The importance of conservation lies in what was not built and the resulting preservation of the traditional farming character and later formal landscape features.
There were plans to extend the railway from Windermere to Keswick but this plan was vigorously opposed. It was however resurrected in 1870 but was eventually dropped for economic reasons.
Over the years there were other proposals none of which were implemented.
Consequently the valley has survived, little changed and Rydal retains an almost unique Lakeland character.
