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landscape view of elterwater common, a brown rugged landscape with woodland and fells

Common land

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What is common land?

  • Common land is land owned by a person or organisation over which other people, commoners, have legal rights; mostly to graze livestock.
  • Commons are areas that have not been enclosed and have been used communally since time immemorial.
  • Shared common land where hefted flocks graze without physical boundaries are a key part of upland farming in the Lake District, recognized by UNESCO as a crucial element in the ‘Cultural Landscape’ that makes the Lake District a World Heritage Site.
  • 28% of the Lake District National Park is common land.
  • Cumbria has 630 registered commons.
  • Common land is the workplace of many hill farmers, looking after their livestock and producing naturally reared ‘free range’ products.

Why is common land important?

Common land in the Lake District;

  • Produces food. High quality food products are produced from the native Herdwick, Rough Fell and Swaledale sheep and native breeds of cattle that graze the commons.
  • Is a cultural landscape. The Cumbrian farmers live off the land as they have done for centuries. They compete in a variety of competitions at the local shows and shepherds meets. They value their flocks and herds and are continually trying to improve their livestock for the future.
  • Is biodiverse. Beautiful landscapes are home to a variety of flora and fauna. 44% of common land in Cumbria is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
  • Is open access land. All common land is open access. Recreation on common land promotes health and wellbeing.

When visiting common land please always keep your dog under close control, and bag and take home any waste. Animals may be grazing on commons year round, and this may not be immediately obvious when you arrive

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