The Black Stuff is situated on a track called Pen Lane which linked coal pits in Cotterdale to the east with Hardraw, just north of Hawes. Coal was used as a fuel from the earliest times in the Dales, and although it was not of the best quality, often being rather shaley, it was used domestically to heat homes and for cooking, and was also used in lime kilns.
It would be fun if visitors could put coal-coloured trade items in this cache. Please note that the cache is not hidden in the wall.
To find out more information about this and other ancient routes in the area, visit our archaeology website, www.outofoblivion.org.uk
This cache can be included with three of the others to make a good circular walk of about 7 miles, starting at Hawes National Park car park (charge). If you plan to do this walk with a dog, please note that there are some very narrow squeeze stiles along the way. It may be necessary for you to lift your four legged friend over them!
There is a regular bus service to Hawes.
The four caches in the correct order for the walk are:
Hawes Highways (multi-cache)
West Cam
High Rail
The Black Stuff
The fifth cache in this series is High Cam . This can be visited on a steep there-and-back walk from Hawes of about 6.5 miles.