A Walk Up Middlehope Burn

Leading northward along Middlehope Burn (burn is a local word for stream valley, derived from old Anglo Saxon) from the village of Westgate is a scenic trail that follows the stream up through the densely forested Slitt Wood, onto the moors, and past several 19th century lead mines. The walk is a loop approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) long and is a showcase for both the natural history and industrial archeology of Weardale. The trail begins at the intersection of Front Street and the road to Rookhope, just east of the village postoffice and Co-Op. Follow the Rookhope road northward and watch for the trail to head off to the left into the wood. At the top, the trail will loop around to the east and rejoin the paved road back into Westgate. A nicely produced self-guiding map of the walk is available at the Killhope Lead Mining Museum up the dale.




The lower section of the burn runs through Slitt Wood. Here a small waterfall cascades over an outcrop of the Slatey Hazle Sandstone.




Further up the burn, the stream crosses the Five Yard Limestone, which creates numerous pools and small waterfalls.



Wildflowers, such as these Ramsons bloom in profusion throughout Slitt Wood. Many species, however, are becoming rare and endangered due to over-collecting by visitors.




As the burn leaves Slitt Wood for the open moors, the ruins of several 19th century lead mines are seen. These are the bouseteems at the Low Slitt Mine. Local lead mines were worked by many individual teams of miners, who would dump their raw ore (bouse) into separate washing stalls (bouseteems). After washing to remove waste rock, each team would transport its concentrated ore to a local smelter and were paid for the amount they delivered.



Just past the bouseteems are the remains of the mine proper. From this site the Slitt Vein (one of the longest ore veins in Weardale) was accessed by both a level (now collapsed) and a shaft. The structures are what is left of the engine house and the pit for the waterwheel that provided power for the engine.




Past the site of the Low Slitt Mine are the remains of the ore washing floors of the Middlehope Shield Mine. These structures have been heavily damaged over the years by occasional flooding along the stream.



Further along the trail is the entrance to White's Level. This is what is known throughout the dales as a horse level, which were stone-arched tunnel constructed just large enough to allow access to the mine ponys that pulled trains of ore cars to surface.




Up on the open moor is the entrance to the Middlehope Mine, once worked for both lead and iron ores. Attempts to reopen the mine during the 20th century for fluorspar were not successful.



Looking back down the burn toward the wood you can see numerous mounds of old mine wastes, many now grassed over, along the stream.




As the trail loops back toward Westgate, you come to the West Rigg Mine. Unlike the others on the trail, this was an open-cast mine. Quarrying has removed iron ores from the flats on either side of the vein, which is left as a rib standing in the center of the quarry. Lead has also bee removed, leaving a narrow cut in the center of the vein.



The local fauna, which are ubiquitous if not indigenous. In the background you can see a reservoir that was created to insure a constant supply of water to the mines in the burn below.







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All photographs copyright 2003 by Jesse Fisher, unauthorized reproduction prohibited.