General Chat

Surely all that water must make the Lake District very dangerous for those who can't swim.

Ah but Allan according to the PC people we should all go everywhere whether we want to or not :-D

It would be nice if the New Forest and other areas (I bet the Lake district is included) didn't just plant pines but do some more native trees...no such thing as too many trees.

:-D :-D :-D

Similarly all those loose ponies, donkeys, deer and cows (along with the adders and wood ants) are an obvious 'hazard' to visitors to the New Forest, Dartmoor or Exmoor!
Despite signs warning people not to feed them.
I was once caught up in a 'stampede' in the New Forest. I stood behind a tree.
The ponies went past me, not one pony decided to return from their panic to kick me!

Dartmoor ponies - much more vicious. A few choice words shouted angrily in it's face got rid of the one trying to bite me, when I was playing hide and seek (I was 10)

Actually, neither were as anti-social as the Welsh Cob I went to ride, (again, aged 10) with my friend (who new it). Darned thing chased me up a tree, and tried to follow me :-0
I didn't bother riding it.
Actually, I don't much like equine type beasts :-(

I would have been about 11, walking with a friend in the forest a kind gentleman told us not to go down that track as an adder was there...of course we ignored him... :-D

Sharron never thought of that good point...and what about agoraphobics should they be forced there or should there be special places for them?

Do people try to feed the wood ants then Maggie?

Hazel bushes, walnut trees, nut allergies. Oh dear, can't bear to think about it.

The massive problem with the Lake District is they are putting Tarmac roads in so 4 x 4 wheel vehicles can get in.which was shown on tv last night.

I personally think it's bloody disgusting to be doing the roads in the middle of the Lake district,

Which walkers/guests want to be run over by bloody 4 x 4 cars which would make the Lake District a death trap for everyone.

Just keep it to the way it used to be.

How silly.

Isn't the idea of a 4x4 that it is for use on rough terrain and doesn't need tarmac roads?

Sharron, you are right that 4x4's don't need tarmac tracks. I'll probably not be popular for saying this but my son runs a 4x4 events business and goes to the lake district (amongst other areas) about 3 times a year. He is a responsible 4x4 driver who has his company name on the side of his vehicle so doesn't do anything wrong as he can be easily identified and the tracks he uses are actually unclassified "roads". Some walkers complain to him about being there but as these tracks are actually roads he says he and his customers pay their road tax and are entitled to be there. If a track gets closed by a road traffic order he is happy to comply with this.

He has a lot of older customers who wouldn't get to such lovely places without 4x4's. He's been trading for a long time and is very responsible and considerate to other uses of the tracks.

Kath. x

Sharron, they don't deliberately try to feed the wood ants - but many rather foolishly find the ant humps just the right height for having a rest on - so the wood ants tend to end up biting them! :-S

They don't do it twice!

only if you're stupid :-)

Part of the attraction of the Lake District is the natural beauty and the absence of too much noise so that the peace of the countryside, the sound of the birds etc can be enjoyed. There are places where 4x4s would be out of place and hopefully roads won’t be built there. But there are also I am sure areas such as disused quarries and other industrial areas that could absorb tracks for off roaming but do they really need to be tarmaced? Surely that defeats the object.. I know there are areas in the north of the lakes for instance where there are activity places with zip wires etc. I think this is one way of encouraging youngsters and those who want more adventure than mountain climbing, rock climbing abseiling etc using nature to further adventure.

I read this, too, Caroline; how the Lakes weren't ethnic enough; the article also mentioned wheelchair access etc.

This subject was lumped together in an article explaining how two independent schools have refused to accept a monetary offer to educate two poor white boys yet Cambridge Uni has accepted money to help educate black students exclusively.

It baffles me when educators know that the most persistent group of under-achievers is that of white boys. The only thing that springs to mind is that independent schools usually have a number of black pupils from very wealthy families so are they afraid that they will suffer loss of income because these parents will not send their children to schools that accept offers of help to poor white boys?

I am not baffled and can certainly understand about better access for all to the Lake District and I hope this can be achieved.

As far as I am concerned, the Lakes are not for me. I go because my OH loves the district but all the time I am (occasionally) there, in the back of my mind are those dark satanic hills (not mills) casting darkness everywhere and spoiling the miles-long, far-reaching views that I really really like.

Unfortunately in many cases by highlighting only one group for extra funding you often overcompensate that group and don't give funding to another like the schoolboys mentioned. Here, for instance, Universities will give priority to underrepresented groups for research projects and places....so, for instance, medical studies are first offered to ethnic minorities students...and yet most students are ethnic minorities.

Yet more PC stuff. People either wish to visit or dont, tis that simple. Ethnic minorities quite often have different ideas/interests as to where to visit on a day out or on holiday. Plenty of Young people seem to be more interested in the "modern world" so the Lakes has no appeal for them plus they prefer sun to rain. We love the Lakes and would often visit on a day out even tho a round trip of 300 or more miles. Tis a very expensive place when it comes to holiday accommodation as we well know which must surely play a part

Joy Louise not sure you have been to the right places. The LD is a place of two different halves really. The Northern Lakes where your dark satanic hills (the mountains) are and the South, softer lower hills and fells where if you can walk up just a little way suddenly you can see for miles, the far reaching views you like.

Well, they could always flatten the hills in the north of the LD so that JoyLouise can enjoy her uninterrupted views ;-) :-D :-D

Of course such a move may wreak havoc on the radial drainage that is a major environmental factor of the entire region, but on the plus side, the rains would cease and the sun would shine.

A few cities may lose their sources of drinking water, but then with climate change these may have dried up anyway! :-P

Now before the baying mob rush at me with pitchforks and scythes, baying for blood, the above was written with my tongue firmly in my cheek :-D :-D :-D :-D

Quite a few reservoirs in the UK have been filled in - and houses built on them :-S

I wouldn't be buying there then :-D

....but then 'they' go on about water shortages :-|