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If ever an area of Cumbria was said to be wild then Ennerdale is it. Towering rock faces and the ever changing weather reflecting in Ennerdale Water complete the effect.

Situated in the Lake District National Park, the valley has only a few buildings and is the first major challenge for those taking part in the Coast to Coast Walk east of Whitehaven.

This area is not one usually on the tourist map due to it's remote nature. This makes it an ideal location for painters, photographers, walkers and those just seeking to hear the sounds of nature.

A unique partnership

The National Trust, The Forestry Commission and United Utilities are the primary land owners. They formed a partnership called "Wild Ennerdale" in 2002 and are proposing a unique and radical approach to the long term direction of the valley.

The partners want to see the valley allowed to develop more through the forces of nature rather than through man's intervention.

The weir at the top of the fellside

The Partnership's vision statement describes this in one sentence: 'To allow the evolution of Ennerdale as a wild valley for the benefit of people, relying more on natural processes to shape its landscape and ecology'.

Silent power

A number of buildings are scattered throughout the valley and they need power for heating, lighting and general modern life. The buildings at High Gillerthwaite are managed by the YHA, the Youth Hostel Association, who offer accommodation and food to the weary traveller.

The installation of power cables strung for miles on poles was not an option so an alternative solution was needed.

The water turbine produces 6Kw of power.

For many years a diesel generator chugged away in an outhouse spewing out
valley- filling fumes and noise, totally against the 'back to nature' concept trying to be introduced to the area. A quiet, non-polluting solution was required and it came in the form of hydro electricity.

Water is gathered from a stream high on the fell top and transported in a plastic pipe over a mile, straight down to a water turbine on the valley bottom. 

The fall of over 80m provides great pressure, forcing the turbine to rotate generating electricity. At full power this turbine can produce over 6kw of power. Clever electronics control the power distribution ensuring that if the water supply dries up then essential services are maintained.

This electricity generating scheme has very little impact on the area and you would not see the hillside pipe which is buried or covered with undergrowth. The only sound at the hostel is a faint whine from the turbine which, unless it is pointed out, you would not notice.

The Ennerdale YHA building

All the power produced must be used and once immediate needs have been met, any surplus is used for heating and hot water. This has a knock-on reduction in the gas consumption of the site.

The old diesel generator still remains but since this turbine was installed in 2002 it has only been used for few days.

It is hoped that other buildings in the area will come to be powered by similar schemes in the near future.