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 12 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!
