A Cultural Landscape of
Global Significance
Inscribed on 9 July 2017, the Lake District joined the ranks of the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, and the Grand Canyon as one of the world's most treasured places.
31st
UK World Heritage Site
2,292
Square Kilometres
13
Distinctive Valleys
1,000+
Years of Farming Heritage
Outstanding Universal Value
The Lake District wasn't inscribed simply for its spectacular natural beauty – though the mountains, lakes, and valleys are undeniably stunning. UNESCO recognised something far more profound: a cultural landscape shaped by over 1,000 years of human interaction with the land.
The narrow, glaciated valleys radiating from the central massif, with their steep hillsides and slender lakes, exhibit an extraordinary beauty and harmony. This is the result of the Lake District's continuing distinctive agro-pastoral traditions based on local breeds of sheep – most notably the iconic Herdwick – and a system of common fell-grazing that has persisted for centuries.
The stone-walled fields and rugged farm buildings in their spectacular natural backdrop form a harmonious beauty that has attracted visitors since the 18th century, inspired the Romantic poets, and sparked the global conservation movement.
The Three Themes of Outstanding Universal Value
UNESCO identified three interlinked themes that together make the Lake District a place of global significance.
Identity
A landscape of exceptional beauty, shaped by people through farming and industry for over 1,000 years.
Inspiration
Home to Wordsworth, Ruskin, and Beatrix Potter – inspiring global artistic movements and a new way of seeing landscape.
Conservation
Birthplace of the National Trust and the global landscape conservation movement.
The Herdwick Sheep: Guardians of the Landscape
The Herdwick is the hardy native breed of sheep that has shaped the Lake District landscape for over 1,000 years. Legend connects them to the Vikings – their name derives from the Old Norse herdvyck meaning "sheep pasture" – and genetic analysis has found they share rare traits with Scandinavian breeds.
What makes Herdwicks truly remarkable is their "hefting" instinct – they know their home territory and pass this knowledge from mother to lamb through generations. This enables the unique system of common fell-grazing without fences across the largest area of common land in Europe.
Born black, they lighten to grey as they age. Their thick double coat protects them in the harshest winters. Beatrix Potter was so passionate about preserving them that she became President-elect of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association and left 14 farms to the National Trust with the condition that Herdwick flocks continue to graze them.
"More than the old drystone walls that quarter the fells, the packhorse bridges or the whitewashed farmsteads, the little grey Herdwick sheep typify the Lakeland."
— Alfred Wainwright
Where to See Herdwicks
- Wasdale – The heartland of Herdwick country
- Borrowdale – Traditional farming valley
- Buttermere – Classic Herdwick territory
- Hill Top, Near Sawrey – Descendants of Beatrix Potter's own flock
- Coniston Fells – 95% of all Herdwicks live within 20 miles of Coniston
The Farming Year
- November – Tupping time (breeding season)
- April-May – Lambing season
- June-July – Shearing and "The Gather" from the fells
- Autumn – Shepherds' meets and agricultural shows
The Art of Dry Stone Walls
Thousands of miles of walls built without mortar, standing for centuries
The dry stone walls that crisscross the Lake District landscape are far more than field boundaries – they're a living heritage craft dating back over 3,500 years. These intricate structures, built entirely without mortar, have shaped the character of the fells and valleys.
Most of the walls visible today were built during the Enclosure Acts of the 18th and 19th centuries, when teams of professional wallers would construct huge lengths in remarkably short periods. The craft requires understanding stone orientation, balance, and using gravity to create structures that can withstand the Lake District's harsh weather for centuries.
Anatomy of a Dry Stone Wall
- Foundation stones – Large, stable stones at the base
- Two outer faces – Built with a "batter" (taper) from 90cm to 40cm
- Hearting – Smaller filling stones in the centre
- Through stones – Long stones binding both faces together
- Coping/cam stones – Top stones, often set on edge
Ecological Importance
- Shelter for nesting birds, reptiles, and amphibians
- Habitat for lichens, mosses, and ferns
- Wildlife corridors across the landscape
- "Smoots" – small holes for sheep lambs to pass through
- Microhabitats in crevices for invertebrates
Tip for Walkers
Please never climb over dry stone walls – use gates and stiles. Climbing damages the structure and can take years to repair. These walls are part of our World Heritage Site!
