Feature Assessment: Communities / Open access land and public access
# Open access land and public access [we need to add the map in]
Overall vulnerability |
# Features assessed:
- Open access land
- Public access
- Access and rights of way routes
# Special qualities:
- Undeveloped places of tranquillity and dark night skies within reach of millions
- An inspiring space for escape, adventure, discovery and quiet reflection
- Vital benefits for millions of people that flow beyond the landscape boundary
# Feature description:
Open access land, access routes, and public rights of way can be found across all areas of the PDNP. A third of the PDNP is open access land. There are 2,460 km of public rights of way, 200 concession routes, and 20 promoted accessible routes. There are also 546 km of unclassified roads.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) gave the public right of access to land mapped as ‘open country’ (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land, for activities such as walking, running, watching wildlife and climbing. There are certain restrictions for activities including horse riding and cycling which are usually prohibited unless the landowner allows them, if public bridleways or byways cross the land, or there are local traditions providing rights of access.
On access land, there is a right to close the land for conservation reasons, land management, public safety, or at times of exceptional fire risk.
Some land uses, such as gardens, buildings and working quarries, are excluded from the ‘right to roam’ and public rights of ways must be used to cross these areas.
The PDNP features three long-distance trails on public rights of way: The Pennine Way, Pennine Bridleway and Trans Pennine Trail. There are also five ‘trails’ that run along ex-railway lines: the Manifold Trail (also known as Manifold Way), the High Peak and Tissington which are public bridleways, and Monsal and Thornhill which are concessionary paths.
# How vulnerable is open access and public access?
Open access land and public access 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 varied current condition, and with moderate adaptive capacity.
Erosion could be one of the key potential impacts of climate change, as many paths are susceptible to extreme weather events and the most popular routes that are heavily used already suffer from erosion.
There is limited funding available particularly for larger projects. However new initiatives for fundraising such as the ‘Mend our Mountains’ campaign are having a positive impact for specific routes.
Overall potential impact rating | |
Overall adaptive capacity rating |
# Current condition
The heavy use of some of the most popular routes has already caused major erosion, especially in moorland areas where damage is exacerbated by degraded peat, high rainfall and wind. Historic erosion of moorland due to wildfire, pollution, drainage and overgrazing has meant some paths have become very inaccessible.
One major route that has been subject to erosion control and re-vegetation measures during recent years is the Pennine Way National Trail, which starts at Edale. This has seen paving introduced on some sections, which has reduced further erosion and has allowed the re-vegetation of previously eroded peat.
Access land and public rights of way are used by a considerable number of people (residents and visitors) engaged in a wide variety of activities such as walking, cycling and horse riding. This puts pressure on the existing infrastructure and the sense of tranquillity and remoteness to be found in the PDNP. Dovedale in the White Peak can become extremely congested at peak times and such ‘honeypot’ locations are under the greatest pressure.
Due to limited resources, new ways of fundraising are being explored. For example, there are severely eroded routes currently being addressed by the ‘Mend our Mountains’ project for The Great Ridge and Cut Gate.