Protecting yourself and the moors

Before your journey, please carefully consider your own wellbeing and that of the Peak District and South Pennines’ many small communities.

Continuing to use local parks and outdoor areas close to your home can continue to provide the crucial breathing space for you and for rural communities.  In this way we can ensure we don’t place undue pressure on public highways, emergency access or key workers.

The Peak District and South Pennine moors played a role in paving the way for access to the countryside with the Kinder Mass Trespass back in the 1930s and the Right to Roam movement. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act) welcomes walkers to 'mountain, moor, registered common land, heath and down ...' and with our rights, come responsibilities – naturally.

The moorland landscape may look wild and free but it is owned and managed by a wide variety of individuals and organisations. The CROW Act allows a landowner or tenant farmer to exclude or restrict access at their discretion in certain circumstances such as when ground-nesting birds are breeding. Please respect any restriction notices and protect moorland wildlife

Follow these simple steps to ensure you have a safe moorland visit:

• Plan ahead
• Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
• Follow any signs
• Protect plants and animals
• Take your litter home
• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Consider other people
• Call 999 if you spot a wildfire

Did you know?

• Under the CROW Act you can walk, sight-see, bird-watch, climb and run on open access land
• You must keep dogs on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July each year to protect ground-nesting birds and at all times near livestock

Find out more responsibilities for visitors to the countryside and those who manage the land at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code.