Temporary Closures of rights of way are usually to allow works to take place, for example, helicopter stonelifts for Fix the Fells work or replacement of large bridges. They may also be made for reasons of public safety, for example motor rallies, forestry, utility works or building works that affect public paths. Orders are planned in advance, and can last up to six months. Notices are for very short term issues and come into effect immediately.
A longer term Traffic Regulation Order is a legal order regulating traffic on public highways. This includes footpaths, bridleways, byways, restricted byways and carriageways with a predominantly unsealed surface. They can be made for reasons such as:
They can restrict:
Decisions to make traffic regulation orders are taken under delegated powers. Under the Openness of Government Regulations 2014 we publish all these decisions which can be seen on the Openness Of Government page.
There are two sets of the information below:
Before we make an Order we have to tell people what we intend to do and why. These Notices of Intention are published in the local press and on this website at least 7 days before the Order is made.
If you have any queries, please contact Sarah Blakemore, Rights of Way and Access Assistant on
Date of change: 16 July 2021
The footpath alongside Beckstones Gill on the Powter How to Barf/Lord's Seat Path will be closed for up to six months to enable clearfell and extraction. Because of the terrain and slopes, there is a high likelihood of timber and debris rolling down the steep slopes to the footpath, therefore it is closed to ensure that walkers are safe at all times. It is likely that the works will be completed in less than six months allocated for the closure - in which case the paths will re-open.
Expiry: 4 August 2021
Date of change: 14 June 2021
The footpath to the waterfall in Stanley Ghyll is closed because it has been damaged, made unstable, and unsafe by recent rockfalls - creating a danger to the public. The section closed is between the bridge at SD
All other rights of way in Stanley Ghyll are open.
Notice and Order and Site Notice for Stanley Ghyll
Expires: 1 January 2022
Date of change: 18 June 2021
We have made and Order temporarily closing the footpaths through Darling How and to Spout Force Waterfall for up to six months to enable clearfell and extraction. Because of the terrain and slopes, there is a high likelihood of timber and debris rolling down the steep slopes to the footpaths, therefore they are all closed to ensure that walkers are safe at all times. It is likely that the works will be completed in less than the six months allocated for the closure - in which case the paths will re-open.
Links to: Notice and Order Spout Force and Site Notice for Spout Force
Expires: 31 December 2021
Date of change: 27 May 2021
The footpath to the waterfall in Stanley Ghyll is closed because it has been damaged, made unstable, and unsafe by recent rockfalls - creating a danger to the public. The section closed is between the bridge at SD
All other rights of way in Stanley Ghyll are open.
Notice: Site Notice
Expires: 17 June 2021 (will be replaced by six-month order)
Date of change: 20 July 2020
We have made an Order to temporarily close a number of footpaths and bridleways from 3 August 2020. The effect of the order will be to prohibit public traffic for all purposes from proceeding over parts of a number of footpaths and bridleways in Ennerdale Forest (as listed below – see map) to enable felling and extraction of timber.
This order has been extended by the Secretary of State - now in effect until 3 August 2021, or when the works are completed if earlier.
Not all paths will be closed at the same time, and together with alternative routes there will always be one east-west route open through the valley, and at least two routes onto the fells to the south. Signage on site will indicate the situation at any one time.
Site Notice and Order for Ennerdale Forest
Expires: 3 August 2021
Date of change: 27 February 2020
Part of footpath 201023, along the bank of Newlands Beck south of Little Braithwaite (shown A-B in red on the attached plan) is closed to the public because the river washed away the bank and footpath during Storm Ciara (February 2020) with further subsequent damage. Because of the friable nature yet further damage is likely.
The Order came into effect on 18 February 2020 and has been extended by the Secretary of State until 31 December 2021, or until works have been completed if earlier. This will enable us to rebuild or otherwise resolve the issues on the path. Please use alternative routes following public roads to the east or west and other footpaths, which can be seen on the map.
Notice, Site Notice, Approval Letter and Order for Newlands Beck
Expires: 31 December 2021
Date of change: 29 June 2020
The Secretary of State has extended the temporary closure of Footpath 416002 from SD
The closed section of path is shown in red on the map/plan (A to B). The closure is required because of an unsafe footbridge.
The order now continues in force until 30 September 2021 at the latest – although we very much hope and expect to replace the bridge well before then and re-open the path.
An alternative route is available as shown in green on the map A-C-D-B via bridleway 416055, the unclassified road U4064 and footpath 416001.
Letter, Notice, Order for Fenwick
Expires: 30 September 2021 (or when bridge is replaced if earlier)
Date of change: 20 November 2019
The Secretary of State has authorised the further extension of this temporary closure order as we have been unable to replace the bridge as planned. I enclose a copy of the notice, order and plan. This replaces the existing temporary closure.
Our intention was to replace this bridge by the end of March 2020. Indeed, the bridge has been constructed and is in our depot ready to be conveyed to site and installed. However, the coronavirus pandemic resulted in our field team being furloughed from March and they only returned to full work on 1 November 2020 (but have since been partly furloughed again through the second lockdown period).
Although we were able to return some staff part time during the later summer period, they were seconded to other duties to manage the unprecedented increase in the number of visitors to the national park during this time including dealing with fly camping, littering, fires and fly parking that this increase in numbers of our traditional visitors and additional new demographic of visitor has brought to the area and resident communities.
Whilst we may have just enough staff unfurloughed now to complete the work, the winter weather has begun and river levels have risen. As part of the permissions to carry out the work we are required to only place scaffolding (necessary for the safe removal of the old concrete structure) in the river during periods of low water levels.
The bridge will remain as a priority piece of work in our work programme and we will review the weather over the winter months with a view to carry out the work if at all possible, however it is now unlikely that we will see low river levels of sufficient duration until the spring or early summer of 2021 and consequently we have been granted a further extension until 31 August 2021.
This will allow us to work around both weather conditions and the continuing uncertainty and difficulties presented by the continuing Coronavirus outbreak and give us the maximum opportunity to deliver the bridge.
Extension letter, notice and Order for Tarn Beck, Seathwaite
Expires: 31 August 2021 (or until bridge is replaced if earlier)
We need at least 10 weeks notice to process a Temporary Closure Order. Notices for 5 or 21 days can be processed immediately as we do not have to advertise them in the press. Costs of orders and notices are usually met by the applicant.
Please contact either your local Ranger of a member of the Park Management Team on
