Carrock Wolframite Mine

Up in the fells above Wigton, an old wolframite mine sits quietly on the hillside - one of those industrial ghosts that Cumbria has scattered about if you know where to look. Wolframite is tungsten ore, and this particular pit was worked during the Second World War when the metal was desperately needed for munitions and steel hardening. What you'll find now are the remnants: mine workings, old spoil heaps, and a landscape that's been shaped by extraction and then left to nature.

It's a proper trek to reach it, which means most casual visitors skip it entirely. That's actually a draw for anyone interested in industrial archaeology or fell walking - you won't be fighting crowds. The site rewards a bit of effort, particularly if you're into understanding how the landscape you're walking through got its shape. History buffs will appreciate the wartime connection; walkers will find it a worthwhile detour on a longer route across the fells.

Allow a couple of hours if you're making a day of it with the surrounding walks. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so go prepared. The nearest bases are the camping spots dotted around - Carrock Glamping Pods sits closest at just over two miles away, with Caldbeck Camping and Riverside Tourer Park offering traditional options further out. If you're staying in the area and fancy something different from the main Lake District attractions, this fits well into a fell-walking itinerary without much faffing about.