A project beginning this month will create the highest accessible route in the Lake District.
There's an interesting new project in the Lakes, aimed at helping
people with limited mobility to get up to a high-level
viewpoint near the summit of Latrigg, near Keswick.
Once the footpath has been adapted for wheelchair use with an
entirely new 520-metre section added, it will be the highest point on
an accessible route anywhere in the Lake District and will give
wheelchair users a unique opportunity to experience the challenges
that fellwalkers take for granted.
The project, which begins later this month, is being backed by
Bassenthwaite Reflections and its £2.8m Heritage Lottery Fund
supported community landscape initiative, along with the Lake
District National Park Authority's Miles Without Stiles
programme.
"It will give the Lake District its first fell route for the less
able and people with pushchairs," explained Shirley Muir, of
Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme and the LDNPA.
"Because we're making a new path, it is carefully designed to have
minimal impact on the landscape and will follow the bracken line. We
were given full planning approval last year."
Shirley explained the trail, starting at Gale Road, was almost a
kilometre long and led to "a stunning viewpoint over Keswick,
Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater".
"The first section is quite steep so it will not be suitable for
all wheelchair users without help but we know how much pleasure the
route is going to give to some of those who want to get up high and
are currently confined to low-level trails."
