from dramatic fells to sleepy shores, this is nature at its most inventive
With England's five tallest mountains and deepest lake, two national parks, three areas of outstanding natural beauty and a wealth of flora and fauna, Cumbria's rich natural environment is simply unique. The landscape is a real wonder of nature. Impressive peaks rise grandly, reflected in still waters. At their feet, intriguing valleys lie waiting to be explored. Undulating hills are lushly decorated with every shade of green while moorland and peat bogs add their own colours and textures to the fabric of the fells. Woods and forests nestle into the hillsides and, along the coast, sandstone cliffs meet sandy dunes, bathed by the ceaseless ebb and flow of the tide.
a unique and varied landscape
There's so much to explore and every fell, every tarn, every mile of footpath has its own unique appeal and inhabitants. While the fells and lakes define the landscape there are more wonders of nature to see such as waterfalls. Aira Force at Ullswater is the best known, tumbling 21m from below a stone bridge. Dungeon Ghyll Force in the Langdale Valley so impressed Wordsworth he refers to it in ‘The Idle Shepherd-Boys'. Cautley Spout is a series of waterfalls with cascades falling over 200m and Scale Force on the west side of Crummock Water is the highest in the region, falling a spectacular 51m.
The coastline is also an area which often surprises and delights visitors.
Rockcliffe Marsh on the Scottish Border
the historic harbour town of Maryport
Whitehaven harbour
St Bees Head, Haverigg
Barrow-in-Furness and Morecambe Bay.
Flowering beauty
If you want to know more about the variety of Cumbria's wildlife look out for the Flora of the Fells Festival 2008. This biennual celebration of the county's landscapes offers events and activities for everyone from March to September.
