Lake District's busy trail undergoes repairs during Fix the Fells intensive weekend event
In the heart of England's picturesque Lake District, a group of dedicated volunteers recently gathered to restore a path that had been damaged by years of trampling. The project, overseen by Liam Prior, Area Ranger in the West Lake District for Fix the Fells, aimed to bring the path back to its original state.
The path, located on the route from Wasdale Head up Scafell Pike, had expanded from its original width of 1.5m to more than 5m due to overuse. To rectify this, the volunteers worked tirelessly, prising out awkward, uneven stones and widening the path to its original width.
To prevent further erosion, they also revegetated bare soil and added drainage to take water away from the path. Moreover, they roughed up the sides of the path by creating a series of humps and bunds to redirect people onto the path, making it much harder to walk on the sides but ensuring the path itself remained manageable.
The volunteers included Fix the Fells Rangers, National Trust staff, corporate volunteers from Amey, Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) Young Rangers, and employees. More than 100 people participated in the Fix the Fells' 'blitz' weekend, contributing to the restoration effort.
For those planning a visit to the Lake District, Isabel Berry, Fix the Fells Partnership Manager, encourages visitors to stick to paths when walking and to visit the Fix the Fells website for support.
The Lake District is a popular tourist destination, and for those who prefer to travel by campervan, there are several well-equipped sites to choose from. For instance, Pound Farm Park, Tarnfoot Farm Campsite, Troutbeck Caravan & Camping Park, and Threlkeld Hall Touring Site are highly-rated options in the Lake District area.
The Larches Caravan Park near the northern Lake District offers fully serviced pitches for tourers, with facilities including water, waste disposal, and electric hookup, plus private wetroom showers per pitch. Ravenglass Camping and Caravanning Club Site provides pitches for caravans and motorhomes amidst woodland close to the coast and mountains, with a motorhome service point and recently refurbished facilities.
Troutbeck Head Club Campsite in Penrith accepts caravans and motorhomes, open for club members and the public alike. Comprehensive campsite listings with reviews and booking options are available on platforms such as Tripadvisor, Campsites.co.uk, the Caravan and Motorhome Club website, and Hipcamp.
To locate and book these sites, use camping directories and websites, consider your preferred location within the Lake District and the kind of facilities you need, and book in advance, especially in peak seasons, as many sites have limited pitches for campervans.
For those interested in the latest news, reviews, and features related to motorhomes, the article offers a subscribers' offer for a newsletter delivered monthly. Additionally, Peter Baber offers advice on where to park a campervan in the UK. Information on this can be found in his advice.
Lastly, the team created habitat holes to hold water on the path, aiming to encourage local wildlife and ensure the path's long-term sustainability. This approach ensures the Lake District's paths remain beautiful and accessible for years to come.
[1] Tripadvisor: Link to Lake District Campsites on Tripadvisor [2] The Larches Caravan Park: Link to The Larches Caravan Park [3] Ravenglass Camping and Caravanning Club Site: Link to Ravenglass Camping and Caravanning Club Site [4] Troutbeck Head Club Campsite: Link to Troutbeck Head Club Campsite [5] Campsites.co.uk: Link to Lake District Campsites on Campsites.co.uk [6] Caravan and Motorhome Club: Link to Caravan and Motorhome Club [7] Hipcamp: Link to Hipcamp
- For individuals seeking advice on where to park a campervan in the UK, Peter Baber offers valuable insights, which can be found in his advice.
- The Fix the Fells' website provides guidance for visitors to the Lake District, encouraging them to adhere to paths when walking to help preserve the paths' longevity.
- For those interested in the motorhome lifestyle, subscribing to a monthly newsletter offers the latest news, reviews, and features related to motorhomes.
- To prevent further erosion on the path, the volunteers added drainage and created habitat holes to hold water, aiming to encourage local wildlife and ensure the path's long-term sustainability.
