2025 Work Programme
Fix the Fells repairs and protects damage caused by erosion to the fragile upland landscapes in the Lake District National Park. In practise, this work is centred on upland paths as this is where traffic from path users combines with steeper gradients and water run-off to create conditions which can lead to rapid erosion and damage to upland habitats.
Fell path repair work is prioritised and agreed by the Fix the Fells Partnership Board, which comprises representatives from each of the five partner organisations; the National Trust, the Lake District National Park Authority, Friends of the Lake District, the Lake District Foundation and Natural England.
The prioritisation of which paths we work on is based on the current condition of the paths and the future impact they are likely to have on the upland landscape, ecology and archaeology if not addressed. Our Ranger teams draw up detailed specifications each year using nationally agreed best practice principles. For more details please visit our Path Repair Techniques page.
Outline information on the paths under consideration for repair during 2025 is given below
Paths Identified for Work in 2025
All repairs are subject to securing permission from the land owner, the appropriate consents, practicalities and funding. The list is subject to change depending on these and other factors, such as extreme weather events.
C113 Tongue Gill to Grisedale Tarn
Work along this stretch of the Coast to Coast path began in 2024 and will continue in 2025. Short sections of stone pitching, additional drainage and some light touch line definition will be undertaken by Rangers.
C131 Far Easedale to Greenup Edge
In 2024 a large project was undertaken to lay nearly 1km of Flags across this remote peatbog that was suffering considerable erosion. The next phase of the work is much smaller in scale and will ensure there is a clear line for people to use up the steeper sections towards Greenup Edge, so that the surrounding landscape is protected from further damage.
C132 Far Easedale
A relatively quiet valley in the Central Lakes, Far Easedale has had very little work undertaken in the past. However a number of deep erosion scars are developing – especially on steep sections where there is no clear path. Rangers and volunteers will work together undertaking pitching, drainage and constructing revetments to shore up sections of path along the official Coast to Coast route.
C135 Stythwaite Steps to Bracken Hause
The iconic Helm Crag has always been a magnet for walkers visiting Grasmere. While there is a very obvious route up to the summit, this is not the case as you continue along the ridgeline. A big erosion scar had developed from Bracken Hause – the low point beyond Helm Crag, down into the Easedale Valley, as walkers sought the most direct route back to Grasmere village. Fix the Fells Rangers began to tackle this scar several years ago and work will continue this year to complete the remaining sections of stone pitching. Once complete, we will consider the option to apply for the path to become a new right of way.
C142 Stythwaite Steps to Easedale Tarn
The circular route from Grasmere village to Easedale Tarn is one of the most popular routes in the central lakes. Consistent heavy use over time has meant that the stones that were laid many years ago to protect the peat on the ROW between the Tarn and Stythwaite Steps Bridge now require a considerable amount of repair.
C382 Browney Gill
This popular route in the central fells was worked on extensively back in the 1980s and 1990’s. Long stretches of stone pitching was laid in a sloping style which we now consider to be out of date. Repair to the path and surrounding landscape will be undertaken by Rangers and Volunteers – replacing old redundant sections of pitching, with flatter easier to use stonework as well as improving drainage and habitat restoration and landscaping.
C610 Huntingstile
This popular path links Grasmere to Elterwater. A considerable amount of work was carried out here by Rangers and volunteers in recent years and is still in great shape. However the lowest section of path requires some small scale work to stem the rate and extent of erosion. This will take the form of a few drains and a small amount of pitching.
E211 Gowbarrow
Year four of an ongoing project. Gowbarrow has grown enormously in popularity and use since the establishment of the Ullswater Way and also its promotion as an extension to the popular Aira Force Waterfall walk. The increased footfall has led to significant erosion scars developing and deep gullying through steep wet sections on the route up from High Cascades. In 2025 work will concentrate on the upper sections of the path where an aggregate tray path will be laid by Rangers and skilled volunteers. Work on the “Terrace Path” will be undertaken at a future date when time and funds allow.
E710 Kidsty Howes
This length of the Coast to Coast National Trail goes through some steep rocky sections as walkers descend into the Haweswater Valley. Work will be undertaken on the middle section of Kidsty Howes to provide a clearer more sustainable line through the bedrock and also through some particularly wet sections. The intention here is to try and protect the surrounding landscape by providing a clearer more inviting path line for people to use.
N131 Ullock Pike Lower Section
To address the growing number of deep gullies that have formed on this path, rangers and volunteers will employ a range of practical techniques to create a sustainable line that will stabilise and protect the surrounding landscape.
N132 Carlside to Mill Beck
Several of the drains on this path have fallen into disrepair and will be mended by Rangers and skilled volunteers.
N232 Mousthwaite Combe
This popular route up Blencathra has been experiencing significant sediment loss into the surrounding rivers and lakes over many years and the main reason for work being undertaken here is to stem this run off. Rangers have undertaken work to address the deep gullying, using material gathered on site to resurface and reprofile the path. This work will need a good few months to “settle” and harden to a more user friendly surface but, if successful, will provide great long term benefits. Work in 2025 will focus on monitoring and maintenance of the new surface and the installation of additional drainage .
N422 Walla Crag to Ashness Bridge
A popular route that forms part of the Borrowdale Bash mountain bike route, this section of path was not an official right of way but was very popular with bikers and forms the main route on the ground between Ashness Bridge and Falcon Crag.
