Our high level paths are surprisingly fragile, and with millions of visitors each year, grass is compacted by feet, and worn away. You can help by treading more carefully:
Steep paths 'zig zag’ because it’s easier walking across a slope than straight up. Don't shortcut a corner as it will cause erosion.
Walking along the side of worn paths will just widen them faster.
Keep to the path surface. Slow-growing mountain plants are particularly vulnerable to trampling.
Building new cairns is not a great idea. They become large quite quickly and start to block paths. Paths need stones more than cairns. We look after a number of useful cairns already.
Don't take shortcuts. Water will soon follow your tracks and an erosion scar will form.
Remember, there may be only one of you, but another 8 million pairs of feet tread the paths each year in the Lake District.
How else can we help?
You could donate online or volunteer too!
