LAKE District beauty spots appear to have seen a surge in fly-camping, litter and illegal fires over the last summer bank holiday of 2026.
Several members of the public cleared away the remains of unauthorised camps on Sunday, posting their findings on The Lake District Facebook group.
It follows an abatement in the issue, due to enforcement efforts by authorities and attempts to educate by concerned volunteers.
Graeme Dance and his wife discovered a grisly scene near near Glencoyne Bay in Ullswater, two dead rats, each in a glass bottle - along with an abandoned tent, three bags worth of rubbish and a saw.
He said: "My wife came across this while out running yesterday near Glencoyne Bay, Ullswater.
Mr Dance returned and cleared the campsite.
Steve Barker has successfully campaigned for more enforcement and tougher signage around Crummock and Buttermere.
His efforts resulted in a day of action in the Buttermere Valley, as well as Borrowdale, on Saturday August 16.
It involved Cumbria Police and Cumberland Council's Environmental Crime Team, seeing three illegal campsites dispersed and a ticket issued for illegal number plates.
Tougher signage has also been installed around the two lakes, warning of the fine that can be issue for breaking the Public Space Protection Order.
Despite Mr Barker noticing a recent reduction in the litter and fires at Crummock, he was disappointed to discover "another huge fire site" on the lakeshore.
He said: "It hasn't spread because of the damp grass but really, who wants to see this when visiting Crummock, or anywhere else this destruction’s happening."
Anna Studholme discovered an instance of litter and vandalism 20 metres from Cinderdale Car Park on Sunday.
She said: "A dry stone wall appeared to have been partially dismantled to weigh down tents and form a firepit.
"There is a large and obvious sign stating 'no fires, no barbecues and 'no camping' in the car park but the threat of a fine of up to a £1,000 had little effect.
"The perpetrators know that the authorities mostly work nine to five and the chances of them getting caught are slim."
A spokesperson for Allerdale Neighbourhood Policing Team said that its August 16 operation in the Buttermere and Borrowdale valleys provided "the chance to educate visitors to our national park" about legal ways to camp and the consequences for those who cause damage, leave litter and behave in an antisocial manner.
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