising the water from a reservoir high on the moors above. A must-see attraction as the lights show the old pipes within the shaft and the echo of a stone being dropped, taking 5 seconds from top to bottom.
If you are feeling peckish either before or after your visit then homemade cakes are readily available within the old barracks that also houses photographs and artefacts recovered from around the extensive site and area.
Details of open days and events can be seen on their website https://www.nentheadmines.com/category/open-days/

When staying at Carrshield Camping Barn there is always something to do, a short drive away to Alston will bring you to the South Tynedale Railway. A preserved 2-foot narrow gauge railway that is the second highest in England along the route of the old Alston to Haltwhistle line that was built in the mid-1800. By planning your day, it is possible to visit a Roman hill fort overlooking the valley, three different cafes and take a cooling dip into the South Tyne River.

When staying at Carrshield Camping Barn there is always something to do, a short drive away to Alston will bring you to the South Tynedale Railway. A preserved 2-foot narrow gauge railway that is the second highest in England along the route of the old Alston to Haltwhistle line that was built in the mid-1800. By planning your day, it is possible to visit a Roman hill fort over-looking the valley, three different cafes and take a cooling dip into the South Tyne River.
Tickets for the railway can be return, single journey or station hopper, to allow you to explore the area either side of the track. Running along side the track is the River Tyne Trail, which starts at the source of the river above nearby Garrigill and follows the course to where it meets the North Tyne River and then onwards to the sea. Soon after leaving Alston Station, perhaps having had a breakfast in the café, you are soon into the country with the moors rising on either side, wildflowers growing on the embankments and birds singing in the trees and meadows that dot the nearer landscape.
To the south of Kirkhaugh station there is a pathway signed to the nearby Nook Café and Farm Shop as well as Epiacum (Whitely Castle on maps) Roman hill fort just above. It is only a short detour and well worth a visit, with informative signs placed around the site. A donations box is in the car park that leads to the café.
Just to the north of Kirkhaugh station it is possible to follow a footpath (signed as part of the long-distant route Isaac’s Tea Trail) down to the river. Crossing over the recently renovated bridge will give you access to the water, a great spot for cooling off on a warm summer’s day.
On arriving at Slaggyford railway station go to the northern ned of the platform where The Little Buffet Car will be awaiting to serve you refreshments prior to your return journey to Alston, or maybe as you continue along the River Tyne Trail.
To explore this and much more go to our website for further information and booking.

The area’s natural beauty speaks for itself with wilderness-like moorland intersected by beautiful valleys, many of which are isolated and sparsely populated. Alongside this magnificent quiet landscape, there is much to be found that has contributed to the heritage of not only the area, but the country and further afield.

Artefacts have been found in the area surrounding the Allen Valleys that show Bronze Age people were living in the area and to some extent started the first farms and mines that would later come to dominate the economy of the county and surrounding area. Roman remains are only a short distance away at the world-famous Hadrian’s Wall and Housesteads as well as nearby Vindolanda. Even closer, there are the remains of a hill fort at Epiacum, in the neighbouring South Tyne River valley. Conveniently there is a farm shop and cafe close by as well.
From the 1700’s the area became an industrial hub with mining at the core of the activity, mainly for lead. The area is scattered with the remains of these old workings and buildings, some of the villages that housed 200-300 people now have just 3 habitable houses remaining, how times have changed. There are four mining museums in neighbouring villages where it is possible to get an appreciation of the conditions within the mine and the area during their heyday. Again, all the locations are served by local cafes, so a good walk from Carrshield and back with lunch and enlightenment.
More up-to-date is the Museum of Modern Sci-fi in nearby Allendale, where it is possible to see a number of exhibits from classic movies and series from the 1960’s onwards. Well worth a visit, there are also pubs and a cafe in the immediate area.
Our website has more details on the above and many more things to do in the area, so have a look and book your next adventure with us to escape to somewhere different.