Nenthead, Knoutberry Hill, Killhope Cross, Black Hill, Cumbria
[10.8 km] Wed 18 Sep 2013

OS Grid Ref: NY 7810 4365
Lat/Long: 54.787280, -02.342119

The temperature was approaching winter levels as I drove along the M6. At Tebay it was 4deg C and even over Hartside Pass at 580m (1903ft) it was still 5deg C. I reached Nenthead and parked in the Lead Mine Heritage Centre car park. Mine was the only car in the parking area. It was overcast and still chilly as I set off along the track through the Mining Heritage area.

My first objective was to walk along the line of the old flue which runs up the hillside to a remote chimney. The first part of the line is not very obvious. As I’d seen a couple of others in other parts of the country I knew what to look for. The stone built flue would have been a tunnel sunk part way below ground level. A line of rubble marked it and probably due to the lead debris there wasn’t a sign of growth on much of the debris, not even a blade of grass.

As I got higher and further from the village I came to some stretches where the tunnel was still intact and I was able to poke my camera inside and take a few photos.

I reached the site of the chimney. The base structure was still there but the chimney had long since fallen over. Its remains were lying on the ground and the interesting thing was that it had been built of brick on a stone base.
I left the chimney and turned south to head across open moorland to the stone cross I’d previously visited. The ground was rough and wet in places but there were still many old mine shaft remains around.

I climbed up to visit the cross on its base. Either side were short stone stumps which may have had crosses on at one time. I continued to the summit wall then turned NE to follow it to Knoutberry Hill. There was no path but the ground wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. I was also following the county boundary between Cumbria on my left and County Durham on my right.

An extract from ‘The Old Roads of Britain’ reads as follows: The stone cross above Nenthead is also known as the Bishops’ Stones, and is reputedly where the Bishop of Durham came to meet his neighbouring cleric back in the days when these churchmen ruled almost like kings. Cumbria County Council’s ancient monuments record lists the Bishops’ Stones, and also the reputed location of Shorts Cross very close by. Apparently local people also call it Shorts Cross.

After a mile I reached Killhope Cross on the A689 road. At 623m (2044ft) this summit is the highest ‘A’ road in England. Across the road I came to the actual Killhope stone cross. It was right by the road and I must admit that I hadn’t noticed it before. I continued north following the fence line. The fence turned to the left and left the line of the county boundary.

The spot was marked with a stone post marked ‘C 1863’ I followed the fence for a while then left it to head across open moor to regain the county boundary. The map doesn’t show a fence but there were old rotting fenceposts along the boundary line. My next objective was the three county boundary junction. I visited it last year a soon found the spot where 3 old lines of collapsed fence met to mark the junction of Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland. A small pile of stones marked the spot. I turned west across some old workings and reached the road.

Over the road and in a field was a drilling rig and two men working. I went to have a look and they said they were doing a trial bore for lead and zinc. I continued along the old track to the west which descends into Nenthead. Near the bottom was a terrace three houses. They were new and occupied now but were under constriction when I was here in July 2012. I soon joined the minor road which descended into Nenthead village and back to the car.

New terrace