Rooted in lead – a creative wander through Allenheads

17 June 2026

Blog by Carole McCourt, artist and leader of the walk

As an artist working with the landscapes and mining histories of the North Pennines, I love nothing more than inviting people to slow down, look closely and discover the stories held in the ground beneath our feet. The recent ‘rooted in lead’ guided walk was exactly that kind of day: gentle, curious, full of conversation and full of surprises.

We set off from the village square in Allenheads, beginning with a few simple getting‑to‑know‑you activities. Before long, we were stepping into the quiet woodland that edges the village. Here, the group tried a bit of blindfold walking and sound‑listening, letting the senses take over while the landscape revealed itself in a different way. There’s something special about hearing a place before you see it.

Once everyone’s eyes were uncovered again, we brought out our field kits, magnifying glasses, notebooks, foraging bags, and began to explore the ground more closely. The first stop was a spoil heap, where we looked for the magical fluorescent minerals that glow under UV light. Even in daylight, they carry a strange shimmer, a reminder of the geological richness that shaped this valley.

From there, we wandered towards the old powder house with its unusual shape, then climbed up to the reservoir. This is where we spotted our first wild mountain pansies of the day, tiny but brilliant, along with the crisp white flowers of Pyrenean scurvy grass. These lead‑tolerant species are small wonders, thriving in soils that would defeat most plants. They are part of what makes the North Pennines such a globally important landscape for metallophyte flora.

We dipped into the blacksmith’s shop for a moment of heritage and cool shade, then followed another wooded path behind the village. Fallen trees made the perfect natural seating for a quiet lunch in a secluded clearing. It felt like a little woodland amphitheatre, with birdsong carrying through the branches.

But the real treat came after lunch: a hilly meadow absolutely bursting with wild mountain pansies. Millions of them. A sweep of yellow and purple across the slope, glowing in the sun. It stopped everyone in their tracks. Moments like that are why we walk slowly.

The final stretch took us towards the mine shop, the former mine yard and the bousteads. After the softness of the woods and meadows, the mine yard felt stark and industrial, and that contrast is important. It’s a reminder of the labour, extraction and human stories that shaped this landscape long before it became a place for strolling and looking.

Throughout the walk, we talked about mining heritage, rare plants, geology, and the ways people and land shape one another. It was a steady, welcoming wander, full of creative looking and shared discovery.

Thank you to everyone who joined and brought such openness, curiosity and good humour. The North Pennines always has more to reveal, and it’s a joy to explore it together.

The guided walk was part of North Pennines NatureFest 2026 and the Land of Lead and Silver project, which is led by the North Pennines National Landscape team and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players, and Historic England.