Tranquillity

The most tranquil areas of the Park are in the open moorland, away from settlements, crowded honeypots and roads. Compared to the surrounding area the Peak District is an oasis of tranquillity.

Tranquillity varies across the region and PDNP

The CPRE produced a map showing tranquillity scores across England, although the latest version is from 2001. This map clearly shows the Peak District National Park as a more tranquil area surrounded by less tranquil urban areas.

Map showing Tranquillity score measured by CPRE 2001.

The mapping is based on a model of positive and negative factors influencing tranquillity. Positive factors such as openness of the landscape can be seen in the map above, where the Dark Peak Open moorland is shown in green. Negative factors such as road or rail noise and visibility of urban areas can also be clearly seen in the Peak District map.

Historic tranquillity mapping

In October 1995, the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) launched tranquil areas maps, which showed the impact of new development, roads and increased traffic on rural tranquillity since the 1960s. The research showed the Peak Districts area of tranquillity has decreased by a much lesser degree than the surrounding County areas. In the 1960s there were no roads with more than 10,000 vehicles per day within the Park, and as such the tranquil area is the total area of the Park minus the two towns within the Park. However, by the later 1990s there were three roads with an excess of 10,000 vehicles per day within the Park, dissecting the Park into four areas and explaining the 76% reduction in average size of tranquil area.

Area of tranquillity km²

Region	1960s	1990s	% change
County averages (1)	1021	714	-30
Peak National Park	1392	1337	-4

Tranquillity is one of the PDNP's special qualities

The PDNP has seven special qualities, one of which is ‘undeveloped places of tranquillity and dark night skies within reach of millions’. Within the 2017 National Park Management Plan consultation, respondents gave feedback on the proposed special qualities for the PDNP. 78% of respondents agreed that ‘undeveloped places of tranquillity and dark night skies within reach of millions’ was a special quality of the Peak District National Park.

Residents value all aspects of tranquillity

In the 2019 PDNP residents’ survey, 79% of residents thought the PDNP was definitely a good place to live. The top two reasons given were:

• ‘It’s a beautiful area’, 46% of respondents
• ‘The varied scenery/countryside/views’, 20% of respondents

Other answers related to tranquillity included:

• ‘It is peaceful/quiet’, 8% of respondents
• ‘Great environment with plenty of open spaces and fresh air’, 8% of respondents

Tranquillity of the Peak District helps boost tourism

In the 2015 visitor survey, visitors to the PDNP were asked their reasons for visiting. The answers relating to tranquillity included:

• ‘Scenery’, 57% of respondents
• ‘Peace and quiet, 33% of respondents
• ‘Tranquillity’, 24% of respondents

Non-visitor views on PDNP tranquillity

Similarly, non-visitors were also asked in 2014 and 2015 what they thought was appealing about the PDNP. The answers included:

• ‘Scenery’, 15% of respondents
• ‘Peace and quiet’, 13% of respondents

Relatively undeveloped places with rural landscapes and remote wild areas

The PDNP presents large numbers of people with the opportunity to experience a rural landscape relatively protected from development. Integral to this is the perceived distance between the National Park and the surrounding developments. The relative lack of obvious signs of human influence provide a natural context, best typified by the large expanses of open access land and remote wild areas.

• The Peak District has no major roads due to its designation as a protected landscape in 1951. However, there is a major railway through the Hope Valley
• The A628 and the A6 do have a significant impact in road noise. The latter much more likely to affect residents of the Peak District.

Opportunities to enjoy the sensory experiences of nature

Tranquillity can be experienced through the sensory experiences of nature. From the sound of bird song and trickling water to the smell of wildflowers and views of open landscapes. From the feeling of squelching through mud and climbing rocks to the taste of wild berries and the rain on your face.

Tranquil places with a sense of history, continuity and tradition

Tranquillity can also be found when visiting the PDNP's picturesque villages and town with their rural landscape settings. A sense of history is evident within these places where historical associations like Kinder Scout and the Mass Trespass and the wealth of cultural heritage features allow people to see evidence of past people, traditions, land use and industry. For many, this provides a continuity with the past and a perception of stepping back in time, allowing people to experience a rural way of life or a semi-wilderness in contrast to many current urban lives.

What are the gaps in our research & data?

• Updated tranquillity model
• Landscape monitoring of key visual landscape harm features (wind farms, pylons etc..)