Lake District

The Lake District, also known as the Lakes or Lakeland, is a beautiful mountainous region and national park in Cumbria, North West England. It is well-known for its stunning landscape, which includes many lakes, a coastline, and tall mountains. This special place has inspired many writers, such as Beatrix Potter, John Ruskin, Arthur Ransome, and the Lake Poets.

The area has some of England's highest mountains, called fells. The tallest is Scafell Pike, rising to 978 metres, followed by Helvellyn and Skiddaw. There are also sixteen big lakes in the region. The largest is Windermere, which stretches for 11 miles, and the deepest is Wast Water, reaching 79 metres.

The Lake District National Park was created in 1951 and covers an area of about 2,362 square kilometres. In 2017, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its importance and beauty.

National Park

The Lake District National Park covers most of the central Lake District, but some areas like the town of Kendal, certain coastal spots, and the Cartmel and Furness peninsulas lie just outside its borders. It became a national park on May 9, 1951, shortly after the Peak District became the first national park in the UK. In 2016, the park grew a little to the east toward the Yorkshire Dales National Park to include more beautiful land around the Lune Valley.

Each year, millions of visitors enjoy the Lake District National Park. It is the biggest national park in England and Wales and the second largest in all of the UK, after the Cairngorms National Park. The park aims to keep its special scenery safe by controlling changes from industry and business. In 2017, much of the park became a World Heritage Site for its important cultural landscape. The park is managed by the Lake District National Park Authority, headquartered in Kendal. They also run visitor centers, such as one at Windermere in a old house called Brockhole.

Human geography

General

The Lake District's exact size is not fixed, but it is sometimes thought to be a bit larger than the National Park, which covers about 2,362 square kilometres. The park stretches just over 51 kilometres from east to west and nearly 64 kilometres from north to south, with some areas like the Lake District Peninsulas lying outside the park.

Settlement

There are only a few major towns in this mountainous area: Keswick; Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere (which are next to each other); and Ambleside, are the three largest. All these towns rely heavily on tourism. Other important places near the park's edge include Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Ulverston, Dalton-in-Furness, Whitehaven, Workington, Cockermouth, Penrith, Millom and Grange-over-Sands; these places have strong economic ties with the Lake District. Smaller villages like Coniston, Threlkeld, Glenridding, Pooley Bridge, Broughton-in-Furness, Grasmere, Newby Bridge, Staveley, Lindale, Gosforth and Hawkshead are also there. Beyond these are small hamlets and many isolated farms, some still tied to farming; others now support tourism.

Communications

Roads

The Lake District is almost surrounded by major roads. To the east is the A6 road, running from Kendal to Penrith. To the south are the A590 and A5092 roads, and to the north is the A66 road between Penrith and Workington. The A595 road marks the park's edge from Calder Bridge to Holmrook, then follows the coast before turning inland.

Inside the area, important roads include the A591, which goes from Kendal to Windermere and then to Keswick. The A593 and A5084 connect Ambleside and Coniston to the south, while the A592 and A5074 link Windermere to the south. The A592 continues north to Ullswater and Penrith via the Kirkstone Pass.

Some valleys without major roads are served by smaller roads. The B5289 serves Lorton Vale and Buttermere, connecting through the Honister Pass to Borrowdale. The B5292 goes up the Whinlatter Pass to Braithwaite near Keswick. Other valleys like Little Langdale, Eskdale and Dunnerdale have minor roads, with steep passes like the Wrynose and Hardknott passes popular with cyclists. Minor roads also connect Wasdale, Longsleddale, Haweswater and Kentmere.

Railways and ferries

The West Coast Main Line runs along the eastern edge of the Lake District, and the Cumbrian Coast Line passes through the south and west. The Windermere Branch Line goes from Kendal to Windermere. There are heritage railways like the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, which runs from Ravenglass into Eskdale, often using steam trains. The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway links Lake Windermere to Haverthwaite.

The Windermere Ferry carries vehicles across Windermere, and there are seasonal passenger boats on Coniston Water, Derwent Water, and Ullswater.

Footpaths and bridleways

There are many paths where people can walk freely, with signs at the start and other points. In 2012, the National Park had 2,159 kilometres of paths for walking, 875 kilometres for horses, 15 kilometres for certain vehicles, and 30 kilometres open to all traffic. There is also freedom to walk on much of the open land, covering about half of the park.

These paths have been used for centuries, either along ridges or to cross between valleys. They are now often used by walkers reaching the tops of hills. The Coast to Coast Walk passes through the park from west to east.

Land ownership

Most land in the national park is privately owned, with about 55% used for farming. Owners include individual farmers, the National Trust which owns around 25% of the land, forest owners, United Utilities (owning 8%), and the Lake District National Park Authority (owning 3.9%).

Physical geography

The Lake District is a beautiful, mountainous area in Cumbria, North West England. It is known for its stunning landscape, with many lakes, rivers, and mountains. The region has been shaped by glaciers over the past 2 million years, creating deep valleys and beautiful lakes.

The highest mountain in England is Scafell Pike, which stands at 978 meters (3,209 feet) tall. Other tall mountains in the area include Helvellyn and Skiddaw. These mountains offer amazing views and are popular with hikers and nature lovers.

The Lake District also has many wooded areas and a coastline along the Irish Sea. These areas are home to many different plants and animals, making it a special place for nature enthusiasts.

Geology

Main article: Geology of the Lake District

The Lake District has a very interesting and well-studied geology. A large mass of granite deep underground helps push the land up, which is why the area has many tall mountains. You can see this granite on the surface in places like Ennerdale, Skiddaw, Carrock Fell, Eskdale, and Shap.

