Feature Assessment: Built Environment / Paths, track and trails
# Paths, tracks and trails [we need to add the map in]
Overall vulnerability |
# Features assessed:
- Paths, tracks and trails
- Activities that improve physical health such as walking, cycling and adventure sports
- Dense rights of way network
# Special qualities:
- An inspiring space for escape, adventure, discovery and quiet reflection
- Vital benefits for millions of people that flow beyond the landscape boundary
# Feature description:
A series of paths, tracks and trails criss-cross the PDNP. They are found in the White Peak, Dark Peak and South West Peak.
People use these routes for a range of recreational activities and sports including hiking, cycling, horse-riding and driving.
In the PDNP there are 2,136 km of footpaths, 294 km of bridleways, 30 km of byways and a further 546 km of unclassified roads, sometimes referred to as green lanes.
There are four recreational trails managed by the PDNPA. They are the High Peak, Monsal, Thornhill and Tissington trails and they run for around 55 km in total. Several long distance routes cross the PDNP such as the Trans-Pennine Trail and the Pennine Way which starts in Edale.
To increase accessibility regardless of mobility restrictions there are now Miles without Stiles routes (32 km in 2018), where tracks and paths have been adapted to be accessible for all.
# How vulnerable are paths, tracks and trails?
Paths, tracks and trails in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to moderate sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables, coupled with a varying current condition, and a moderate adaptive capacity.
The condition of routes often depends on their popularity with those heavily used becoming worn quite quickly and needing more maintenance and upkeep. Routes are sensitive to severe weather including wind and rain that can cause erosion. Increases in this damage due to climate change pose a significant risk to their condition. Damage to the physical infrastructure such as bridges may also occur. However, both the constituent highway authorities and PDNPA work to maintain routes and while funding is limited, campaigns have successfully raised money for specific work such as the Great Ridge.
Overall potential impact rating | |
Overall adaptive capacity rating |
# Current condition
The condition of paths, tracks and trails across the PDNP is mixed, and difficult to accurately assess overall because conditions in specific areas can change quite rapidly. Because they are used for a range of recreational activities, the most popular routes can often become worn quickly. The weather can cause damage to their surfaces, for example heavy rain can very quickly render a path impassable.
Those areas of heavy usage require more maintenance and upkeep depending on what activity they are used for and the nature of the path, track or trail. Most paths also experience some level of vegetation growth, with some areas requiring maintenance particularly at the edge of tracks.
The scale and cost of repairs has seen recent fundraising initiatives launched, including the Mend Our Mountains campaign.