Derwent Forest Derwent Forest Derwent Forest is the name of a 1000 acre site in West Cumbria, due to be redeveloped for ecology and tourism. The site was used from 1938 as a Royal Navy Armaments site and is still known locally as "The Dump"! Not a name to inspire the tourists!
The site is bounded by the villages of Broughton Moor to the North, Great Broughton to the South East and Camerton to the South West. About ½ mile to the south of the site runs The River Derwent and the A66. Although the A66 is the main route into the Western Lakes, it is expected that the entrance to the site will be from the North East, the Cockermouth-Maryport Road.
There are a number of proposals on the table to redevelop the site. From the grandly titled "Utropia", designed to be an Eden Project of the North West, to more low key and pragmatic proposals for a spa hotel and windfarm.
Development of the site depends on public money being available particularly to clean up the site from for instance the North West Development Agency, as well as money from the private sector.
The major aim for the redevelopment is to draw visitors from the central Lakes area towards the West and give a major boost to the economy of the west lakes area. One controversial and less tourist friendly idea is to use the site for a new prison!
There are several hotels in the major towns around - Cockermouth, Workington and Maryport, the closest being the Broughton Craggs Hotel, in Broughton itself. In addition, there are a few cottages available to rent as well as bed & breakfasts.