THE FIRST-ever Cumbrian route guide for wheelchair users has been published.

Ordnance Survey's (OS) 'Pathfinder Lake District and Cumbria – Accessible Routes for All' guidebook includes 38 short routes in the Lake District National Park, Cumbrian Solway Coast, and along sections of Hadrian’s Wall tailored specifically for wheelchair users.

The guidebook aims to 'empower wheelchair users to explore the beauty of the British countryside'.

The guidebook has been categorised into one of four accessibility ratings: easy, moderate, challenging, and very challenging.

This grading system allows individuals to choose routes that align with the levels they are comfortable with, ensuring a safe and enjoyable adventure.

All routes in the guidebook are also pushchair friendly and suitable for families with young children.

Pathfinder Lake District and Cumbria Accessible Routes for All was written by author Mike Routledge, who lives and works in Cumbria.

Mike is a volunteer at the Calvert Trust based near Keswick, an outdoor residential centre offering a range of accessible activity breaks for people with disabilities.

Mike said: "I was inspired to write the book after a group of Calvert guests from Liverpool bemoaned the absence of a detailed walking guide written specifically for wheelchair users visiting the area by themselves.

"Thanks to support from wheelchair-based colleagues, various Lake District organisations, and OS themselves, the result has been the production of this unique guidebook.

"As far as we are aware there has been nothing of its kind before specifically written for wheelchair users.

"The book aims to remove barriers, install confidence, and encourage wheelchair users who may have been daunted by the prospect of venturing off the beaten track to enjoy the beauty and freedom they may have felt they couldn’t experience before."