BBC Honister Zip-Wire Documentary On iPlayer

Mark Weir, the owner of the slate mine and driving force behind the Honinster Zip-Wire points out the projected line of his project. Weir died in a helicopter accident during the filming of the programme.

A quick heads up that the first programme in a new BBC4 series. Tales from the National Parks is now available on iPlayer and looks like terrific viewing as it tackles the Honister Zip-Wire application head on.

If you've been asleep for a couple of years, in a nut-shell, the late Mark Weir, the owner of the Honister Slate Mine, planned to construct a giant zip-wire from Fleetwith Pike, one of the peaks above the mine, down to the visitor centre which would allow users to reach speeds of up to 60mph.

The result, as you'd expect, was a titanic planning tussle raising fundamental issues about what the Lakes and National Parks generally are all about and the conflict between those who believe that the area should kept as a tranquil oasis and those who have a vision of the area as an 'adventure playground' or in the Lakes, 'the adventure capital'.

It's a proper must watch, whichever view you espouse and a good enough film that the Guardian calls 'extraordinary... dramatic, gripping, human, tragic' as well as 'thorough and fair'. 

And even if you're gut feeling is that the whole zip-wire idea is inappropriate, don't be surprised if you find yourself changing your mind as the programme goes on. Or not.

You can watch the complete programme on iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/i/b016dr0x/.