Lake District braces for the return of overnight visitors

Lockdowns cost Cumbria £2bn in tourism revenue last year, but trepidation surrounds what is set to be ‘busiest summer ever’

The lockdowns of the last year are estimated to have lost Cumbria £2bn in tourism revenue. But while the Lake District welcomes the return of overnight visitors from Monday for what it expects to be its “busiest summer ever”, there is a certain nervousness about what awaits.

Last summer saw “an awful lot chaos”, admits local MP, Tim Farron. Those responsible were “a small minority, but still a lot of people” who decided to camp, park, BBQ and litter wherever they fancied. There was a “rave” halfway up Catbells, and earlier this year a Mountain Rescue volunteer was left with spinal injuries after falling trying to reach two lockdown breakers camping above the Kirkstall Pass.