A judge approved a zip wire project in a Lake District quarry, despite concerns it could harm its UNESCO status.

A Lake District charity is weighing an appeal after a judge upheld plans for a zip wire attraction in Elterwater Quarry, near Ambleside, despite concerns over the site’s UNESCO World Heritage Status. The ruling by Mr Justice Mould followed a two-day hearing and backed the Lake District National Park Authority’s 2024 approval of the project, which includes cave platforms and zipline access to remote areas. The charity, Friends of the Lake District, said the development could harm the landscape and threaten UNESCO’s Outstanding Universal Values, citing warnings from ICOMOS, the heritage body. The group remains committed to sustainable tourism and is reviewing legal options after previously urging the UK government to strengthen National Park protections.