OSRS bots - help mining

Trying to mine iron, to store for smelting, but the bots and better miners are everywhere. I don't yet have the money for an addy pickaxe.

Is there an alternative mining method that gives decent money, until I get my rune pick and the level to use it?

Iron is the best mining training in f2p OSRS. But it's worthless xp if everyone gets the ore before me. So I need an alternative until I can out compete my competitors.

Could try rune essence, as it should mine fairly quick and be non-competitive.

Not familiar with the bots situation on old school tbh, but I'm sure there would be some areas that have free rocks? Good luck though, I've heard some nasty things about the infestation

Have you tried mining iron in Rimmington mine? There, you can find two iron rocks spawns, respectively located in the north west (4 rocks) and south east (2 rocks) sections of the mine. So, you can mine there and bank at Port Sarim's deposit box. Most of the time, this place is free of bots. This is also the method used by Tame my Wild, as you can see on his video. Otherwise, as Mat said, you could mine some rune essence to raise those early levels quickly (you will need the essence for runecrafting anyway).

Thanks Mat, and Diana, especially Diana Rimmington isn't bad! Sometimes I may only have 1 rock to myself, but better than nothing.

Once you can access world 381, and then world 385, it will be even better. I've never seen any bot on world 385 so far...

too low total