Literary Heritage: The Lake Poets & Beyond
The Lake District inspired a new way of seeing landscape that changed the world
William Wordsworth
1770–1850 • Poet
Born in Cockermouth, Wordsworth defined the Romantic Movement. His 1810 Guide to the Lakes proposed the Lake District should be "a sort of national property" – planting the seed for National Parks.
Places to Visit:
- Dove Cottage, Grasmere
- Rydal Mount, Ambleside
- Wordsworth House, Cockermouth
- St Oswald's Church grave, Grasmere
Beatrix Potter
1866–1943 • Author & Conservationist
Creator of Peter Rabbit, Potter used her royalties to buy Hill Top farm in 1905. She became a champion of Herdwick sheep and left 4,000 acres and 14 farms to the National Trust.
Places to Visit:
- Hill Top, Near Sawrey
- Beatrix Potter Gallery, Hawkshead
- World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness
- Yew Tree Farm, Coniston
John Ruskin
1819–1900 • Critic & Philosopher
Victorian polymath who championed conservation long before it was fashionable. His thinking directly influenced the founders of the National Trust. He lived at Brantwood from 1872 until his death.
Places to Visit:
- Brantwood, Coniston Water
- Ruskin Museum, Coniston
- Coniston Churchyard grave
The Picturesque Movement & Viewing Stations
Before the Romantics, the Lake District was considered "a frightful wilderness." The Picturesque Movement changed everything. Thomas West's 1778 Guide to the Lakes – the first tourist guidebook – identified "viewing stations" where visitors could appreciate curated vistas.
These early tourists would even turn their backs to the view and examine it through a "Claude glass" – a tinted convex mirror – like an 18th-century Instagram filter!
The Picturesque interest led wealthy visitors to build villas and designed landscapes that "improved" the natural beauty – you can still see these at places like Tarn Hows and Claife Viewing Station.
Historic Viewing Stations to Visit
- Claife Viewing Station – Windermere's west shore, with coloured glass windows (National Trust, free)
- Queen Adelaide's Hill – Classic Windermere panorama
- Friar's Crag – Derwentwater's famous viewpoint
- Surprise View – Above Derwentwater
- Orrest Head – Wordsworth's recommended first view of Windermere
Birthplace of the Conservation Movement
The Lake District gave birth to ideas about protecting landscape that spread around the world
Wordsworth's Radical Idea
In his Guide to the Lakes, Wordsworth proposed the Lake District should be "a sort of national property, in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy."
Lake District Defence Society Founded
Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley led successful campaigns against railway developments, earning the nickname "Defender of the Lakes." This became the Friends of the Lake District.
National Trust Founded
Rawnsley, with Octavia Hill and Robert Hunter, founded the National Trust. Their first Lake District purchase was Brandelhow Woods on Derwentwater in 1902.
Beatrix Potter's Legacy
Potter bequeathed 4,000 acres and 14 farms to the National Trust, with the condition that Herdwick sheep continue to graze them.
National Park Designated
The Lake District became a National Park under the 1949 Act – the concept directly inspired by Lakeland thinking.
UNESCO World Heritage Inscription
On 9 July, the Lake District was inscribed as the UK's 31st World Heritage Site – and the only UK National Park entirely designated as a World Heritage Site.
Places of Conservation Heritage
- Allan Bank, Grasmere – Rawnsley's final home, now National Trust
- Brandelhow Woods – The Trust's first Lake District purchase (1902)
- Friar's Crag – Purchased in Rawnsley's memory
- Hill Top, Near Sawrey – Beatrix Potter's conservation legacy
- Wray Castle – Where Potter met Rawnsley aged 16
Global Impact
- Over 70 National Trusts worldwide inspired by the Lake District model
- The concept of legally-protected landscapes originated here
- UNESCO's cultural landscape category (1992) draws on Lakeland thinking
- The National Trust now protects 250,000+ hectares across the UK
The 13 Valleys of the World Heritage Site
Each valley has its own distinctive character. The 13 Valleys Trail connects them all – walk sections or tackle the whole 100-mile route.
