The Thirlmere Zip Wires

A planning application has been submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority this week to string eight zip wires over Thirlmere which we think is going to prove controversial. You can read a summary of the proposal here in the Cumberland & Westmorland Herald.

We've been taking a look at the actual application. There's a lot to read but you can find a map here from which we've extracted the key elements and this is roughly where the zipwires will run.

Users will start from a 26' high gantry (so about the same height as a house) on the east side above the A591 and the "fly" on one of four wires for a kilometre over Thirlmere arriving close to the shore on the west side.

They will then be transported up the fellside to a second gantry below Fisher Crag to "fly" 1200m back across Thirlmere on one of a second set of four wires.

The view of Thirlmere from Fisher Crag, the return zipwires will begin just below here

Generally here at WalkLakes we try not to get involved with the politics of the Lake District but we've been looking at this application alongside the core strategies of the Lake District National Park. In particular in the section on "Strengthen the Character of the area" it says:

• Protecting the skyline and views into and out of the area.
• Enhancing the sense of remoteness and tranquillity of the upland mountain massifs.

We confess we're at a loss to see how having up to eight people screaming their heads off as they zip across Thirlmere is going to help with either of those.

Anyway if you have a view on this application then you need to write to the LDNPA. The reference number of the application is 7/2017/2298 and you can submit your comments by email to or by post to Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Kendal, LA9 7RL.

Comments must be received by or before 12th January 2018.

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