I thought about this around four years ago, though not some many people were interested in the idea last time due to few Cumbrian/North Western members being on aditnow, I think this had changed now. Anyone is welcome :)

Basically the Old Man quarries are a series of slate mines and quarries, many interconnected with old another, on the north facing flank of the coniston old man. To those used to Welsh slate mines, old Man is small, but nevertheless offers a lot of interwesting relics both on the surface and underground. The main focus would before the upper workings of Moss Head and Spion Kop, a complex of interesting, interconnected chambers. The complex is also linked with Scald Kop, an ancient slate mine dating from the early 1800s, with narrow, creepy tunnels which are scary to walk in, so I won't go in here but I suppose I should mentio it anyway.
The other, lower complex of workings, which is equally large, is unfortunatly inaccessible, because a large open chamber collapsed one night, the rock from which spread throughout the entire complex, save the bottom adit which is blocked but debris from the tip above. Nevertheless there are some great surface relics here.

In the evening perhaps we could dont another mines, slate of otherwise. For those mines explorers who are fluent in SRT then perhaps a trip around The Coniston coppermines can before arranged, or we could head to Tilberthwaite/Great Langdale to see some of the slate quarries there, some of which are pretty interesting, of head to the bigger, but more hardcore slate mines near Honister?

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Have added an event here, here are some pictures of the Old Man quarries:

[photo]Saddlestone-Moss-Head-Spion-Kop-and-Scald-Cop-August-2007-Image-023[/photo] - view down the workings from Moss Head

[photo]Saddlestone-Moss-Head-Spion-Kop-and-Scald-Cop-August-2007-Image-007[/photo] - Pelton wheel housing

[photo]Saddlestone-Moss-Head-Spion-Kop-and-Scald-Cop-August-2007-Image-008[/photo] - Saddlestone mill remains

[photo]Old-Man-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-30617[/photo] - The big closehead

[photo]Old-Man-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-30624[/photo] - Old Ladders

[photo]Old-Man-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-30467[/photo] - I have no idea what this is to be honest

[photo]Old-Man-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-30466[/photo] - the winch

[photo]Old-Man-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-56065[/photo] Spion Kop ladder

[photo]Old-Man-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-56064[/photo] - small incline

Here are some pictures of other quarries around Tilberthwaite/Great Langdale

[photo]Hodge-Close-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-72860[/photo] - Hodge Close level

[photo]Hodge-Close-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-72864[/photo] - another level at Hodge Close

[photo]Hodge-Close-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-027[/photo] - Open quarry

[photo]Hodge-Close-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-024[/photo] - incline winder

[photo]Little-Langdale-Quarries-Image-014[/photo] the famous Cathedral Cavern

[photo]Moss-Rigg-Slate-Mine-User-Album-Image-014[/photo] - Moss Rigg quarry

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Would really like to come along but would mean a day off work 😞

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It would :/ do you come up here much these days?

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