Tan Hill Colliery

This short, easy outing explores the old Tan Hill Colliery near Tan Hill Inn, Tan Hill, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL11 6ED, on the high moorland of northern Swaledale. The walk is only about 3 km / 1.9 miles with virtually no overall ascent—around 0 m / 0 ft, though the ground can still feel uneven and tiring because of peat, rough tracks, and exposed moorland. It is best approached as a gentle historical and landscape walk rather than a fitness challenge.

The route begins near Tan Hill Inn, the well-known landmark beside the highest public road in Yorkshire and one of the most isolated road-access points in the Dales. From here, paths and old mining tracks lead out across open moor to the remains of the colliery workings. The terrain is broad, open, and treeless, so even on a short walk you should expect a real upland feel, with wide skies, dark peat, rough grasses, and long views when the weather is clear. Tan Hill stands at about 528 m / 1,732 ft above sea level, so conditions can be much harsher than the modest distance suggests. (accesshub.yorkshiredales.org.uk)

What to expect on the ground

The walking is generally straightforward, following a combination of clear trods, estate tracks, and sections associated with the Pennine Way. Because the route is short and mostly level, it suits walkers looking for an accessible taste of high moorland. Underfoot, however, expect patches of peaty, damp, and sometimes boggy ground, especially after rain or in colder months. Waterproof footwear is a sensible choice even for this brief circuit. In mist, the landscape can become disorienting very quickly, so carrying and checking the route on HiiKER is especially useful on this exposed plateau. (visorando.com)

One of the memorable features early on is the sense of openness: there are few landmarks beyond the inn, old spoil heaps, shallow workings, and the line of the path itself. The remains of the mining area are subtle rather than dramatic, so this is a walk where observation matters. Look for disturbed ground, old embankments, and traces of former industrial use blending back into the moor. The landscape has largely reabsorbed the colliery, which gives the walk a quiet, almost hidden historical character. (visorando.com)

Landmarks, history, and character

The main point of interest is the former Tan Hill Colliery, part of a small but significant upland coalfield in the Yorkshire Dales. Historical records place the colliery in Swaledale, with activity associated with the 19th century and later workings in the Tan Hill coal seam. The site is notable because coal was worked at unusually high elevation in a remote moorland setting, serving local needs and helping support activity in this isolated area. (dmm.org.uk)

The nearby Tan Hill Inn is itself part of the story. Built in 1737, it developed as a stopping place for packhorse traffic and for those connected with mining and travel across the moors. That makes this walk more than a simple stroll to old workings: it is a glimpse into a harsh upland economy where transport, fuel, and shelter were all shaped by altitude and remoteness. (ramblers.org.uk)

The industrial remains are not extensive in the way of a preserved heritage site, but that is part of the appeal. You are walking through a landscape where history survives in fragments—old pits, worked ground, and routeways—set against one of the most atmospheric moorland backdrops in northern England. On a clear day, the contrast between the bleak beauty of the moor and the evidence of former industry is one of the strongest features of the walk. (nmrs.org.uk)

Nature and wildlife

Despite the mining history, this is now very much a moorland environment. Expect classic upland vegetation: heather, cotton grass, rushes, and peatland plants, depending on season and ground conditions. In late summer, the moor can show strong purple tones from heather, while wetter patches support softer greens and tawny grasses. The tarns and peaty hollows add variety to what first appears to be a stark landscape. (visorando.com)

Birdlife is often the highlight here. This kind of habitat can support meadow pipits, skylarks, curlews, lapwings, and grouse, with seasonal variation and changing visibility depending on weather and time of day. Because the area is open and quiet, walkers should move carefully during nesting season and keep to established lines where possible. Sheep are also common on the surrounding moorland and enclosed land, so dogs need close control where permitted. These wildlife notes are an inference from the documented moorland habitat and land use around Tan Hill. (visorando.com)

Difficulty and things to look out for

Although rated easy, this walk should not be