Borrowdale & Bassenthwaite
The largest valley, stretching from Scafell Pike to the Solway coast. Home to Keswick, Derwentwater, and ancient oakwoods.
Buttermere
Classic U-shaped glacial valley containing three lakes: Buttermere, Crummock Water, and Loweswater. Stunning circular walk.
Coniston
Guarded by the Old Man of Coniston. Donald Campbell's Bluebird records, Ruskin's Brantwood, and Swallows and Amazons territory.
Duddon
The "hidden valley" – remote and unspoilt, celebrated in Wordsworth's sonnets. No lake, but the beautiful River Duddon.
Ennerdale
The wildest valley – no public road runs through it. A pioneering rewilding project is restoring natural processes.
Eskdale
From Scafell Pike to the sea at Ravenglass. Home to the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway – "La'al Ratty."
Grasmere & Rydal
Wordsworth's "loveliest spot." Dove Cottage, Rydal Mount, and the famous Grasmere Gingerbread.
Haweswater
Reservoir valley, tranquil and less visited. England's only golden eagles nest here.
Langdale
The iconic profile of the Langdale Pikes. A Neolithic axe factory and some of Lakeland's best walking.
Thirlmere
Victorian reservoir beneath Helvellyn. The controversy over its creation helped spark the conservation movement.
Ullswater
Where Wordsworth saw the daffodils. Aira Force waterfall, steamer cruises, and the Ullswater Way walking route.
Wasdale
England's highest mountain (Scafell Pike), deepest lake (Wastwater), and smallest church. Britain's Favourite View.
Windermere
England's largest lake. Gateway to the Lakes with Victorian villas, lake cruises, and Beatrix Potter's Hill Top nearby.
Explore the World Heritage Site
The entire Lake District National Park boundary is the World Heritage Site – the UK's largest
Castlerigg Stone Circle: 5,000 Years of History
One of Britain's oldest and most atmospheric stone circles – predating Stonehenge by 700 years
Set on a natural plateau with a 360-degree panorama of Lakeland fells – Skiddaw, Blencathra, Helvellyn, and more – Castlerigg is perhaps the most dramatically sited stone circle in Britain. Its 38 standing stones, some towering 10 feet high, were arranged by Neolithic farmers around 3000 BC.
No one knows exactly why it was built. It may have been a ceremonial gathering place, a trading centre for stone axes from the nearby Langdale "factory," or a way of marking astronomical events. The entrance appears to align with the midwinter sunset.
The Romantic poets were captivated by Castlerigg. Samuel Taylor Coleridge visited with Wordsworth in 1799 and wrote of "white-vested wizards" assembling there. Keats referenced it in his poem Hyperion.
Visitor Information
- 1.5 miles east of Keswick, off the A591
- Free entry (English Heritage)
- Open during daylight hours
- Best at sunrise or sunset for atmosphere
- 30-min walk from Keswick town centre
Other Stone Circles to Visit
- Swinside – Near Broughton-in-Furness. 55 stones, equally ancient, far fewer visitors. Walk-in access only.
- The Cockpit, Askham Fell – Above Ullswater, with similar rectangular feature inside.
- Long Meg and Her Daughters – Near Penrith. One of Britain's largest circles with 70+ stones.
- Burnmoor Stone Circles – Remote group of five circles on high moorland above Eskdale.
Help Protect Our World Heritage Site
Conservation is one of the three themes of our UNESCO inscription. Every visitor can help preserve this landscape for future generations.
Stick to Paths
Walking off-path causes erosion, damaging the landscape that earned World Heritage status. Use gates and stiles – never climb walls.
Leave No Trace
Take all litter home. Even biodegradable items like banana skins take years to decompose in our climate.
Travel Sustainably
Use public transport, lake ferries, or cycle where possible. Visitor car travel accounts for 36% of the Lake District's carbon footprint.
Respect Farm Gates
Leave gates as you find them. Farmers close gates to protect hefted sheep flocks – the very reason for our World Heritage status.
Control Dogs
Keep dogs on leads around livestock. Sheep worrying is a serious problem that threatens the traditional farming that defines this landscape.
Support Local
Buy local produce, eat at local pubs, stay in local accommodation. A thriving local economy helps maintain the cultural landscape.
Continue Exploring
Discover more about the Lake District's heritage and plan your visit