Snotterdale Jet Caves, Thackdale
Entrances to the Snotterdale Jet Mines
Snotterdale Jet Caves, Thackdale, Coast to Coast
There is a disused Jet Mine in Thackdale between Whorlton Moor and Holey Moor. it is in a concealed hollow off a remote track that leads from Whorlton Moor to Live Moor. Snotterdale Gill issues just above a small waterfall. This falls into a turfed quagmire that absorbs water and holds it in place until it eventually continues on its way as the Snotterdale Gill. Whorlton Moor is located to the west of Bilsdale West Moor and to the south of Carlton Moor. It rises from Scugdale to its south.
The western bank of the quagmire contains a number of cave openings, from where the jet was once mined. The cave entrances are accessible but only by crawling into them over the quagmire. There is a waterfall above the north-most tip of the quagmire, which, on sunny days, is reduced to a trickle. The Gill issues only yards from the waterfall. Behind the waterfall is another cave, the largest of them all.
Jet Mine Thackdale
The hollow to the north of the path that crosses Whorlton Moor from Bilsdale West Moor, and which leads to Live Moor via Snotterdale Plantation, is easily missed, having a very innocent but mendacious appearance.
Snotterdale Trickle
On the day of my visit to the Jet Mine, a sunny and dry day, the waterfall was reduced to a trickle. There is a good drop on the far side of the turf, and on more inclement days there is likely a good flow to the Fall.
One of the Jet Mine Entrances
There is a short drop at the end of the turf, but most of the caves are a little under water most of the time. The cave entrances are very tight.
Another Jet Mine Entrance
Other than the mine entrance behind the waterfall the remaining entrances are all tight squeezes.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
