a picture featuring stones and mountains

Rich archaeology and historic landscape

Home Protect Landscape and heritage Archaeology and historic landscape

Explore an extraordinary cultural landscape forged in thousands of years of human activity.

The rich archaeology and history of the people who shaped our National Park is woven into every fell and valley.

From stone circles and lead mines to field systems and historic settlements, traces of past communities can still be seen across the Lake District. Discover projects, research, records and resources that help bring these stories to life.

What's on in archaeology

adult male and child at table outdoors with an adult female in high vis showing them an archaeological artefact in her hands

Archaeology and heritage projects

Archaeology volunteering

Archaeology conference

Geology and geomorphology

Historic landscape

group of adult volunteers stood assessing a mossy woodland floor

Historic Environment Record

The Lake District HER is the principal source of information about the historic environment of the Lake District.

aerial view of green fields and central farmhouse, divided up by a lane, drystone walls and a few trees

Historic Landscape Characterisation

HLC is a way of looking at the modern landscape and see the thousands of years of human activity that shaped it.

landscape view of catbells and derwent water on a sunny day

Landscape Character Assessment

LCA is a tool for identifying the features that give a locality its ‘sense of place’ and pinpointing what makes it different from neighbouring areas.

Heritage at risk

Alongside partners and landowners, we help care for scheduled monuments and listed buildings. Every year, Historic England publish the Heritage at Risk Register which highlights those monuments and buildings which are at risk of loss through neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

rydal hall, a grand three storey beige stone building. well kept gardens in front of the hall, with a gravel path, circular pond and fountain and small oval trees. woodland behind, blue sky day

Designed landscapes

Beyond the open access fells and commons of the Lake District, there are 2784 hectares of designed landscapes for recreational use. This includes both modern recreational areas, such as golf courses or urban parks, and ornamental parkland and gardens.

Archaeology and heritage projects

Coniston Copper

The project took place between 2016 and 2018. Work focused on conservation – over 150 items needing repair, stabilisation and reconstruction across ten different structures at the two sites.

Romans in Ravenglass

Romans in Ravenglass was a community-led archaeology project during two summers in 2013 and 2014. Over 900 local volunteers worked with professional archaeologists to uncover the Roman Ravenglass story.

Archaeology volunteers kneeled on floor digging into area

High Street Roman Road

In the summer of 2022, we undertook a hands-on project to investigate High Street, the Lake District’s most famous Roman Road that goes for about 20 km over the high fells between Ambleside and Brougham fort near Penrith.

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