Dark Peak Walks. Paul Besley

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      B29 Superfortress wreckage (Walk 20)

The future

      The Dark Peak is a unique landscape within Britain and as such is designated as a National Character Area with a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation, and almost 50 per cent of the National Character Area has been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

      Today, many agencies are involved in the conservation of the area, ensuring that it remains special for generations to come. The National Trust, the RSPB, the Peak District National Park, the Wildlife Trust and Moors For The Future are changing the landscape, providing new woodlands of indigenous species and increasing the diversity of plants and wildlife.

      The National Trust now owns large areas and its High Peak Estate and the Marsden Estates cover a large proportion of the Dark Peak. The Trust has a 50-year plan to promote and encourage care of this special landscape. They will develop healthy blanket bogs to increase the production of new peat and also trap millions of tonnes of carbon that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. The plan calls for an increase in the diversity of wildlife and birds of prey, along with the planting of thousands of native shrubs and trees in the valleys and cloughs.

      The water companies, Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent Water and United Utilities, are encouraging people to visit the reservoirs and surrounding moors for recreational purposes, building trails and infrastructure to enable everyone to enjoy this unique landscape. At the same time they are working to increase the diversity of wildlife and plants in the woodlands and on the moors that surround their operations.

      Probably the biggest single project for the Dark Peak to date is the one being carried out by Moors For The Future: the restoration of the peat landscape. Repairing the damage done by years of industrial pollution from the surrounding cities will take time, energy and money, but the agency is bringing it back to life. The first stage is the seeding of grasses to lock in the peat that is still there. Then sphagnum moss seedlings are spread across the peat, taking root and holding water. When these rot down they will form new peat, and Moors For The Future intend to fill in the peat groughs (deep channels in the peat formed by erosion) by building thousands of small dams to hold back water and restore the landscape. These will also lock in carbon and increase the water-retention capacities of the peat, helping the atmosphere and saving communities downstream from flooding. By promoting tree and shrub growth in the cloughs they will also increase the quality of the water, reducing the need for extensive cleaning operations. Due to the agency’s activities the moors now have greater diversity of plantlife and wildlife, giving a whole new experience when walking across the land.

      Dams across the groughs regenerating peat (Walk 32)

      The Dark Peak is a major source of enjoyment and recreation for people who use the area. From walkers to climbers, mountain bikers, photographers, runners, bird watchers and people who just sit and enjoy this landscape, it has plenty to offer everyone.

Local services and transport

      The Dark Peak sits predominantly within the Peak District National Park. This was Britain’s first national park, established on 17 April 1951. There are National Park Visitor Centres at Castleton, Edale and the Upper Derwent Valley, as well as ranger offices throughout the area. Details of all these and useful contacts can be found at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk.

      Transport to and from the walks is more frequently by car and bike these days, but public transport is still available either by bus or train. The main Sheffield to Manchester rail line runs through the centre of the Dark Peak and is a useful means of accessing the area, with stations at Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale and New Mills. Glossop and Marsden also have stations for access to the more remote areas. Transport by bus is obtainable from Sheffield, Manchester, Derby and Buxton. For details visit www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/publictransport.

      The north of the Peak District has fewer and less frequent transport connections, so please take time to ensure that transport is available, especially at the end of a walk.

      The central section of the Dark Peak contains the major centres of commerce and residence. Hathersage, Castleton, Glossop and Marsden all have shops, bars, restaurants and accommodation, making them good bases for the walks. Once away from these areas there is little available, which is part of the attraction of the Dark Peak. Therefore it is wise to take plenty of food and drink along on the walks. Details of accommodation and events can be found at www.visitpeakdistrict.com.

The walks

      The walks cover the whole of the Dark Peak. Some will be new to readers, others may be old friends. The book splits the Dark Peak into areas, each having a range of walks from short to long, some with more ascent than others. The shorter walks can be used as an introduction to each area, giving a brief taste of what is on offer. The medium-length walks offer a good day of walking that is not too taxing, while the longer walks are for those who want to lose the thronging crowds in the valley below and experience a true moorland wilderness experience.

      Walking up Grindsbrook (Walk 24)

      There are some steep climbs in the Dark Peak and some of these are included in the walks to get the blood pumping. Some ascents tend to be gentler giving the walker time to look around, which is a joy because this is a landscape of high wide vistas and big skies, especially on the high moorlands.

Responsible walking

      Many of the walks are over grouse moors. These are highly managed environments specifically designed for the production of grouse for sport shooting. As such the landowners have the right to close a moor for public safety and the protection of the grouse and other ground-nesting birds. The landowner may also exclude dogs entirely from the moor or with certain exceptions. It is useful to check whether the moor has been closed or if there are any restrictions. This information can be found on the Natural England CRoW website at www.openaccess.naturalengland.org.uk.

      Walking in the Dark Peak also brings a responsibility to ensure that no damage comes to the moor or the plant and wildlife by our actions. A moorland fire in May 2016, resulting from a portable barbeque being carelessly left behind, caused extensive damage to the heath and the destruction of much wildlife. Please act responsibly when on the moor: do not have open fires or barbeques, do not discard cigarettes or leave litter. Please follow the countryside code and remember to leave only footprints and take only photos and memories.

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