Honister Crag, left, site of the via ferrata. Photo: Alan Faulkner CC-BY-ND-2.0
Lake District planners have approved an extension to England’s first via ferrata, which has been at the centre of a conservation controversy.
Honister Slate Mine will now be able to offer what it has dubbed its Via Ferrata Xtreme at the site on crags below the summit of Fleetwith Pike in the Lake District.
The mine’s owners were faced with a bill of £28,000 after a successful prosecution over damage to a site of special scientific interest by an extension to the facilities and visitors using it.
The via ferrata, which uses a system of fixed rungs, ladders and bridges to enable non-climbers to tackle technical routes, was the brainchild of the mine’s late owner Mark Weir, who died in a helicopter crash last year.
Today, the company used social media to announce the decision of Lake District National Park Authority planners to grant permission for the extension.
On Facebook and Twitter, Honister Slate Mine, now run by Mr Weir’s partner Jan, said: “Wahey, Wahoo! The LDNP planning have agreed our NEW Via Ferrata & The Low wood Hotel – A fantastic day for the Lake District!”
The Low Wood mention refers to plans to build a new conference centre on the shores of Windermere.
The Honister decision drew support from broadcaster and writer Eric Robson, Cumbria Tourism, Adventure Capital UK and numerous other individuals.
Honister Slate Mine advertises its new Xtreme route as more eco-friendly and with more thrills. It says it has more exposure, vertical climbs, rope bridges and cliff-edge ladders.
The route will cost adults £39.50 per visit, and a family of two adults and two children aged 10 or over £135.
Alan
09 May 2012I heard about this today because I have somehow got on Honister's mailing list. In itself, the extended via ferrata looks like potentially quite a fun activity (if a tad expensive), and my natural inclination might be to give it a go.
However, if I take a look at the bigger picture, what I see is a company constantly trying to push the boundaries, not only in their previous unauthorised via ferrata extension but also in their applications for a huge zip wire (not mentioned in this particular article). They are trying to set precedents that threaten to erode the very qualities of the Lake District that would make me want to visit there in the first place, and ultimately this also threatens to harm the interests of other businesses in the area.
With this in mind, I feel I have no option but to say clearly no, enough is enough, and withhold my custom from Honister entirely. I would urge any others who enjoy the natural beauty of the Lakeland fells to do likewise.
Allan
12 October 2012The whole area is covered with relics of the old mining industry.
There is very little natural beauty in this area that will be effected by this developement.
A group of us did the old zip Via in 2011 and found it great fun.
The company is providing much needed employment in what has long been an industrial area.
tom
08 December 2013I did the Via Feratta a year after it opened. Previously I had spent three summers ith my son doing via ferrata in the French Alps.
It was fun, though a little tame, and rather expensive after France.
I though the slate mine was an ideal site. It has been shaped by human acivity for hundreds of years. A zip line is no less unattracive than the spoil heaps from the slate mining. One, or even two via ferrata will do little harm to the Lake District, compared with other leisure activities.
I am, however, against any more new hotel, conference centre or Centre Parks type of developments, I feel there are already more than enough of these.