Visible from miles away, scarred paths are ugly to look at, difficult to walk on and damage the heritage, archaeological and natural history qualities of the area. You and me and Climate and erosion add to the problem.
Repairing eroded paths is not the statutory duty of the Highways Authority, nor anyone else because legally they are still 'open and fit for use'.
It's time consuming and expensive to provide hard wearing, comfortable walking surfaces and restore damaged landscape.
Get the facts
Read more in our Path Erosion Factsheet (PDF format). To view PDFs download Acrobat Reader (opens in new window).
Paths in the past
1800s:
In 1819 a traveller arrives at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel from Borrowdale, complaining that the route is in a much worse state than when he last passed. These routes are essential to the local economy and are repaired by the people who use them. Packmen, miners, landowners and traders help maintain the paths.
1940s:
As cars became the main form of transport the most travelled routes, such as Hardknott Pass, are tarmaced. As other routes fall into disuse they become overgrown but erosion eases.
1960s:
More people use the fells as more leisure time and better transport means walking becomes something to do for fun. By the late 1960s scars develop on the most popular routes. People assume nature will heal itself but this is not the case.
1970s - 1993:
By the late 1970s a solution is desperately needed. Some suggest heavy engineering and tarmac. Others advocate more traditional techniques. This leads to several years of experimental work by National Park Authority and National Trust wardens, rangers and volunteers, re-discovering old repair techniques.
1993 - 2000:
In 1993 the Access Management Group (AMG) is set up in the Lake District by the National Park Authority, National Trust and English Nature (now Natural England). They publish the ‘Repairing Upland Path Erosion’ manual and establish a ground-breaking set of Guiding Principles. These are adopted by the House of Commons Environment select committee. The AMG co-ordinate all upland path work in the Lake District, and commission a survey of eroded upland paths.
2001 - 2006:
The AMG secures Heritage Lottery Funding for the Upland Path Landscape Restoration Project. 102 paths are repaired.
2007 to 2011:
The Heritage Lottery Funded ‘Fix the Fells’ project aims to repair a further 70 paths.
