Lake District Photoguide Plus

Introduction

The English Lake District has long been recognised as one of the most beautiful areas of Britain. It is most famous for its views of lakes and mountains, but there is an extraordinary variety of landscape here. From wild moorland and glittering tarns to emerald fields and lonely farms, friendly villages and bustling market towns; there is something for everyone here.

The first visitors began to arrive in the middle of the 18th Century, keen to see the wild and picturesque scenery of The Lakes. They were soon followed by writers and artists looking for inspiration; their books and paintings helped to put the Lake District on the map, and within 50 years, what began as a trickle had become a steady stream in the summer months. By the start of the 19th Century, a tour of the Lakes had become fashionable for those who had the time and money, and in the Victorian period the Lake District grew ever more popular, particularly after the railways arrived at Windermere, Coniston and Keswick in the middle of the century.

From as early as 1810 concerns were raised that the number of tourists would affect the traditional way of life in the Lake District. By the start of the 20th Century these concerns had become more about how architectural or industrial developments would change the landscape, and in 1951 the government passed legislation to protect the Lake District as a National Park. In 2016 the National Park’s boundary was extended, and today it is England’s largest National Park, covering an area of 912 square miles (2363 km²). In the following year the Lake District gained the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site, a further protection on this stunning landscape for future generations.