Saturday January 21st 2017. Start at 10.00am.

Leader: Chris James. Meet at 10.00am in the Pay & Display Car Park in Over Haddon (DE45 1JE). No prior booking required – all welcome. Bring a packed lunch and drink.

Inspecting the sough at Mandale Mine in Lathkill Dale

An approximately 6 mile circular walk on tracks, footpaths and country lanes. Generally easy going, with one steep section up the valley side to get out of the Dale. We will be looking at various archaeological and mining features in this beautiful limestone valley, which is also a National Nature Reserve. We will visit the sites of Mandale and Lathkill Dale mines (among others) to see the impressive remains of mainly C19th mining activities, and even get to look down onto the illuminated Lathkill Dale Sough! We will also see various quarries and other features – including prehistoric rock shelters and caves if time allows.

Please note that there are no facilities of any kind in the Dale itself, but we might have an optional drink in Over Haddon afterwards. There are also toilets at the car park in Over Haddon.

I recently found a video about Lathkill Dale on YouTube, which features some lovely aerial drone photography – you can view it here.