The rocks in the Lake District can be grouped into three main areas running from southwest to northeast. The rocks get younger as you move from the northwest to the southeast. The northwest part has older sedimentary rocks made of mudstones and siltstones, which form the Skiddaw Group. These rocks often create mountains with smoother slopes, like Skiddaw.

The middle part has a mix of volcanic and sedimentary rocks from the middle to late Ordovician period. These include lavas and tuffs from the Borrowdale Volcanic Group. Big lava flows created peaks like Great Rigg, and later eruptions formed craggy landscapes around Scafell Pike.

The southeast part has mudstones and wackes from the Windermere Supergroup. These rocks are a bit softer and form the lower landscapes around Coniston and Windermere.

Later intrusions created outcrops of igneous rock in each of these groups. Around the edges of these older rocks, you can find Carboniferous Limestone, which looks especially impressive at places like Whitbarrow Scar and Scout Scar.

Climate

The Lake District is one of the wettest places in England because it is located on the northwest coast and has many mountains. It receives more than 2,000 mm (80 in) of rain each year, but the amount can vary a lot in different places. Some areas get much more rain than others. The region can be very windy, especially near the coast and on the tops of the hills.

Temperatures in the Lake District change only a little throughout the year. Winter temperatures can be around 3 °C (37 °F), while summer temperatures can reach about 15 °C (59 °F). Snow sometimes falls in winter, usually between November and April, but it does not stay on the ground for long. The area also often has fog, and the hills get only a few hours of sunshine each day.

Wildlife

The Lake District is home to many different animals and plants because of its varied landscape, with lakes, forests, and mountains. It is a special place for the red squirrel, hosting the largest group in England. The area also has unique plants like sundew and butterwort, which are rare in Britain.

Birds such as golden eagles and ospreys live here, with ospreys returning each spring from Africa to nest near Bassenthwaite Lake. The lakes contain rare fish like vendace and Arctic charr, which face challenges from warmer waters and new species. Conservation efforts help protect these special animals and plants.

Economy

Agriculture and forestry

Farming, especially raising sheep, has been an important part of the Lake District since Roman times. The tough Herdwick sheep, along with Rough Fell and Swaledale sheep, are common here. Sheep farming is important for the local economy and helps keep the landscape beautiful, with features like dry stone walls created by farmers. Some land is also used for growing silage and raising dairy cows.

Forestry has become more important in recent years, with many conifer trees planted around places like Whinlatter Pass, Ennerdale, and Grizedale Forest.

Industry

The Lake District has a long history of mining and quarrying. In ancient times, people mined stone for tools. Later, they mined copper, lead, baryte, graphite, and slate. Today, some slate mining still happens at Honister Mines. The graphite found here helped start the pencil industry near Keswick.

In the 1800s, the Lake District supplied half the world’s bobbins for textiles. Now, tourism is the main industry.

Development of tourism

Historical

Early visitors, like Celia Fiennes, traveled through the Lake District for fun and learning. Daniel Defoe described the area as wild and rugged. By the late 1700s, wars in Europe made the Lake District a popular place to visit. Thomas West wrote the first guide to the lakes in 1778, encouraging people to enjoy the scenery.

William Wordsworth’s book in 1810 helped make the area famous. Railways brought even more visitors in the 1800s, and steam boats on the lakes made travel easier.

Recent

The Lake District National Park was created in 1951 to protect the area. Today, about 12 million visitors come each year. Popular activities include walking, cycling, and visiting museums and theatres. However, too many visitors have caused problems like soil erosion on popular paths.

Gastronomy

The Lake District is known for its tasty food, like mutton, lamb, and the special Cumberland Sausage. The area also has many fine dining restaurants and local breweries that make ales, lagers, and craft spirits.

Literature and the arts

The Lake District has inspired creativity in many fields.

Literature

The Lake District is closely linked with English literature from the 18th and 19th centuries. William Wordsworth wrote some of his most famous poems here, like "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud", inspired by flowers he saw at Ullswater. Wordsworth spent much of his life near the lakes and mountains, first at Hawkshead, then in Grasmere and Rydal Mount. He and other writers like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey were called the Lake Poets.

Many famous writers visited or lived in the Lake District, including Jane Austen, Charlotte Turner Smith, and John Ruskin. In the 20th century, children’s author Beatrix Potter lived at Hill Top Farm and set her Peter Rabbit stories there. Another children’s writer, Arthur Ransome, set parts of his Swallows and Amazons series in a made-up version of the Lake District.

Visual arts

The Lake District has inspired many artists. Two well-known artists who painted the area were Alfred Heaton Cooper and William Heaton Cooper. The German artist Kurt Schwitters lived in the Lake District after moving to Great Britain.

Musicians

The English composer Arthur Somervell was born in Windermere. Singer Taylor Swift wrote a song called "The Lakes" about her time living in the Lake District, mentioning the poet William Wordsworth.

Nomenclature

The Lake District has special words and phrases from the Cumbrian dialect. Many of these words are also used in other parts of northern England. Some of these words include:

• Fell – a word from Old Norse meaning mountain, brought to England by Viking invaders.
• Howe – a word from Old Norse meaning a hill or mound.
• Tarn – a word for a small lake, also from Old Norse, used to describe small pools of water.
• Yan tan tethera – an old way of counting sheep that is still taught in local schools.
• Heaf – a term meaning the "home territory" of a flock of sheep.