Heritage Lottery Fund provides £859k to create cycle-friendly Cumbrian arts trail

The Ironmaster railway in its heyday

The Ironmaster railway in its heyday

Rusting industrial heritage along the Tracks of the Ironmasters

Rusting industrial heritage along the Tracks of the Ironmasters

Sustrans has received grant funding of more than £859,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to create an industrial heritage arts trail in Cumbria. Sustrans wants develop the route as a wildlife corridor and linear park for the community.

The trail will run along two sections of the National Cycle Network Sea to Sea (C2C) route. The trail will follow the routes of railways that were once the lifeline of West Cumbria’s iron industry.

The railway once served iron ore mines at Knockmurton and Kelton and ironworks at Workington, Cleator and Distington. Known locally as the “Tracks of the Ironmasters”, the disused railway now attracts some 15,000 people on bikes every year for what is a challenging 140-mile long distance ride between Whitehaven and Sunderland.

The path is also an important wildlife haven, attracting the nationally rare small blue butterfly, red squirrels, lizards, many types of bats and a diverse range of wildflowers.

The Tracks of the Ironmasters project includes creating a signed trail about the history and wildlife from Whitehaven to Rowrah, Workington to Seaton, and Siddick to Broughton Moor.

Along the route there are historic reminders of the industrial railway past such as overgrown platforms, a rusting ore crusher and a railway signal.

The sustainable transport charity will be working with local people to restore the historic features and natural habitats along the traffic-free paths.

Over the past year Sustrans has held community consultations and workshops to unearth untold local stories behind the area's industrial history and wildlife. The charity has also worked with local arts group Art Gene to gather hundreds of memories, artefacts, documents and photos, which will help to inform the material posted on trail.

Sustrans Cumbria area manager Nikki Wingfield is appealing for volunteers to get involved in the project. “The C2C is already a popular place for people to walk and cycle, but most people have little idea of the historic significance of the trail they are passing through,” she said.

“This funding will help us uncover the history of these tracks and their importance to the local community, as well as to the many animals and plants that now thrive along them. If you’re interested in local history or wildlife and would like to get involved there are lots of opportunities for volunteers, so please get in touch.”

For more information on Tracks of the Ironmasters email: abigail.pound@sustrans.org.uk