Fly-campers could be fined at more beauty spots

8 hours ago

News image — A tent surrounded by litter was left by Windermere last year

Nicola Millner A tent surrounded by litter in picturesque woodland in the Lake District. There is a lot of rubbish and discarded camping equipment. — A tent surrounded by litter was left by Windermere last year

More spots in a national park could be given greater protection against anti-social behaviour, including fly-camping.

Westmorland and Furness Council said it wanted to introduce nine public space protection orders (PSPOs) in Lake District sites such as Ambleside, Ullswater, Haweswater Reservoir and Windermere.

The PSPOs would allow officers to fine people up to £100 for damaging the environment when camping, lighting fires or barbeques, and littering.

The council said it had opened a public consultation after residents shared evidence of "persistent problems" in the areas.

PSPOs were introduced at other sites earlier in the month.

The National Trust, which is responsible for swathes of the Lake District, said there was a difference between fly-camping and wild camping.

Wild camping is allowed above the highest fell wall and campers should "leave no trace".

To issue a fine or be prosecuted, there must be clear evidence of anti-social behaviour or environmental damage, the council said.

Charity Friends of the Lake District said surveys sent to residents revealed that fly-camping and anti-social behaviour was making people "afraid to take their usual walks" and being "unable to enjoy the landscape".

PA Media Crowds enjoying the good weather at Ullswater in the Lake District. There are green fells in the background with lots of trees. There are lots of people paddle-boarding and using canoes on the water. — Areas near Ullswater are among the proposed protection spots

The proposed locations are:

Galava Roman Fort, Ambleside - owned by the National Trust
Holme Crag, Ambleside - owned by the National Trust
Brown Howe, Coniston - owned by the Lake District National Park
Haweswater Reservoir - owned by United Utilities
Brothers Water, Hartsop - owned by National Trust
South Ullswater, including Glencoyne and Aira Force - owned by the National Trust
South Ullswater including Ullswater Steamers land - owned by Lake District Estates and National Trust - and Jenkin Field, Glenridding - owned by Patterdale Parish Council
Ullswater, laybys and land adjacent to the lake - owned by Gowbarrow Hall
Bowness and Millerground, including Cockshot Point, Windermere - owned by the National Trust

Nicola Millner Rubbish, food plastic containers and carrier bags discarded in the woods by Windermere. — Litter was reported at beauty spots in the Lake District last year

Jeremy Smith, head of campaigns at Friends of the Lake District, said the actions of fly-campers and litterers were causing "significant visual and health impacts" on people living in Cumbria.

He added residents were becoming "unable to enjoy the landscape around where they live out of fear of what they may encounter".

The landscape charity urged the council to enforce the "necessary powers and procedures" before the main tourism season started "so that residents can be spared these problems on the scale that we saw them in 2025".

Tensions became heightened last year with many social media posts by residents highlighting issues with dumped equipment, land damaged by campfires and rubbish.

The council said its consultation was open until 9 February.

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