World Heritage Cumbria

We’ve always known that it was a special place, but since July 10th, 2017 it was official: the Lake District National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, putting it alongside the likes of the Taj Mahal, Machu Piccu and the Grand Canyon as one of the world’s most significant sites. We were thrilled, of course, but it’s not the first time Cumbria has been so recognised. Hadrian’s Wall was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987, along with other notables like the Great Wall of China, Blenheim Palace and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It’s nice to be in such exalted company, but why not come and check it out for yourself? We haven’t let the accolades go to our heads, we promise!
 
And if you want to know more about Cumbria’s unique landscape and how to make sure it stays special, check this out.

3 themes, 13 valleys

The three themes relating to the Lake District World Heritage award are: Inspiration, Identity & Conservation.

The case for Lake District World Heritage status is a compelling one.
View the videos below to find out what people love about the Lake District.

INSPIRATION

The beauty of the Lake District inspired artists and writers of the Picturesque and Romantic movements and generated ideas about landscape that have had global influence.

IDENTITY

The acknowledged beauty of the Lake District is the result of thousands of years of agricultural development of the spectacular natural landscape of mountains, valleys, lakes and woodland. It is a cultural landscape of international significance.

CONSERVATION

The Lake District has been enjoyed and valued by visitors for 250 years. Concern to protect it was the inspiration for the birth of the conservation movement, including the National Trust and protected areas including UK National Parks.

All cultural landscapes change over time, often at a relatively slow rate so that their essential character is retained. Thus the Lake District is a landscape which has evolved and will continue to evolve into the future. This change will be embraced whilst ensuring that the attributes of outstanding universal character that define the World Heritage site are protected and enhanced.

The thirteen valleys are:

Borrowdale and Bassenthwaite; Buttermere; Coniston; Duddon; Ennerdale; Eskdale; Grasmere, Rydal & Ambleside; Haweswater; Langdale; Thirlmere; Ullswater; Wasdale; Windermere.

DID YOU KNOW?...

• The Lake District has become one of just over 1000 World Heritage sites (1052)
• The Lake District is the UK’s largest World Heritage site: 229,200 hectares (1951 boundary)
• The Lake District is the UK’s 31st UNESCO World Heritage site
• It is the only UK National Park that is entirely a World Heritage site
• It is the UK’s 5th cultural landscape World Heritage Site, others include: Blaenavon Industrial Landscape; Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; St Kilda.

For more information on the Lake District's World Heritage status and frequently asked questions, click here

30 years of UNESCO World Heritage Status!

2017 is a very special year, marking the 30th anniversary of Hadrian's Wall being granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

In 2005 Hadrian’s Wall became part of a much larger, much more ambitious, ‘transnational’ World Heritage Site as the German Limes were added, followed by the Antonine Wall in 2008, to create the Frontiers of the Roman Empire (FRE).
In the second century AD, the Roman Frontiers encompassed much of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. It is hoped that other stretched of FRE will be inscribed by UNESCO to the ‘transnational’ site, eventually making the FRE one of the largest World Heritage Sites of all.

Stretching from Ravenglass Roman Bath House in the West of Cumbria, Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage monuments in Cumbria go across the county to Gilsland on the Northumberland border. The wall itself was built between 122 and 128 AD and stretches 150 miles to Wallsend on the east coast of England.

What is Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site?

Along the 150 miles, from Arbiea Roman Fort in South Shields to Ravenglass Roman Bath House the wall meets:

• 2 National Parks
• 2 Areas of Outstanding National Beauty
• 12 local authorities
• More than 300 landowners
• More than 1,000,000 residents
• 11 historical sites and museums

For more information on Hadrian's Wall and the 30th anniversary of World Heritage, click here