Lake District farmers, you need a medal.

[johnspeehs]

just spent the last week in the Lake District and I take my hat off to anyone farming there. It's one of my favourite places in the world but it must be tough to earn a living from sheep grazed on the fells with not a lot of good ground to bring them down to. Now I know I'm as bad as the rest for adding to the problem but if I farmed there the tourists would drive me barmy. The driving is atrocious, they shouldn't be on narrow roads as the ones driving a fiat panda seem to think they are in a combine and can't get past you in a passing place or else the discovery, Range Rover and X5 drivers would run you off the road. People seem to think they can go anywhere they like with little respect for private property. I know they are probably a necessity to bring in extra money but some of them have little respect for the countryside. Well done to you all for keeping it in such great shape for everyone to enjoy.

 

[J 1177]

My inlaws know a farming family from wastwater/ wasdale and we have visited on occasion. Its a absolutley stunning but very very harsh landscape to farm in. I think a large part of their income is from tourists staying at their b and b.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I think a large part of their income is from tourists staying at their b and b.

This

 

[Floordoor]

Know a lot of farmers in the lakes and probably 90% of them have a campsite/b and b/ holiday cottage/catering van/ pub.

 

[Stevethemeat]

We used to take forager 2 trailers and buck rake over Kirk stone pass in July to pick up 50 acres 2 day job to complete with traveling and tourists now I'm in the south west lol

 

[Purli R]

Might be wrong but there would be very little farming in the lake district hills if their was no tourists or Countryside Stewardship schemes.

 

[mx110]

Got to be up early and beat the tourists for a good run up top a wasdale

 

[J 1177]

View attachment 568550
Got to be up early and beat the tourists for a good run up top a wasdale

Not many farms along there. You can call into the pub for a pint after you unload

 

[smcapstick]

Challenging ground, challenging weather, challenging transport, challenging animals.

Still... there's a new Landrover Defender and Ifor Williams DP120 every three years in most yards. Picking up the payment on half a mountain each (and paying £5,000 annual rent) must have it's perks

 

[Longlowdog]

If you can live there and you haven't been imprisoned for trying to kill that tw*t Montbiot you deffo deserve a medal.
It will be interesting to see what World Heritage Site status does to the people and ecology of The Lakes.