Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Grasmere from Grey Crag

Grasmere from Grey Crag

In 1799 William and Dorothy Wordsworth moved to Dove Cottage, Grasmere. While both siblings composed poetry Dorothy also kept a journal documenting their life in the vale. In one entry in her journal, she writes:

“… our dear Grasmere, making a little round lake of nature’s own, with never a house, never a green field, but the copses and the bare hills enclosing it, and the river flowing out of it.”

There is no doubt that Grasmere had a profound influence on their writings but would they have recognised the Grasmere that we know today. In the Wordsworth’s time, the east side of the lake had a peaceful wooded shoreline. In 1831 a causeway was built to enable a new road to be built to avoid climbing White Moss. In 1950 the water level was reduced by blasting the rocks at the narrow rocky outflow. The gravelly beaches on the west shore are the result.

Today Grasmere is under a new threat, a threat of pure commercial greed. Although the lake is leased to the National Trust, it is actually owned by the Lowther Estate who are proposing to install ten “Gentleman’s Yachts” on the lake. Each of these holiday boats will be forty feet long and will be available for hire. The proposal has outraged public opinion with national media and television reporting. Tim Farron MP and Melvyn Bragg have made poignant comments. Lord Bragg has envisaged they will become ‘floating discos’ which I can understand. At night sound travels far and wide, I have heard parties on boats on Ullswater and Coniston Water.

If this goes ahead it will certainly have a detrimental effect on the Lake District, supposedly a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Please consider adding your name to the petition. For further details see here.




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2 responses to “Grasmere from Grey Crag”

  1. Jane Lewis avatar
    Jane Lewis

    This extreme proposal is very likely to damage the peaceful areas of the lake and the tranquility that residents and visitors enjoy.

    Potential for long term pollution damage and waste disposal issues, particularly if boats are hired to those not used to operating them and unfamiliar with procedures.

    Suggest one boat initially with noise restrictions and immediate withdrawal of consent at the first violation, to ensure compliance. Or a few much smaller 2 berth boats, less likely to attract group bookings.

  2. Fhithich avatar
    Fhithich

    I understand Lowther Estates have now withdrawn their application.

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