Millom Rock Park
Millom Rock Park is undergoing a refresh in May 2025. Check back for future updates.
Geology Rocks!
Welcome to Millom Rock Park in Cumbria, an inspirational site of geological interest.
Millom Rock Park is a unique visitor attraction offering fascinating insights into the formation of rocks: how they are formed and reshaped in the 'rock cycle', and how they are quarried, crushed and processed. It is of particular interest to schools and students of geology as well as a superbly informative tourist attraction which can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.
Huge rock samples line the aptly named 'Rock Street' with detailed explanations of their source, age and origins, providing a hands on experience of ancient worlds and the incredible vastness of geological time.
The site is rich in information. A storyboard maps the story of the Earth and its geological development. You can also learn about the mining history of Millom.
Millom Rock Park is perched above Ghyll Scaur Quarry, a working quarry at the heart of a former volcano that once covered most of the Lake District. From the viewing point you can watch powerful diggers, dump trucks and wagons working the quarry floor.
CAUTION! Although the Rock Park is separated from the Quarry by secure fencing, visitors should take care and keep away from steep drops and rock faces. Children must be supervised at all times. Access to the quarry is strictly prohibited. The Park will be closed during blasting for safety reasons.
A unique visitor attraction of geological interest overlooking a working quarry
Millom Rock Park opened in Spring 2010 at Ghyll Scaur Quarry in south-west Cumbria, to provide a unique visitor attraction. It gives a new and exciting perspective on the geology of the Lake District and a fascinating insight into the workings of the quarry and the local mining industry. Many of the rocks on display were extracted from the quarry, others were brought in from other quarries in Cumbria and Lancashire.
The Rock Park is hugely informative. Each rock sample is accompanied by a board that explains in detail its origins, age, composition and formation. Each board is colour code according to its geology type: igneous rocks (eg granite), sedimentary rocks (eg limestone and sandstone) or metamorphic rocks (eg marble and slate). The differences between these three main groups and how they are formed are clearly and simply explained, with the aid of diagrams, on the Rock Cycle information board.
There are other information boards too. Of particular interest is a large storyboard that maps out diagrammatically the geological history of the earth and how it relates to the evolution of our planet.
Another board explains how the rock samples relate to the excavations in the quarry, and shows how the rocks are layered using a photo of the quarry face with overlaid diagrams.
Millom Mining History
Following the discovery of a huge deposit of hematite, a high-grade iron ore, on the coast at Hodbarrow in the mid 19th century, Millom grew into a thriving industrial site that was the largest of its kind in the world. The ore had an iron content in excess of 60% and was regarded as the richest source of hematite in the country. Samples from Hodbarrow are on display in museum collections around the world.
A steel works was later built next to the mines to process the ore, and over 1000 men and boys were employed during its peak years.
Its rapid growth was fuelled by the industrial revolution and the building of new railways. The town was prosperous for over a hundred years until the Hodbarrow mine closed. The proximity of the sea to the mines led to problems from flooding which finally forced their closure in 1968. The Ironworks were closed the following year, leading to a collapse in the town's fortunes.
Today the area is a nature reserve, with diverse flora and fauna. It is rich in orchids and also a breeding ground for the Natterjack toad. Part of the flooded Hodbarrow mine site is now an RSPB reserve. The site is reasonably level, providing an easy 3.5 mile circular walk around the central 200 acre lagoon and stunning views over the Duddon estuary, should you wish to make more of your day out when visiting the Rock Park.
A bogie used in mines underground to transport iron ore from the pit head, and pushed by men to a lift and hence to the surface.
Look into the heart of an ancient Volcano!
From the viewpoint at Millom Rock Park you can look out over the bustle of a working quarry where powerful diggers, dump trucks and wagons work the quarry floor. As you gaze into the depths of Ghyll Scaur Quarry you are looking back 450 million years into the heart of a vast volcano that once covered most of the Lake District. Over several million years, the lavas and tuffs ejected by the volcano formed rocks up to eight kilometres thick. Large volumes of hot molten rock and ash were deposited in catastrophic explosive eruptions. Smaller eruptions occurred when the molten rock interacted with cold groundwater. The hot volcanic ash cooled into a compact rock called tuff. When crushed, this is ideal for surfacing roads, motorways and airport runways.
The quarry is managed by Aggregate Industries and produces high quality aggregates for anti-skid surfaces and roadstone. The vast workings are up to 50 metres deep and cover around 30 hectares. An estimated eight million tonnes of roadstone have been extracted from the quarry since it opened in the 1930s. That's enough to surface a motorway all the way from Millom to Milan.
CAUTION! Although the Rock Park is separated from the Quarry by secure fencing, visitors should take care and keep away from steep drops and rock faces. Children must be supervised at all times. Access to the quarry is strictly prohibited. The Park will be closed during blasting for safety reasons.
Samples of crushed aggregate at Millom Rock Park
Photo Gallery
Find Millom Rock Park
From the M6 take exit at Junction 36 and turn left onto the A590 towards Kendal. Continue on the A590 following signs for Barrow-in-Furness until you reach the roundabout at Greenodd. Take a right turn here onto the A5092/A595 signed Millom. Follow the A595 past Grizebeck and Broughton-in-Furness until you reach the turning on your left for Millom. Take this turning onto the A5093. At the Hill turn right onto a minor road signposted to School Ellis. The Millom Rock Park car park is about half a mile along on your left, just before you reach School Ellis. The closest postcode for SatNav is LA18 5JW.
Facilities
The car park is free and access to the Rock Park is by a permissive path/track. Please contact the quarry to make special arrangements for disabled and group access. There is parking for disabled access at the Rock Park Study area. There are no toilets on site.
Map
The map shows the location of the car park. Access is via the gated track at the back of the car park. The Rock Park itself is situated just above the Quarry at the end of the track.
Contact
Ghyll Scaur Quarry, The Hill, Millom, Cumbria LA18 5HB
Quarry Office: 01229 774222
Quarry Manager: 01229 770580 | ghyllscaur@aggregate.com
Project Secretary: 01229 772779 | info@millomrockpark.org.uk