Deep gullying and wide erosion scars had developed and significant amount of material was being lost into surrounding watercourses.
In 2023 a nearby footpath was upgraded to a Bridleway under quite unusual circumstances – users lobbied for a change in status and evidenced that it had a consistent record of bike use – citing “ Strava” records as the supporting evidence. In recognition of the areas popularity with bikers, work on this path was planned in conjunction with some local mountain bike groups who advised on specific techniques that our Rangers were proposing. The work has been very successful and the final piece of path repair work required is the construction of a stone “wath” (drain) on the top boggy section where users are spreading out and damaging the surrounding peat.
N451 Catbells
There is always work to do on this ever popular and iconic first fell! Regular work parties with Rangers and volunteers will focus on landscaping and path definition to encourage users onto a single narrower line and allow the surrounding vegetation to recover. Temporary post and rail fencing that was installed in 2024 will remain until the surrounding vegetation has recovered.
N491 Borrowdale Bash
Additional drainage is required on a few sections of this popular bridleway in order to stem the rate at which material is being lost from the path. Careful consideration will be given to the design of the drainage features to ensure they are are suitable and appropriate for one of the most popular Biking routes in the area.
N533 Hindscarth
Very little work has been done on this path and the intention is to keep any interventions as low key and subtle as possible. A small amount of work is required at the bottom section where water has scoured out a deep gully and led to run off of sediment and material into the surrounding watercourses. The path is near some protected heritage features linked to the areas rich mining history and so any plans will be be widely circulated for consultation and approval from relevant stakeholders.
N620 Whiteless Pike
A popular Wainright in the Heart of the Buttermere SSSI and part of the Lake District High Fells SAC. The main path up Whiteless is steep and wide in places, causing considerable environmental damage to the important surrounding habitat. Significant work began on this path in 2023 and will be completed in 2025. Rather than constructing a traditional stone pitched path, rangers have opted for a “bench path” which is an old method that cuts a zig zag up the slope across the contours. We were encouraged to consider alternative approaches to path design here, due in part to the challenges finding suitable stone sources – as any local scree slopes are strictly out of bounds due to the important assemblages of plants they support. The success and longevity of this path will be closely monitored and reviewed.
N720 Loft Beck
The first big climb on the Coast to coast National Trail, Loft Beck path which was built many years ago requires repair and improvement in many places. The path runs very close to the Beck and significant work has gone into constructing a large stone revetment to ensure the existing path line remains usable and is resilient against future high water and flood events.
N830 Lining Crag
This path and its surrounding vegetation was fundamentally changed for the better in 2022 when 600m of flag stones were laid to protect the surrounding peat. Feedback has been consistently positive from users, however the point at which the flags end is now showing significant erosion and damage. Small scale work will be carried out by Rangers to try and prevent further damage by providing a more sustainable surface.
N876 Esk Hause to calf Cove
Work began to repair several sections along this remote path in 2024. Short runs of pitching and drainage repairs are required and stone has already been flown to site, ready to use. However a particularly wet and cold season in 2024 limited progress (due to the 2 hour walk to site that Rangers are required to make in order to access this high altitude path), so the work will roll over into 2025.
N960 Wythburn
This popular Bridleway route up Helvellyn has been worked on for many years and displays a huge range of different path repair techniques along its length. This year Rangers and volunteers will complete a small section of pitching, drainage and landscaping work on the top section of the path.
S251 Low water bridge to Levers Hawse
Volunteers will be carrying out minor repairs along this path to improve drainage and try and stem the rate of erosion until a longer term project can be undertaken to stabilise this steep, loose and popular path.
S252 Levers Water to Swirl Hawse
A range of techniques will be used here to encourage people to use a single sustainable line from levers water to Swirl Hawes en route to the popular Coniston fells. Cairns and pitching that were begun last year will be completed along with additional drainage and stepping stones through particularly wet areas.
S261 Coniston Old Man Upper
Rangers and volunteers will be back working on this hugely popular mountain undertaking path stabilisation and repair work along the main tourist route up from Walna Scar Car park. This will take the form of repairs to existing pitching, additional stone drainage and landscaping work to close down the multiple erosion scars and side routes that are causing damage to surrounding vegetation.
W141 Brown Tongue
Ongoing work on England’s highest mountain. This year work will concentrate on 2 sections: one area where very old, narrow stone pitching will be pulled out and replaced with a wider, flatter, more inviting surface to walk on; and another section near the summit where a new path was built last year and now requires some additional landscaping to keep people on the desired line and protect the surrounding fragile, thin soils and their important vegetation.
Ongoing Maintenance and Minor Repairs
The 400 sections of path that have been worked on and monitored in previous years will continue to be maintained on a traffic light system. Paths are rated according to the number of times our volunteers and Rangers need to return to them in order to clear the drains and sweep the stone pitching of any loose stones. This varies from once or twice a year, to every two months for some of the most heavily used paths. In addition, Fix the Fells Rangers and volunteers undertake a broad programme of minor repair works, particularly on well used paths and popular mountain routes.
Minor repairs will be carried out by volunteers on a number of additional paths throughout the season under the supervision and guidance of a specialist volunteer development ranger . This ability to respond in a timely manner to reports of minor issues can prevent problems from escalating in scale and urgency but there is always SO much more than we have the time, money or resource to tackle .
Please play your part by treading lightly and sticking to a sustainable surface if there is one so we can all continue to enjoy this special place for many generations to come.