Geology around Millom

David Kelly

The Hodbarrow Mine, closed in 1968, it was one of the largest iron ore mines in south and west Cumbria. The visit will allow us to see how the form of the ore body influenced the method of mining and the extraordinary lengths the company went to in order to prevent the ingress of sea water into the mine. There will also be an opportunity to view part of the lower Carboniferous limestone: the Martin Limestone Formation and the Red Hill Limestone Formation.

Morning Carboniferous limestone and hematite deposits at Hodbarrow.

The visit will involve 4km of flat walking along the Outer Barrier. We will examine the Martin Limestone and Red Hills Limestone in natural and quarried exposures and examine evidence for the former hematite ore bodies and mining.

Afternoon

The upper Borrowdale Volcanic Group and overlying Dent Group north of Millom.

The visit will be to the natural and quarried exposures on farmland at Waterblean SD176824 (by permission of Mr Falconer). This will involve a few hundred yards of walking on farmland.

Meet at the parking spaces beside the untarred road at the entrance to Port Haverigg Holiday Village SD163786. At the Harbour pub in Haverigg there is a roundabout. Take the exit signposted Pepper Hall Walk, The Front, Port Haverigg (if you are travelling from Millom this is the first exit). Do not follow the signs to The Beach.

There are public toilets about 400m north of the meeting point by the beach car park at SD160785.

In the afternoon, we will meet at the layby on the A5093 150m west of the access road to Ghyll Scaur quarry at SD171823. Here, if necessary, we will share cars before going on to the private land at Waterblean