The valley is ringed by peaks popular with tourists (Grisedale Pike, Hopegill Head, Coledale Hause, Crag Hill (formerly Eel Crag), Sail, Sail Pass, and Outerside) forming a horseshoe ridge walk known as Coledale horseshoe[1][2] or 'Coledale round'.

Coledale's most notable feature is Force Crag Mine; the buildings, spoil heap and associated structures of which are practically the only sign of human influence in the upper valley.

Later Barytes was mined, with 5300 tons of ore being produced up to 1879 when again market forces led to production ending.

The mine was worked on and off with various changes in operation, and under different owners,[4] with lead, barium and zinc ores being extracted.

As well as an aerial ropeway for transporting ore to the mill built in the late 1930s, the mine also operated a small narrow gauge railway in the mine, utilising diesel and battery powered locomotives, one of which (Wingrove & Rogers Battery loco) is now at the Springfield Agricultural Railway,[8] three 2 ft (0.61 m) gauge wagons from the mine are to be found at the Moseley museum in Redruth, Cornwall.