Fix the Fells Alignment Project
While Cumbria County Council has overall responsibility for the rights of way network in the county, in the National Park we undertake this work on their behalf.
Much of the Fix the Fells repair work has been done on paths established through decades of use. These routes do not always match with the legal, definitive lines of the rights of way network, or what appear as green lines on Ordnance Survey Outdoor Explorer maps.
By the end of 2011, some £3 million will have been spent on upland path restoration. We need to legally record the paths so there will be a statutory duty to look after them in the future. This protects the investment.
Aims of the Alignment Project
- To ensure that the path line shown on the OS map correlates with the path line on the ground. Any changes we make to the definitive map form the basis of the information we give to map makers.
- As more people rely on GPS to navigate, we need to make sure that the map matches what's actually there. This makes navigation more accurate in adverse weather, for example thick fog.
- To ensure the physical works done by Fix the Fells, for example stone pitching and soil inversion (both links open in a new window), are recorded legally. This is fundamental to the protection of our, and the Heritage Lottery Fund investment.
How does the project work?
There are approximately 200 paths that have been worked on in the National Park. These are split up into about 30 geographical ‘batch’ areas.
Come rain or shine, our Alignment Officer walks each path with a GPS recording the new line where work has taken place. Back in the office, the legal order is then processed to update the definitive map with the new route.
How to find out more
We always ask for comments before we confirm the legal changes to the path network. We tell the public about any changes we’re making through the local paper and by site notices. You may see these signs while you’re out and about in the fells. These are the handy work of a dedicated team of Fix the Fells volunteers and workers.
If you see a figure in dark clothing, tramping the fells with a big yellow pole sticking out of her rucksack, it’s probably our Alignment Officer. Please come and say hello!
If you'd like more details about why and how the repair work happens, please take a look at the Fix the Fells website (opens in new window).
Contact details
Rebecca Cathey, Fix the Fells Path Alignment Officer
Tel: 01539 792654
Email: rebecca.cathey@lakedistrict.gov.uk
