The Lake District

The Lake District is arguably the most beautiful location in the UK and is the second most popular destination for tourists outside of London attracting around 12 million people visitors per year. Located in Cumbria in the North West of England, the Lake District boasts some of the most varied and spectacular scenery in the British Isles - having been formed over the course of the last million years.

The Ice Age added what proved to be a "finishing touch" to the area with glaciers carving out the valleys and forming its numerous lakes. However, to say that its formation has finished wouldn't be accurate as it is constantly evolving: influenced by the impact of humans and environmental change.

The Lake District was established as a National Park in 1951 and is around 2,300km² in size - 1% of the total area of Great Britain. Principle towns in the area are Windermere, Keswick and Ambleside - with many of the inhabitants depending on the service and tourism industry for their livelihoods although agriculture and manufacturing still have an important role to play in the local economy.

Natural and Cultural Treasures

The Lake District is a virtual treasure trove of nature. Its mountains, woodlands, pastures, fells and lakes provide an abundance of habitats - many of which are designated protected areas - for the vast varieties of wildlife.

Also in plentiful supply are minerals, wood, food and water and the area has been supplying the North West region with these important resources since the Stone Age. It is perhaps, therefore, no wonder that the Lake District is steeped in a rich cultural history and is home to countless sites of archaeological interest, numerous ancient moments, historic towns and villages and 1,740 listed buildings and structures.

The History of the Lake District

It is believed that the Lake District was first inhabited during the Stone Age - a period when much of Great Britain was covered in dense woodland. Between 4000BC and 2000BC, Neolithic Man had cleared vast areas of trees to make way for settlements and farmland to support the growing population.

The arrival of the Romans in the late 1st Century saw the construction of important roads and buildings which lead to the establishment of new settlements and an increase in mobility and trade.

Around 1,000 years ago Norse invaders began to arrive. They established villages in the area and used charcoal from burnt trees as fuel to make iron, copper and lead. Today many place names still remain that are Norse in origin.

The wealth of resources such as water, minerals, slate and graphite in the area lead to the rise of industry during the late 18th and early 19th Century - in particular the pencil industry which was centred around Keswick.

It could be argued that the start of the tourism industry in the Lake District should be credited to William Wordsworth and a clutch of other famous writers whose works were based on and inspired by the beauty of the area. This in turn inspired the upper classes to visit and with the construction of the railway to Windermere in 1847 the Lake District was brought to the lower classes.

Coping with Change

In response to its popularity as a holiday location and as a home for the wealthy, many changes to the Lake District have since occurred and have tested its ability to withstand the impact. Even social factors today are playing a role in increasing tourism and uncertainty remains over how much more pressure this much adored location can endure.

But no one is giving up. Legislation and policy are also offering protection by preventing harmful developments while encouraging those that are environmentally beneficial or sustainable. And as our understanding of the wildlife, habitats and environment grows, more is being done to protect them to ensure that this national treasure can be enjoyed by today's and future generations.

Lake District Web Links

The Lake District National Park Authority
Signpost Hotel Guide - Premier Hotels in the Cumbria and the Lake District