Special quality: Adventure & Exploration
# An inspiring space for escape, adventure, discovery and quiet reflection
# Description of special quality
The PDNP is a key destination for those seeking to connect with the landscape in a way not possible in an urban setting. Whether they seek adventure in the crags and caves or discovery in the quiet wooded dales and high open moors, the PDNP provides a space for escape from everyday life. Renowned worldwide for its unique landscapes, ecology, and potential for outdoor recreation, visitors from across the UK and abroad find solace in the PDNP. Recreation is facilitated by open access to most of the open moorland and many of the dales.
Features in this category: Country houses, Paths, tracks and trails, Local events, Open access land and public access, Transport links into the National Park, High open moorland and edges, Limestone dales, River valleys, Show caves and caverns, Heather moorland and mixed heath, Limestone grassland, Woodlands
Below is a summary of the some of the more significant impacts that climate change could have on this special quality.
# Overall vulnerability of special quality
This special quality is moderately vulnerable to climate change. Of the 12 special quality features assessed, no features have been rated as ‘very high’ on our scale but 33% were rated as ‘high’. The majority (58%) have been rated as ‘moderate’, and only 8% were given a ‘low’ rating. Greater weather extremes, with more frequent and severe storm, flood, and drought events are some of the main factors likely to affect access to the outdoors in the PDNP.
Storm damage and flooding is likely to affect the landscape of the PDNP, with increased weathering affecting crags and edges, and flood conditions causing closure of show caves. Flooding will also affect transport links and access into and around the PDNP, and effect closures of some popular destinations. Drought would affect many habitats of the PDNP, causing them to become degraded and less appealing to visitors.
Climate change may also affect these features indirectly. Higher visitor numbers during hotter drier summers may put pressure on visitor infrastructure and increase damage to sensitive areas. In the case of open moorland, this could be through increased fire ignition sources causing wildfire during drought. Warmer wetter conditions may increase the spread of pathogens and pests due to environmental stress. This may cause the loss of veteran trees from parkland and woodland.