Wheal Hermon and the Cot Valley led by Ben Sumpter

Led by Ben Sumpter, CAS member, expert on all aspects of Cornish mining, and manager of Sumpter Mining Services.

This is a two-part day with a limited number of CAS members (six) able to join Ben in the morning (09.15 am to 12.30 pm) for an underground exploration of the workings at Wheal Hermon, St Just.

Ben will then lead a more typical CAS walk in the Cot Valley in the afternoon (13.30 pm to around 17.00 pm), unrestricted regarding numbers and membership status. There will be a charge for the first part of the day, of £20 per person to cover Ben’s costs, and a significant reduction on the normal charge. The Society thanks Ben and Cornwall Underground Adventures for this generous deal, which is available to CAS members only.

Ben notes that the morning visit is ‘only recommended for adventurous and dexterous people. All will have to read through the disclaimers on the CUA website and confirm. This means they are covered by our insurance etc.’

To book a place on this part of the day please contact peterherring957@btinternet.com Places will be secured on a first-come-first-served basis.

Both the morning and afternoon walks involve meeting at 13:30 in Cot Valley lower car park (Porthnanven; SW 3565 3086; What3Words: outlawing.zipped.flows), for a walk of around 3 or 4 miles that should be finished by 5pm. It will include Cot Valley, Letcha Cliff and Ballowall and will consider mining, landscape and geological themes. Wheal Hermon and Ballowal Bal are some of the best-preserved early lode mining landscapes in West Cornwall. Note that there is no mobile coverage in the valley so please check directions before entering it.

As ever, please car-share if you can.