GeoWeek Force Cragg Mine Open Day
A rusty ‘tin shed’ beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this building is a tribute to human engineering and ingenuity, and it has a powerful story to tell about humanity’s impact on the planet.
- Booking not needed
Force Cragg Mine was the last working metal-ore mine in the Lake District, closing in 1991, it’s now an Ancient Scheduled Monument and a Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. The underground tunnels have collapsed, and this is a rare opportunity to go round the processing mill to see how the rock ore brought out of the mine was turned into the finished product. Force Crag Mine's processing mill holds the most complete assemblage of metal ore mining machinery preserved in-situ anywhere in England.
No need to book: Make your own way on foot or by bicycle and drop in to the mill any time between 10am and 2:30pm. You’ll be able to join the next tour on which there is space. Tours run approximately every 20 minutes.
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| All | £5.00 |
The basics
- Suitability
Suitable for ages 12+
- Meeting point
"Force Crag Mine, Coledale, Braithwaite, Keswick What3Words///admire.amounting.martini"
- What to bring and wear
Please bring cash - there's no signal for card payments. Please dress for the weather forecast and remember it's often colder and more exposed at Force Crag than it is in Keswick.
- Accessibility
The processing mill is off-grid, at the end of a 2 mile unsurfaced track in Coledale, accessible only on foot or by bicycle. There is no heating or lighting. It contains very steep and narrow staircases, narrow passageways and is dimly lit. A steep hill must be climbed on gravel paths to access the building.
- Other
No refreshments available on site - a shop, cafe and pubs available in Braithwaite village. You will not go underground - the tunnels have collapsed. When you arrive at the processing mill you may have a waiting time of up to 20 minutes before the next tour starts. This event will go ahead if it is raining. There is no parking at the mine - nearest parking is at Braithwaite village school, (£5), CA12 5TD
Upcoming events
Community coppicing days
Come and enjoy a day out in the Borrowdale Rainforest National Nature Reserve to help us with coppicing and take home some wood for gardening stakes, firewood or whatever you like.
GeoWeek Force Cragg Mine Open Day (including transport)
A rusty ‘tin shed’ beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this building is a tribute to human engineering and ingenuity, and it has a powerful story to tell about humanity’s impact on the planet.
Paddleboard taster sessions
Brought to you by the National Trust and Mobile Adventure, an opportunity to get out on the lake and maybe try something new.