Despite Blencathra appearing to have been sold to a private buyer, campaigners hoping to buy it on behalf of the public have not given up yet.

On Friday agents representing the peak's owner Lord Lonsdale announced it had been sold to an "unnamed party. "

H&H Land and Property said there had been a "significant shortfall" between the amount offered by the Friends of Blencathra charity, who want to buy it on behalf of the public, and the successful bid.

But the announcement was swiftly followed by one from Friends of Blencathra expressing they were "shocked and confused" at news of the sale. They said they had offered to match the higher offer and received no formal notification their offer had been beaten.

A further update over the weekend said they were still accepting donations despite the passing of the deadline and were "still positive and optimistic."

Further confusing matters is the fact that a hearing to consider a bid launched by Friends of Blencathra to register the mountain as a community asset is still going ahead today in Penrith Town Hall at 5pm.

Implications

As far as access for walkers and recreational enthusiasts go, little will change on Blencathra regardless of who owns it. The mountain is designated as Open Access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act, meaning recreational users can roam where they like (subject to certain conditions).

Various levels of environmental protection also apply to Blencathra by virtue of it falling within a national park and being part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), so any potential development on the mountain would face very stiff legal obstacles.

Campaigners for a public buyout acknowledge these points, but say that owning the mountain has symbolic value and can help foster community pride.

The BBC again quotes group Chair Debbie Cosgrove as saying: "We feel if the land is in public ownership, we can engender a sense of social responsibility with that ownership." 

'Less a case of preventing future harm to the land, but rather promoting a positive agenda.'

UPDATE, 09.07.14: Eden District Council has decided to list Blencathra as a community asset under the Localism Act. Click to read statements by Friends of Blencathra and Eden District Council on the implications this has for the sale of the mountain.

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