Exploring Honister Slate Mine | UK Family Days Out
Disclaimer: This post is written in partnership with the lovely teams at Aqua Pura and Honister. All review words and opinions are my own. All photos are copyright property of Me Becoming Mum.
The sun is making more of an appearance as we move from spring to summer here at our home in Cumbria. Though we never need an excuse to get out and explore, the sun does make it more appealing. Our latest adventure found us heading up Honister Pass to explore the slate mine and enjoy the Honister Slate Mine tour.
About Honister Slate Mine
Honister Slate Mine is located in the heart of the famous Lake District, and is one of England's last working slate mines. The 450 million year old Westmorland Green slate has been mined here for almost 300 years. Now, alongside the continued mining of the slate, Honister offers a range of activities including mine tours, via ferrata, and the Infinity Bridge.
How to find Honister Slate Mine
Honister Slate Mine is located on Honister Pass. The gradient is on average 10% so be sure your car is up to the task before heading up.
To find the car park, use this post code: CA12 5XN
Parking is free for anyone using the café, shop, or booked on any of the Honister activities. Don't forget to let the shop know your reg.
N.B. As well as being used by people visiting the mine, the car park is also a great starting point for people wishing to walk in the fells and so can get quite busy. For those parking here for this purpose the car park is £5 per day. Please bear this in mind when planning your day out.
Honister Slate Mine tour prices
Entry to Honister Slate Mine Tours costs:
Adults: £17.50
Children (3-15 years): £9.50
Kids go free: For a limited time Honister are offering a free child ticket with every full-paying adult.
Family (2 adults + 2 children): £49.00
Under 3: Free!
What's included in the tour?
A bit of history
To begin, you watch a video and are offered an insight into the history of the mine, from how it started, to why it closed and how it was reopened.
Protective head gear
Once you've watched the video, you pick out hard hats - yes, even the children! You’re given a safety briefing and it’s time to head to the mine.
Entering the old mine
After you've made your way to the entrance of the Kimberley mine, either by bus or on foot as we did, it’s time to head inside.
Head underground
Head down inside Fleetwith Pike to explore an old mine shaft and discover the underground world of slate mining. Inside you'll be shown passages and caverns inside the mountain.
Learn more about Honister
Once inside your tour guide will talk you through more of the history of the mine. They show you how the mining was done, including showing you how children as young as Squidgy were involved in the mining process in the past.
Explore the mine
Inside the mine is actually amazing. From the offcut walls they built to the huge caverns created by the miners to the short passageways that saw us ducking so as not to bang our heads there are plenty of things to see and places you're introduced to along the tour.
N.B. It's important to remember to stay with your tour group, listen to your tour guide, and keep children supervised. Slate mines are one of the safest mines you can tour, but that doesn’t mean you can just head off on your own. Especially as they are still using gunpowder in the working mines at Honister.
Don't forget…
Dress appropriately
Heading over 1000ft up Honister Pass to visit the slate mine means you should be prepared for the weather. In particular, be sure to bring appropriate clothing for the chill you'll find within the carved out walls of the mine itself. Even on a hot day such as the one we visited on, you will find the air cold inside the mine. Check the weather forecast, and pack relevant jumpers and coats accordingly.
Wear suncream
In spite of the cool breeze that you may feel at over 1100 feet, you can easily catch the sun at Honister Slate Mine. The bus was out of action on the day we visited. The hike up the side of Fleetwith Pike to the mine shaft was open to the elements, so it is best to be prepared.
Stay hydrated
Even in the cool air inside the mine as you explore with your tour guide, it is important to stay hydrated. We took a few bottles of locally sourced Aqua Pura - after all, what better way to keep our family hydrate than with Cumbrian water bottled in fully recycled plastic?
FAQs about our family days out
Is it suitable for children?
If you had asked me previously whether this was something we would have done with the children, I would have been unsure. Now I have no doubt that this is 110% a fabulous and fantastic day out for all the family. Some important things to remember:
Hard hats are provided, however it is your responsibility to ensure they are fitted correctly to your children.
Babies in carriers must be carried on the front of the parent or guardian.
You must supervise your children, some of the areas host steep drops.
Some areas within the mine are extremely dark, narrow, steep, low, (a huge amount of ducking required for John but the children were fine!), and / or slippy. Take extreme care and hold little one's hands.
Can you take dogs to Honister?
Whilst dogs are not permitted on the paid activities, you can bring them to the café, shop, and public viewing area. With plenty of places to walk in the fells surrounding Honister Pass, dogs are often found and welcomed here.
Is Honister Slate Mine tour worth the money?
Honister Slate Mine tours are extremely reasonably priced, and definitely worth the money. The tour guide we had was amazing, not only knowledgeable but also engaging, and funny too! The children were encouraged to join in, he asked (and answered) questions, and there was plenty to see, do, and explore within the mine itself.
Don't forget: For a limited time only, Honister are offering a free child ticket (3-15 years) with every full-paying adult. This makes the tour even more worth the money!
Is there anywhere to eat?
Just inside the Honister building you will find a small café with indoor seating. They offer hot and cold drinks, as well as a range of food and snacks. Additionally, at the back of the Honister building are a number of picnic benches where you can enjoy refreshments.
Are there facilities available?
In addition to the café and shop which offers a range of handcrafted slate gifts from coasters to sculptures; the Honister building has male and female toilets. Additionally, there is an accessible toilet and changing facilities adjacent to the café.
Whether you head out for a weekend family trip, or you're planning ahead for the summer holidays, I highly recommend Honister Slate Mine as an addition to your plans. We had an amazing day out, and I'm sure we will visit again.
For more blog posts about exploring the beautiful outdoor spaces the Lake District has to offer, check out my days out and travel blog. Have you found somewhere amazing to visit in the U.K.? We love to explore new spots, so feel free to share in the comments below.
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