The Lake District National Park is celebrating 75 years since it was officially designated a National Park in May 1951.
England’s largest National Park was recognised for its dramatic landscape, rich farming heritage and its lakes, rivers and coastline, which have inspired generations of artists and writers. The area later achieved UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2017.
To mark the anniversary, the Lake District National Park Authority is hosting more than 80 volunteer-led guided walks between May and August. The walks will explore different parts of the National Park, from villages and communities to scenic summit routes overlooking lakes and tarns.
Among the volunteers taking part is Ron Wood, who has supported the National Park Authority for 60 years and began leading walks in 1966.
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Talking about his first walk, he said: “We went up to Todd Cragg and the idea was people weren’t leaving their cars, because they didn’t know how to get onto the hills.”
After years of learning different skills, having a hand in everything from tree planting to hedge laying, Ron said: “Dry stone walling is the most satisfying. When you get [guided] walks you can tell people about dry stone walls. What they first see is a pile of stones. After the walk finishes, what they see is something totally different, they can appreciate how it’s made.”
The celebrations also include a £50,000 grant fund from the Lake District Foundation to support projects that help protect the landscape and local communities.
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