The Prince of Wales has spent a day in the Lake District as he celebrated the area’s World Heritage Site status.

Charles, who unveiled a plaque declaring the status in Keswick, travelled on a boat, took part in a sheepdog training lesson and visited a paper factory which recycles takeaway coffee cups as part of his visit to the national park.

Speaking outside the Theatre by the Lake before unveiling the plaque, he said: “Whenever I come here and, in the words of Psalm 121, ‘lift up mine eyes unto the hills’ I feel my spirits rise and I know the same is true of countless others.”

The Prince of Wales samples marmalade from Jane McCosh aboard the Lady Of The Lake, flagship vessel of the Ullswater Steamers company (Peter Byrne/PA)
The Prince of Wales samples marmalade from Jane McCosh aboard the Lady Of The Lake, flagship vessel of the Ullswater Steamers company (Peter Byrne/PA)

The national park in Cumbria joined the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon and Stonehenge when it was added to the list of areas with World Heritage Site status last year after being backed by a Unesco committee.

The Prince of Wales arrived at Langwathby railway station on Monday morning before going to the community event.

It was also attended by Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove and Michael Ellis, minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism.

He said: “I could not be more delighted to be with you here today on this very special occasion in what I happen to think is a particularly special part of the world.

“Official recognition by the Unesco World Heritage committee of the Lake District National Park as a World Heritage Site is a significant achievement, which I am told has taken 31 years.”

The Prince of Wales takes the wheel in the boat house of the Lady Of The Lake (Peter Byrne/PA)
The Prince of Wales takes the wheel in the boat house of the Lady Of The Lake (Peter Byrne/PA)

Lord Clark of Windermere, chairman of the Lake District National Park Partnership, thanked the Prince of Wales for attending the event.

He said: “We know he is a regular visitor to the county and we appreciate it so much.”

Charles then visited the National Centre for the Uplands at Newton Rigg College.

He met agriculture students from Askham Bryan college and tried his hand at instructing a sheepdog to round up a flock of sheep.

He then visited boat company Ullswater Steamers, where he travelled across the lake on their oldest boat and sampled some marmalade.

Charles is presented with a Cumbrian crystal tumbler by non-executive directorLucinda Langton of Ullswater Steamers company in Glenridding, Cumbria (Peter Byrne/PA)
Charles is presented with a Cumbrian crystal tumbler by non-executive director Lucinda Langton of Ullswater Steamers company in Glenridding, Cumbria (Peter Byrne/PA)

Lisa Braithwaite, attraction marketing manager, said: “He was very interested in the whole of Cumbria and the Lake District and seemed really interested to find out the history of Ullswater Steamers.”

The Prince of Wales’s final visit of the day was to paper manufacturer James Cropper in Burneside, near Kendal.

He was given a tour of the factory, where takeaway coffee cups are recycled into plastic-free packaging, and spoke to staff.

Operator maintainer Bruce Barnes, 58, said: “He asked about the different parts we were making and when the machines we use were installed.

“He also asked if the packaging is 100% recyclable, which it is.

“He seemed to be very interested in it.”

Electrician Geoff Webb said: “He was asking about the solar panels on the roof here.

“He loved the idea of it and he was very clued up on it.”