1. Reaching the Lake District
- Transformational transport enabling 50% more visitors to reach the National Park by rail and integrated onward travel linking showcase areas of the Keswick, Ullswater and Windermere corridors.
- Quality, integrated marketing and mobile ticketing engaging visitors to explore the Lake District sustainably
- Cultural and international visitors to the Lake District World Heritage Site arriving at quality designed gateway stations
![]()
4. Smarter travel
- Working with partners on new smart tech developments to revolutionise how visitors and residents travel, including shared transport, mobility as a service and real time parking and transport information linked to existing mapping and booking apps
- Ensure the Lake District is a leading place for transport innovation and accelerating new technologies to market including intelligent parking and transport systems, electric bikes and electric, hydrogen and autonomous vehicles
![]()
5. Keeping it special
- As a minimum % visitors arriving by car decreasing from 83% in 2015 to 64% in 2040. Less than ½ of visitors’ main mode of travel around the Lake District is car by 2040. Ideally, we are aiming for even greater increase in sustainable visitor travel
- Our action plan requires investment into the Lake District transport and visitor services, delivering economic benefits from visitors who stay longer and spend more locally.
![]()
These integrated themes will come together to reduce visitors’ reliance on their cars and keep the Lake District special.
We anticipate continued growth in visitor numbers, with potentially 22 million visitors per annum coming to the Lake District by 2040. We aim to increase the share of visitors who use sustainable travel in order to minimise this impact on the landscape and communities, to maintain, and where possible enhance, the tranquillity and beauty for which the Lake District is appreciated.
The sustainable travel measures are wide ranging and innovative, embracing opportunities presented by technological advances alongside developing opportunities for travel and recreation such as walking and cycling.
Whilst the vision is for 2040, the delivery plan is until 2020, to provide the opportunities to update as new opportunities arise. The delivery plan includes ‘quick wins’ alongside work towards the development of iconic walking and cycling projects and innovative new approaches.
The Smarter Travel Vision was agreed at the Lake District National Park Partnership in December 2018 and we are working with partners to deliver it. Much of it has not been incorporated into our 2020-2025 Partnership Plan, particularly in the Sustainable Travel Key Outcome.
![]()
Using STEM to protect our National Park
Teaching resource pack with 5 student activities which include;
- Curriculum links
- Ideas for extension activities
- Suggestions on how to highlight the real world and STEM careers
This resource can be used as individual homework, or in small classroom groups to encourage discussion.