The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme ran from March 2019 to February 2024. Its vision was to unlock and reveal the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales, enabling more people to connect with, enjoy and benefit from this inspirational landscape.
Download the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme Summary Report for an overview of the Scheme's successes.
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The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme aimed to unlock and reveal the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales, enabling more people to connect with, enjoy and benefit from this inspirational landscape. Specifically, its objectives were to:
This was achieved through a programme of projects developed and delivered through the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership, led by Friends of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and mainly funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It ran over a five-year period from March 2019 to February 2024.
Here you can discover what makes the area so special, find out about the scheme’s projects, and view and download resources produced.
The Westmorland Dales is a beautiful area of Cumbria lying north of the Howgill Fells and within the north-west corner of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It stretches from Tebay in the south-west to Kirkby Stephen in the east and to Maulds Meaburn in the north-west. At its heart are the limestone fells above Orton and Asby, rich in natural and cultural heritage, and with magnificent views to the Pennines, the Howgills and the Lakeland fells. It drains into the Lune river catchment to the south and the Eden river catchment to the north. Relatively overlooked compared with its better-known neighbours, our projects have aimed to reveal its heritage for more to enjoy without detracting from its unique qualities. (Click on map for larger image)
Our Little Asby through the Keyhole project drew to a close with an online event to celebrate what has been achieved. Andy Phelps from Oxford Archaeology, who have led the project on our behalf, summarised the work undertaken across two seasons of excavations and the main findings from prehistoric to post-medieval times. Read more
A brand new film is celebrating the work of our ‘Brass, Drums and Trains’ project. Over one year, the project has been celebrating the age of steam, bringing musical performers and audiences together alongside real-life steam trains at Stainmore Railway. Read more
Short films of three local legends set in the landscape of the Westmorland Dales, retold and illustrated by local children, have just been released online. The films were premiered at a storytelling event for local families in Kirkby Stephen on Wednesday 25th January. Read more
Sit back, close your eyes, slow down and experience a sound tour of the Westmorland Dales through this mosaic of sounds recorded at various locations by sound artist, Dan Fox. A mysterious and evocative medley of traditional music, local voices and sounds of the countryside. Read more
Local schools took part in an art project with artists Rob and Harriet Fraser. See their work and watch their video creations featuring the unique landscapes of the Westmorland Dales. Read more
Presenter Debbie North promotes outdoor adventures for all in a new film Get Outside in the Westmorland Dales. Read more
An overview of the work being undertaken to slow the flow in the catchments of the Lyvennet and Scandal Beck by Lev Dahl, river restoration manager with Eden Rivers Trust. Read more
An insight into the conservation of the species-rich meadows of the Westmorland Dales. An online talk by Claire Cornish, grassland conservation officer with Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Read more
Cumbrian children have been working with sound artist, Dan Fox, to record pieces of music made entirely from natural sounds collected on a 'sound walk' Read more
Watch the recording of this webinar presentation and Q&A session Read more
‘Skills for the Future’ is an apprenticeship scheme designed to address shortages in countryside management skills. The first cohort of apprentices has just completed an extensive 18 month programme of training which has seen each of them successfully gaining employment in roles where these skills are needed. Read more
Our Online Landscape Conference took place on Saturday 27th March 2021. The program covered the breadth of our delivery work from natural heritage, archaeology to the areas rich cultural heritage. Read more
This film showcases the amazing work of six Westmorland Dales schools in this unifying and joyous project, celebrating the Westmorland Dales. Read more
Gamelands Stone Circle lies at the foot of Knott Scar in the heart of the Westmorland Dales in Cumbria. Read more
The Westmorland Dales and Cumbria Wildlife Trust teams have joined up with local photographer and filmmaker Jon Chappell to produce a series of short films designed to help you identify the most common meadow wildflowers. Read more
We have recently partnered with The Outdoor Guide (TOG), Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the Northern Viaduct Trust to produce a short film describing the superb wheelchair friendly Smardale Gill Viaduct Walk. Read more
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School students express their views, thought and feeling about the Westmorland Dales. Read more
Sir Martin Holdgate on the history of the Westmorland Dales Read more