So, how do you make the Lake District 'change and diversify' because it is too heavily weighted toward 'white middle-class able-bodied people'?

[Nanny0gg]

Richard Leafe, the Cumbria park's chief executive, said the Unesco World Heritage site must change to merit continued public funding.

I mean, it's mountains and lakes. What can you do?

And isn't that a tad patronising as well?

Scafell Pike (not Scafell) is the highest mountain and is one of the easiest due to the tourist route being a simply, staircase-like path to the summit (obviously more challenging routes are available should one choose). What too many people do is think they can first climb Scafell (2nd highest) then hop across to Scafell Pike. Or for some reason they can't differentiate between the two and become completely confused. This is a major issue as between the two peaks there is a slab known as broad stand. It doesn't look too technical but this is deceiving as a sheer drop is hidden. Signage should really be put up here as it's a known black spot and my family member who was MRT since the founding days has campaigned for it, he's hauled too many dead/dying bodies off the mountain.

With regards to making the Lakes more accessible, why not? Other places round the world have done it. I'd love to see more diversity and more people enjoying the lakes, and I'm Cumbrian. Weird thing is, each time something new is proposed (e.g. the zip wire), loads of people get up in arms about it, mostly from the non-Cumbrians . Some Cumbrians can be bigots though, so mention the word 'diversity' and they're on one..

Perhaps first and second generation incomers go 'home' on holiday rather than tramp the Lake District. I know when I lived abroad that I came home, literally, on my holidays and stayed there, family and friends visited me there if they wanted to see me.

You can get some lovely views with relatively little walking - these were taken from Latrigg that you can drive most of the way up and then follow the path to the top.

Latrigg is a great little route as is something like Walla Crag, Castle Crag, Catbells.

Maybe something like a website with recommended routes of the day and if the weather is terrible recommend some of those type of low level routes with online maps.

Days when the weather is nicer could recommend some higher ones. With a clear idea of time, distance, recommended kit list.?

Predominantly workington ,Whitehaven etc..not strictly central core lakes tourism area but not a million miles away

come off it Arnold. There's a world of difference between Workington and Windermere.

I'm sure stuff like that already exists Viva but I just go by what my DH thinks is suitable depending on how fit we are feeling and the weather. Those photos were taken at Easter...

We have this: www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ in Scotland and you can search all sorts of different types of walk.

So, for example in my local area you can get a list and choose by time/distance and grade and then print out the directions etc.

www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fife-stirling/stirling.shtml

@WaxOnFeckOff

Gummers How and Latterbarrow. Beautiful views for little effort.

It’s only an outlying fell though, so purists would disagree with it being counted as the Lake District.

I am struggling to understand why some posters think that encouraging non experienced hikers towards safer areas is wrong though.

I am struggling to understand why some posters think that encouraging non experienced hikers towards safer areas is wrong though

Do you think that linking up low level footpaths into decent, well signposted trails is a good thing?

@choma

Of course I don’t. Why on earth would I think that it was a bad idea?

Mumsnet hikers seem to be a bit different from rl hikers. In rl hikers tend to be a nice bunch.

My point being - there already are safe places to go (yes there should be more).

A publicity campaign (such as Julia Bradbury and Striding Edge) driving inexperienced hikers to places that are dangerous to the inexperienced should be avoided though. People could die.

yes, there are definitely different levels of walks and they need to be worked up to imo. I wouldn't attempt anything too strenuous or exposed as I don't like heights and I'm not that fit. When we visit the lakes or anywhere involving hills, DH happily gets up before dawn to do walks he wants to do, get's back before lunch usually and has seen the best of the day, but he carries everything he should, leaves a copy of his route and timeline and watches the weather. Like anything though it's not without risk.

Mumsnet hikers seem to be a bit different from rl hikers. In rl hikers tend to be a nice bunch

Can you give me an example of where I have been 'mean' to you?

Glad to see that you think that decent, connected low level paths that are well sign posted are a good thing.

I can see your argument for signposting on the big hills.OTOH - I also know that many countries do have signposting on trails.

A publicity campaign (such as Julia Bradbury and Striding Edge) driving inexperienced hikers to places that are dangerous to the inexperienced should be avoided though

True - much easier routes to access. I am surprised that Helvellyn via Striding Edge is that popular. It's a decent length walk with a dangerous drop.

Yes, I’ve always found real life hikers to be a nice bunch as well.

How on Earth do you go about making accommodation in the Lakes cheaper and more accessible? Very little new build is allowed which unnaturally inflates the value of existing property. Why should property owners charge less for the use of their space when there is already an over demand for it, by people happy to pay. How would you enforce them charging less? How would people on lower incomes prove their entitlement to stay in the cheaper accomodation? How would it be regulated and administrated?

@chomalungma

Did you read the link I posted earlier about striding edge being voted walk off the year?

*of

Did you read the link I posted earlier about striding edge being voted walk off the year

Yes - I was surprised it got so many votes TBH.

How on Earth do you go about making accommodation in the Lakes cheaper and more accessible

No idea. Even the YHAs have got expensive now.

The biggest issue is transport. I have been to the lakes and to Cornwall and found that in both you could really do with a car. Many people from poorer parts of inner cities don't have a car and don't drive.

Black parent of 2 young children. We joined the National Trust when our youngest was born and started visiting the countryside and going on walks etc. It was a revelation to me as I grew up in East London and spent very little time anywhere remotely rural growing up. I discovered via the National Trust the hugely positive impact on my mental health of getting out of London and we now take our 2 to a NT location at least once a month and more frequently during the holidays.

We rarely see any other Black families and although I don't feel particularly intimidated it can be uncomfortable at times although this depends on the location. We had a particularly unpleasant experience in Norfolk when we went on holiday with another Black family and appeared to be the non whites in town (racist abuse in the street, refused service in a restaurant because it was 'closed' only to see a white family welcomed in). This kind of experience is one of the reasons that many of my non-white friends would rather go abroad than travel for hours to visit somewhere in rural England. On the other hand we've had absolutely lovely holidays walking in Scotland and Wales ( I think Pembrokeshire is my favourite place in the world) where we haven't seen a non-white person for days on end but have been made to feel welcome everywhere and stayed in tiny villages where locals were extremely friendly and made a fuss of our DC.

I'm not sure what specifically can or needs to be done to encourage ethnic minorities to visit the countryside but outreach work in schools can possibly help. Looking back, I think it was a A Level field trip to the Brecon Beacons when I was 16 that started my love affair with Wales.

No idea. Even the YHAs have got expensive now.

Just been looking on booking dot com

A yha was £79 or a 4 star country hotel with breakfast included £100 and the local B&b £65

eastie I am so sorry you had those bad experiences. Unfortunately I am sure it is not just confined to NT places or national parks... we're not all like that out in the sticks, but its an uphill (ha! pun intended!) battle in a lot of areas.

Sorry about yhour experiences in Norfolk. Most of hte countryside is not liike that. Northumberland near where I am from (thankfully just about the most deserted peaceful countryside in England and I want no one to go there as I like not to see a single person when out!!!) may be 98% white but that is just because of who lives there and that does not mean people have any problem with people of different skin colours.

Bothies are free to stay in. You have to comply with the bothy code but anyone with an internet connection can view that on line.

www.mountainbothies.org.uk/bothies/bothy-code/

How ridiculous. Heard it all now.

@ivykaty44

Yes. We were quoted £80 self catering in a YHA, or £110 in a decent hotel with Breakfast. For 3 of us. YHAs are not cheap now. This was in Borrowdale.