Thanks for all the suggestions.

Bit of background info; main interest is rock climbing, (all aspects) trad, sport and bouldering. So have a fairly good sense of rope work.
Have done a few big via ferrata's in Europe before, is Conniston worthwhile? Is it a guided party situation or can you just turn up with your own kit and crack on?

Not been underground that much and don't really know what the score is with having to have leaders for some places but not others? Can someone enlighten me.

Currently based in Bristol, anything around these parts?
Have been down Box mine in the past but that's turning in to a bit of a dump.
The Forest of Dean Iron mines sound interesting though.

Sam

Don't just turn up at Coniston with your kit unless you have someone with you who knows the route or you will get lost, it is bolted but there are no ropes, so if your going to do it, it is best as a pull through. You need a 200m rope as I think the first pitch is 90m.

Don't just turn up at Coniston with your kit unless you have someone with you who knows the route or you will get lost, it is bolted but there are no ropes, so if your going to do it, it is best as a pull through. You need a 200m rope as I think the first pitch is 90m.

You went a different way to me then Steve! 90m? Not sure where that is.

The pitches we did are 6m, 29m (down to the top level horizon), 23m (down to middle level) and 25m (down to Hospital level). If you don't know hospital level, it's worth going in there first and famaliarising yourself with that bit.

There are surveys on here (search Coniston) and it's certainly do-able from them if your reasonably confident. Best way would be to rig it properly, find your way through, go back up and repeat the trip, pulling the ropes through - it's a pretty quick trip if you don't get lost!