Discover The Industrial Edges of Cumbria
Not all of the Lake District is pretty villages. There are a few areas on the edges, that have become far more industrial. Whitehaven (which used to be one of England’s largest harbours) is now a bit run-down, although it still is popular with sustainable sailors.
It’s rumoured that it was due to this harbour importing unique ingredients, that this gave birth to sticky toffee pudding (invented in Cartmel, just outside Grange-over-Sands). Neary Workington has a history of ironworks and steel mills (and is ‘more football than poetry!’)
Barrow-in-Furness is on England’s longest cul-de-sac, stuck at the tip of a long peninsula. Nearby is Walney Island (home to sand dunes, rare plants, birds and seals on Morecambe Bay.
But inland this is a huge centre for building submarines. Not far away is England’s remaining nuclear station at Sellafield (now gradually being de-commissioned which will take centuries – read why England does not need nuclear power.
One happy story of late is the final closure (and relocation of animals) at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton-in-Furness. It had animal welfare concerns over many years. And finally the campaign worked, though some animals were in such bad health, they had to be put to sleep. Read more on how to conserve animals, without zoos.
