Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership


The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme finished in early 2024 with projects successfully delivered by a wide range of project partners, community groups and individuals. Over the coming months, we’ll be updating this site to highlight what’s been achieved, so please keep checking back.

Welcome …

… to the Westmorland Dales website.

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:

  • Reveal the area’s hidden heritage.
  • Conserve what makes the area special.
  • Engage people in enjoying and benefitting from their heritage.
  • Sustain the benefits of the scheme in the long-term.

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

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)

Contact information

Friends of the Lake District
Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 7SS
Main Telephone:  01539 720788
 Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Yoredale, Bainbridge, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 3EL
Main Telephone:  01969 652300

Volunteer

Volunteering in the Westmorland Dales 

The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme has an exciting range of 21 projects in 3 main categories – Natural Heritage, Cultural Heritage and Connecting Heritage, many of which have opportunities for volunteers. 

Why Volunteer

This scheme is only possible because of the help we receive from volunteers, who bring a range of different skills and interests to our work, and help demonstrate to the Heritage Fund that people are engaged and benefitting from the scheme and its projects. You do not have to be an expert in heritage to help; just bring your enthusiasm and we will supply the training. 

How to Volunteer

A range of organisations are involved in the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme and we can signpost you to a variety of volunteering opportunities. 

If you are keen to volunteer with the Westmorland Dales team on one of the projects we are leading on, you will be registered as a volunteer with ‘Friends of the Lake District’ who are the lead partner and employ the team.

Currently you must be 18 or over to register.  So please click on the link below, complete the registration form and send it to [email protected] who will get in touch with the appropriate lead contact for the projects that interest you.

Volunteer Registration Form (Word doc)

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