The sculpture was commissioned by the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Hanson Aggregates.
It is built on a site that has been quarried for limestone since the 19th century.
The platforms act as an acoustic amplifier, channelling the sounds of the quarry floor up to the viewpoint.
The project was specifically designed to demonstrate how industrial quarrying and public art can coexist in a rural landscape.
The walls of the Cut are constructed from the same stone extracted from the quarry immediately beneath them.
The design mimics the geological strata found within the surrounding Pennine landscape.
The Coldstones Cut is a massive public art installation located on the edge of the Coldstones Quarry in the Yorkshire Dales. Designed by artist Andrew Sabin, it features two limestone-walled platforms that reach out over the vast, active quarry below. The structure uses thousands of tonnes of local limestone, integrating the artwork directly into the landscape. It functions as a viewing platform, allowing visitors to look down into the working industrial excavation site. The sculpture occupies a prominent position on the ridge of Greenhow Hill, standing at an elevation of 400 meters. As of July 2026, the site remains open to the public as a permanent outdoor installation.
The very tip of the longest limestone walkway looking down into the quarry depths.
Wear sturdy hiking boots as the paths can be uneven and the area is often muddy.
Check the weather before departing; the exposed ridge is prone to high winds and sudden temperature drops.
Bring binoculars to get a clearer view of the heavy machinery and active operations on the quarry floor.
Do not wander off the designated trails, as the cliff edges around the quarry are steep and potentially unstable.
Stay within the marked paths and behind safety barriers; do not attempt to descend into the active quarry area.
