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If you’ve ever wanted to visit the Lake District but you’re concerned about the accessibility of the National Park, worry no longer, as the park has joined the Miles without Stiles project, which aims to create accessible routes throughout Britain’s National Parks.
In the Lake District, there are now 50 routes throughout the National Park for those with limited mobility or using mobility aids or pushchairs. The routes are all stile free making them suitable for a wide range of users, including those using mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walking sticks or families with pushchairs.
A map showing the range of Miles Without Stiles routes can be found on the lake District National Park’s website here
and we’ve highlighted a couple of our favouriete routes below.
Each of the routes have been graded for either: For All, For Many or Some, which is based on the gradients and surface conditions, so you can feel comfortable knowing that the route is suitable for you.
The For All routes are suitable for everyone and have a gradient of no more than 1:10. The surfaces are all smooth and there will be passing places along the paths. The For Many routes are suitable for assisted wheelchair users and have gradients of no more than 1:10 and the path surfaces will be slightly rougher. The For Some routes are suitable for strong and confident wheelchair users and those using off road mobility scooters. Any routes with slopes will have handrails and there may be some low steps or breaks in the surface.
For those who aren’t sure whether their mobility aids are suitable for exploring the routes, please visit the website and hire all terrain wheelchairs and other mobility aids from the National Park team.
Some of our favourite routes are as follows.
The Howk
This route is less than a mile long and is a great one for those that love beautiful scenery and learning about local history. The route can be found in the northern part of the Lake District National Park and starts at the Caldbeck Village Car Park. The walk takes you alongside the river and takes you to the Howk, a limestone gorge that houses the remains of Howk Bobbin Mill that once had the largest waterwheel in the UK. Turn back when you get to Howk Bobbin Mill and return to the carpark for a short walk or if you feel like an adventure, follow onwards.
Tarn Hows
This is one of the best known of the Miles Without Stiles walks through the National Park. There are two options, a circular walk which is 1.8 miles or a shorter version that is just 0.5 miles. It is an idyllic spot full of beautiful views and starts and ends at Tarn Hows carpark, which has a dedicated disabled parking area.
Portinscale Riverbank Loop
This pretty circular route takes you past rivers, meadows and gives you some amazing mount views as well as taking you to the village of Portinscale, which is a picturesque place in itself. The route starts and ends at the Portinscale Suspension Bridge and is around 0.9 miles long. Start at the bridge and follow the river.
