Corrantee Lead Mine – an abandoned lead mine in Sunart

Corrantee Lead Mine is a historic lead mine in the Sunart area of Highland, western Scotland. Its ruins stand in Sunart Forest beside an old cart track. It is the most westerly mine in the Strontian mining district, and the site is protected as a scheduled monument, a status granted in 1992.

What was Corrantee?

The mine belonged to the Strontian mining field. Galena, the main lead ore, was discovered in the hills here in 1722. A mine opened in 1725, run by a partnership that included the Duke of Norfolk and General Wade. Corrantee is one of the workings that grew out of this mining district.

What is its history?

The story of mining around Strontian was uneven. Flooding forced the mines to close at the end of the 18th century. Over the following two hundred years people reopened them several times, with mixed results. It is not known when work at Corrantee stopped for good.

What can you see today?

The ruins combine open-cast working with deeper underground mining. Surviving features include:

• An open-cast groove – a narrow cut about 130 metres long.
• An underground level – a tunnel with a recorded length of 230 metres.
• An embanked incline – a ramp where loads were hauled by rope.
• A water-wheel pit – the wheel powered an ore crusher.
• Masonry buildings – probably an office, a store and a house.

The first-edition Ordnance Survey map of 1872 shows tramways running out from the levels, which hints at how the ore was moved. An archaeological survey in 2013 recorded the layout and condition of the site.

Why visit?

This is a place for anyone interested in industrial heritage, archaeology or quiet walks through Scottish woodland. There is no museum or reconstruction. You see genuine, vegetation-covered remains that explain how lead mining worked in the 18th and 19th centuries. Finding a level, crushing machinery and buildings together on one site is rarely this easy to read.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Corrantee Lead Mine? In the Sunart area of Highland, Scotland, in Sunart Forest near Strontian.

Is the mine protected? Yes. It became a scheduled monument in 1992. The protection covers both the underground workings and the surface structures.

When did the mine operate? Mining around Strontian began in the 18th century, and workings were reopened several times afterwards. The date of the final closure at Corrantee is unknown.

Which remains are best preserved? The open-cast groove, the underground level, the rope-worked incline, the water-wheel pit and the masonry buildings.

Should I take any precautions? Yes. This is an abandoned mine, so stay away from openings and do not enter the workings. Do not damage the monument or remove anything from it.

How do I get there? The ruins lie along a disused cart track in the forest, so you reach them on foot. Wear sturdy waterproof footwear, as the ground can be wet.