The key characteristics of the Cumbria High Fells are:

8. Cumbria High Fells

The key characteristics of the Cumbria High Fells are:

• Spectacular and rugged mountain scenery of open fells with an expansive character, and a mosaic of high craggy peaks and screes, heaths, mires, peatland, heather moorland, acid grassland, bracken and remote valleys with fast flowing streams and tarns.

• A radiating pattern of deep glaciated valleys with extensive lakes, reed beds, carr woodlands, meadows and other lakeshore vegetation, rivers and semi-improved and improved grazing land.

• Farmland and sheltered valley landscapes at lower altitudes with woodland, dry stone walls, hedgerows, copses, pollarded trees and scrub vegetation.

• Traditional stone farm buildings in vernacular styles with slated roofs, circular chimneys and occasionally spinning galleries.

• Extensive areas of ancient, semi-natural , broadleaved, mixed and conifer woodlands in Borrowdale, Buttermere, Ennerdale, Derwent Water, Duddon and the Thirlmere areas.

• Relatively formal lakeshore landscapes of managed grassland with occasional boathouses and dwellings, and broadleaved woodland and individual trees in a parkland setting.

• Ancient patterns of stone walls which subdivide lowland pasture and high fellsides with various densities, reflecting the management of land as inbye, intake and fell grazing.

• Pressure for growth and development of the tourist industry.

• Agriculture is predominately hill sheep farming.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.