Five new accessible walking routes created

46 minutes ago

News image — Will Clark from the Lake District National Park Authority says getting into nature has helped since his spinal injury

LDNPA Will Clark is in his 20s or 30s with ginger hair. He is wearing a blue top and trousers and is sitting next to a fence with the trees and hills of the Lake District rising behind him. He uses a wheelchair. — Will Clark from the Lake District National Park Authority says getting into nature has helped since his spinal injury

Five routes suitable for people with disabilities or families with young children have been created in one of England's most popular areas for walking.

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has worked with other organisations including Forestry England to upgrade paths by removing stiles, laying new surfaces and installing new bridges.

The five now all have Miles without Stiles accessibility status, which identifies walks suitable for mobility scooters, pushchairs or those who want a gentler outing without scrambling or climbing steep hills.

Westmorland and Furness Councillor and LDNPA member Will Clark said the new routes will help everyone enjoy the "stunning scenery".

The routes are the Jubilee Walk in Grasmere, Ridding Wood and Millwood Trail in Grizedale Forest, Revelin Moss in Whinlatter Forest and Howrah's Path, which runs from Keswick to Portinscale.

Two other Miles without Stiles routes have also been extended, a route at Loweswater and the Swirls Trail route at Thirlmere.

The work was funded by a grant of £167,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Clark said: "The Lake District like all national parks should be accessible to all.

"Throughout my own life I have found spending time outdoors enjoyable and beneficial to my own mental health, and this is still the case since my spinal injury."

LDNPA A path stretches out between two fields with a metal gate on one side, a wooden one on the other and fencing either side. A few trees are in the distance and the hills of the Lake District rise up into a blue sky — The routes are accessible to those with pushchairs or using mobility scooters

"I am immensely proud of the five new accessible routes, particularly the one in Grasmere, as this was the one I was most involved in," he added.

Forestry England's Adrian Jones said: "Spending time in nature can bring many physical and mental health benefits and it's fantastic to see our routes at Grizedale and Whinlatter join the Miles without Stiles network.

"These improvements will help make it easier for more people to explore and enjoy days out together beneath the trees."