Taking Steps To Improve Countryside Access
Lake District walkers can now take advantage of two new improved routes created by partnership working in the southern part of the national park.
One route gives improved access to High Newton Reservoirs near Grange-over-Sands, while the other has improved an old road near the Drunken Duck pub at Hawkshead.
LDNPA Countryside Access Adviser Nick Thorne said the two routes were examples of what access improvements can be achieved by working with landowners, conservation partners and walking groups.
At High Newton there has been informal access for some time but this formal adoption of a path means that the public will legally be able to reach the open access land to the north of the reservoirs in perpetuity.
Nick said the project was stimulated by an idea from Grange Ramblers and had been taken forward thanks to excellent working co-operation with United Utilities.
John Daffern of Grange Ramblers added: “The opening of the new path is of high importance as it links up two open access areas, which hopefully would be part of a complete walking route along the high ground from Grange-over-Sands to Windermere”
Meanwhile near Hawkshead the new bridleway along the old road east of the Drunken Duck has now been fully opened for use after work by the landowners and the National Park Authority's Field staff.
The old road was formally recorded as a public bridleway last year following an application by the Cumbria Bridleways Society. Before the path – which is open to walkers, horses and cyclists – could be fully used gates needed repairing, scrub needed clearing and a beck crossing point consisting of a simple narrow steel girder had to be replaced with a slate bridge.
The landowner, Philip Saunders, from Sunny Brow Farm said: “We support this change to open up this beautiful countryside to more and varied users. We are very happy with the finished bridleway alterations – the bridge in particular is a welcome addition.”
