New Lakes footpath to save lives

Walkers will no longer have to risk their lives on one of the Lake District's busiest roads with the opening of a new route.

For many years the route running from Keswick's railway footpath to Castlerigg Stone Circle on the A66 has been an accident black spot.

Now an existing underpass has been turned into a footpath so ramblers can bypass the busy main road.

The Lake District National Park Authority said lives would be saved.

New signs

Authority ranger Val Edmondson, said: "This is was a vitally important project that could save lives.

"With the old route taking people right across the main road, we were painfully aware that something had to be done and we are over the moon that an existing underpass has now been adapted to form part of the footpath."

The Ramblers Association, Friends of the Lake District, and Keswick Bridge Owners Club have all been involved in the project.

Work included re-grading a steep bank, removing two sets of steps, resurfacing, replacing stiles with gates and providing new signs.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version