The route map of our walk

Approaching the old smelt mill workings at Old Gang

What remains of the old furnace house, this used to house four hearths which produced up to 2000 tonnes of lead a year

An old 'level' entrance just beside the path, the remains of the peat store can just be seen on the moors above

A view back along Old Gang as we headed along the valley towards Level House

Level House bridge, here we crossed the stream and headed west across Melbecks Moor to Gunnerside Gill

Approaching the high point of the walk on Melbecks Moor, and the desolation of the old spoil heaps!

What remains of a 'stone crusher' left to rust amongst the spoil heaps

Looking towards 'North' Hush, the C2C path can be clearing seen coming across the moors from Keld

Blind Gill and the remains of the Blakethwaite smelting mill, in the bottom of the gill

Approaching Bunton mines, this is probably the most 'worked' area of the gill

Tim enjoying his mid-morning carrot!

The entrance to Bunton 'horse level' The ore from the Bunton mine was taken underground to the Old Gang smelt mill on the other side of the moors, a distance of around three miles!

The ore dressing floor at Bunton mine, here the 'bouse' (a mixture of ore, stones and minerals) was seperated before smelting

Looking back towards the Bunton mine as we walked down the gill towards Gunnerside

Botcher Gill Nook

Approaching the Sir Francis mines

The remains of the Sir Francis mine dressing floor

Birbeck Woods and the boulder strewn Gunerside Beck in the lower part of the gill

The woods were full of primroses

and the bluebells and wild garlic were just starting to come out

Approaching Gunnerside village and the end of the gill

Looking back down onto the village as we climbed up onto Low Row Pastures on our way back to the car

A similar view, but this one is from the limestone shelf that runs along the valley

The pastures were full of the small but beautiful Mountain Pansies

We even managed to find a couple of these Early Purple Orchids

We passed through the peaceful hamlet of Blades before heading over the moorland behind and back to Surrender Bridge

A view down the valley towards Reeth

Back at Surrender Bridge and the car!

The remains of Surrender Bridge smelt mill, probably the easiest to get to as its right beside the road