It was all aboard the boat and bus this week as members of the Ullswater community came together to celebrate the latest access improvements to the iconic Lake District valley.
Local parish and district councillors, together with staff and members of the Lake District National Park, joined residents on Tuesday (15 Sept) to showcase the work undertaken over the past 12months as part of the National Park’s valley planning. It has been a partnership effort to deliver projects such as felling scrub to open up the impressive views of Ullswater, a new jetty and improvements at Aira Force and the proposed Ullswater Way – a 24 mile walking route. It is hoped these developments will improve both the sustainable travel options and access to the inspirational views around the lake for the area’s many visitors and residents.
The group also heard about the Lake District’s bid for World Heritage status and enjoyed a talk about potential ways to celebrate the local heritage of the area. This included the idea of a community-led art project to design and install locally inspired art pieces on the route of the Ullswater Way. The project was well received and there will be a wider public meeting arranged for October this year to take it forward with the community.
Pooley Bridge resident and Lake District National Park member, Miles MacInnes, said: “The tour has been a fantastic way to demonstrate how you can easily enjoy Ullswater Valley using the local bus and steamers. It was a great opportunity to discuss exciting new projects such as the Ullswater Way, which will enable more people to enjoy this fantastic valley on foot.”
