LOW-FLYING JETS are said to be distressing guests and wildlife at a major Ambleside holiday park – and now the business is asking if it’s time to re-think the military operations.
Henry Wild of Skelwith Fold says the thunderous roar of the jets are frightening to both humans and animals when they suddenly shatter the peace of the 140-acre park.
Advance warnings of when the pilot training sorties will take place, or limiting them to given days of the week, could be a solution he suggested during an interview on BBC Radio Cumbria:
“Over the coming summer months we will have up to 1,500 guests staying each night at Skelwith Fold, including many children and older folk,” said Henry.
“We’re often told by families how the jets cause upset and anxiety when they appear from apparently nowhere at very low altitude at random times of the day.
“I’ve also seen for myself how the wall of noise can trigger dangerous flight responses amongst our wildlife population which includes deer, red squirrels and many bird species.
“I have to admit that the jets do make an impressive sight, and I of course recognise that low-level flying at high speed is vital for developing pilots’ navigation and tactical skills.
“But would it not be possible for the RAF to designate a single day each week for these operations, or at least to provide an alert in advance of each sortie?
“That would at least allow us to forewarn guests to be prepared for the planes’ sudden arrival, and to be reassure anyone in their party who is more likely to be distressed.”
Henry acknowledges that the Lake District’s deep valleys and rugged terrain help replicate combat conditions in which military aircraft can hide from enemy radars and surface-to-air missiles.
A trained helicopter pilot himself, Henry says that Cumbria’s relatively empty airspace is another reason why the county is ideal for an array of military training operations.
“However, I think we now need to debate if there should be a reconciliation between the needs of the RAF, and the best interests of our human and wildlife population.
“Perhaps we should also be asking if the the escalating use of drones modern warfare is replacing the need for piloted aircraft to undertake such missions?” said Henry.
Skelwith Fold, which is located near the shores of Windermere, was named as the overall Holiday Park of the Year winner in 2025 by Cumbria Tourism.