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Middlehope Shield and Low Slit lead mines and ore works

2 ha

Plan your visit

BirdsWildlifeHeritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome2 ha

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦86+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Dipper and Curlew
  • Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

9 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Dipper, Curlew, Oystercatcher +83 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Dipper, Curlew, Oystercatcher +83 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Free

Heritage

Historic site with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Common Carder Bee, Small Garden Bumblebee, Early Bumblebee +210 more · last seen 2025; Calcareous grassland — rare invertebrates and orchids

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Early-purple Orchid, Northern Marsh-orchid, Daisy +92 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

9 signed routes nearby · 21 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Weardale WayWalking route124 km
Named routeLength 124 kmRegional walking route
Wearhead Walk - The River Starts HereWalking route
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Rookhope Trails 4Walking route
Named routePoint-to-pointLocal walking route
Rookhope Trails 1Walking route
Named routeRound tripLocal walking route
Lead Mining TrailWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

5 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route C2CCycling route

C2C off-road sections - no longer NCN

Named routeRef C2CRegional cycle route
Route C2CCycling route

C2C Stanhope on-road braid

Named routeRef C2CRegional cycle route
National Byway (County Durham and Northumberland)Cycling route

The National Byway route through County Durham and Northumberland

Named routeRef NBRegional cycle route
Route 7Cycling route
Named routeRef 7National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route24 km
Named routeRef 7Length 24 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Sea to Sea routeMountain bike route

The UK's most popular challenge cycle route, travelling 136 miles between the Irish Sea and the North Sea, from Cumbria to Tyneside via the northern Lake District and the Pennines

Named routeRef C2CPoint-to-pointRegional cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

2 public paths nearby

Public paths
Seeingsike Roadbyway open to all traffic · 857 m
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 857 mPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

Photos

The valley of Middlehope Burn above Low Slit lead mine

The valley of Middlehope Burn above Low Slit lead mine

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