Tourism in the Peak District National Park
Who visits the Peak District National Park?
What are the benefits of tourism?
What problems does tourism bring?
What is the National Park Authority policy on tourism?
How can tourism be managed?

Points to Consider

Tourism in the Peak District National Park

In 1951, the Peak District National Park became the first National Park in Britain. It covers 1438 square kilometres (555 square miles) of beautiful countryside from high (636m) windblown moorlands in the north to green farmland and tranquil dales in the south.  The diversity of habitats and wealth of wildlife they support make the region of international importance.  The landscape has been shaped by thousands of years of human activity in the form of farming, settlement and industry.  The Peak District is valued for its cultural heritage including stone circles, ancient hill forts, medieval castles, mills, lead mines and miles of drystone walls.

"A waste of howling wilderness"

The earliest travellers to the Peak District found the moorland landscape quite daunting.  The 7 WONDERS OF THE PEAK were described first in 1636, but Daniel Defoe, travelling in 1725 described the moors above Chatsworth as “a waste and a howling wilderness”.  Gradually the taste for wild scenery grew and Ruskin enjoyed the “clefts, glens and dingles of the Peakland dales” just as modern visitors do.  The Peak District National Park is now one of the most visited areas in the world.

Who visits the Peak District National Park?

Why do people visit?

Most people visit the Peak District to enjoy outdoor activities in a spectacular landscape and because of the peace and quiet they find there.

Reasons for Visiting the Peak District National Park
(taken from the Peak District National Park Visitor Survey 1998)

Please note that the percentages do not add up to 100 as some people
chose more than one reason for visiting

Where do the visitors come from?

The Peak District National Park is surrounded by many large cities (see map above) and is easily accessible to the 15.7 million people that living within 60 miles of the boundary.  Most visitors come from Derbyshire (14%), South Yorkshire (13%), Cheshire (12%) and the other Counties that are partly within the National Park.

Origin of Visitors to the Peak District National Park
(taken from the Peak District National Park Visitor Survey 1998)

Where do people go?

The most popular areas of the Peak District National Park are:

• Bakewell with interesting buildings and a busy market
• Chatsworth, home of the Duke of Devonshire
• Dovedale, a spectacular limestone dale
• Hartington village
• Hope Valley and the village of Castleton
• Upper Derwent and the Ladybower and Derwent Reservoirs

When do people visit?

Over 60% of all recreational visits to the National Park are made during the months of May to September.  In a typical summer week over 500,000 visits are made, while a typical low season week may have over 250,000 visits.  Sundays are the busiest day.  In the visitor survey of 1998, it was found that 80% of visitors had been to the Peak District National Park before.  Many visitors come regularly over the summer.

What are the benefits of tourism?

Employment

Tourism is one of the world’s most rapidly growing industries and an important part of the Peak District National Park economy.  It is estimated that tourism in the National Park provides around 500 full-time jobs, 350 part-time jobs and 100 seasonal jobs.  There are also many more people working in shops and other service industries, whose jobs are also related to tourism.  The service sector accounted for 41% of businesses in the National Park in 1997.

Income

Tourism provides the income to keep many of the great houses in good repair.  Chatsworth, home of the Duke of Devonshire, is one example.  Income from paying visitors to the house and garden is supplemented by a popular Farmyard and Adventure Playground, as well as events in the grounds.

Tourism provides an income and a livelihood for many local people.  Visitors bring in an income to farmers with caravan and camping sites in their fields, to local villagers offering Bed & Breakfast in their homes and also to hotels and those renting out self-catering cottages.  Farming in the bleak upland areas of the Peak District National Park is not a profitable occupation and many farmers can only continue to farm because of the additional income from visitors.  The number of registered farm-based holiday accommodation addresses increased by 45% between 1991 and 2000.

Tourism provides an increased income for local shops, which might not remain open if they had to rely on local trade alone.  The popularity of ‘honeypot’ villages, such as Castleton, means there is a greater level of local employment than is usual in a village of this size.

In 1998 a tourism employment study estimated that the overall business turnover arising from tourism was £75 million in the Peak District National Park.

Preservation and Conservation

Tourism can encourage the preservation of historic buildings and sites. 

Former mills, such as Caudwells Mill, have been restored as a heritage themed visitor attraction.  Other industrial sites such as Magpie Mine have also been preserved.  Redundant farm buildings have found new uses as holiday accommodation, camping barns etc.

Continuation of traditional crafts is also encouraged. Thousands of visitors admire the well dressings in the National Park villages and money is raised for local causes.  In 2000 there were over 300 local and traditional events, reflecting the importance of local history and customs.

What problems does tourism bring?

Between 16.2 and 20 million visits are made by car to the Peak District National Park every year and another 1.5 million visits made by public transport.  Visits by Peak District residents or other visitors on foot, account for another 1.2 million whilst a further 3 - 3.6 million people drive through the National Park just to admire the scenery. 

Congestion of villages and beauty spots

87% of visits to the Park are made by car.  Some of the most popular honeypot areas attract large numbers of visitors resulting in overcrowded car parks, blocked roads, and overstretched local facilities - particularly on summer Sundays.

Erosion of paths and sensitive vegetation

There are 3,005 km of public rights of way in the Peak District National Park.  Heavy use of some routes has caused major erosion, especially on moorlands where damage is exacerbated by loose peat, high rainfall and wind.  Particularly heavy wear is caused by off-road vehicles and mountain bikes.

Damage and disturbance to wildlife

Wildlife may be disturbed by the level of use on some of the 32,143ha of moorland that are open to the public.  Moorland birds (and sandpipers on the banks of streams and reservoirs) nest and roost on the ground and are therefore especially sensitive to people passing by.  Orienteering, mountain biking and hang gliding are likely to cause unexpected disturbance.

Climbing can result in the decline of many moorland edge species such as mosses, lichens and cliff-nesting birds eg. ring ouzels.

Litter

Litter of all kinds is both unsightly and can cause pollution, damage to livestock and wild animals.  Broken glass is a danger to people and a possible cause of fire.

Damage to farmland

Trampling crops of grass reduces the amount of winter feed for farm animals.  Walkers who stray from footpaths may climb over the drystone walls rather than looking out for the stiles that mark the course of footpaths across farmland.  Livestock can come to grief if gates are left open, allowing them to stray.  Many sheep are injured and even killed by dogs not under proper control.

Tourist villages

Gift shops and cafes that cater for the needs of tourists are often more profitable than shops selling everyday goods for local people (eg butchers or bakers).  In some villages where tourist shops are in the majority and few shops cater for the local people, the local community may feel ‘pushed out’ by tourists.

The main activities of Visitors to the Park
(taken from the Peak District National Park Visitor Survey 1998)

What is the National Park Authority's Policy on tourism?

According to the Environment Act 1995, the purposes of National Parks are:

• to conserve and enhance their natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage
• to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of their special qualities.

The National Park must also ‘foster the economic and social well-being of the local communities.’  

Although most of the land is in private ownership, the National Park Authority is responsible for drawing up policies for planning and management of the National Park.  With regard to tourism and recreation, the Authority has recognised there is a need to:

• provide for those seeking quiet enjoyment of the National Park - through promoting quiet active recreation, such as walking, cycling etc.
• achieve a more even spread of visits over the year - the tourism market is very seasonal and many places are overcrowded in the summer and very quiet in winter.
• increase the number of staying visitors (who stay one or more nights) - as they spend more money and so help support the many small businesses that depend on tourism.
• reduce the number of visits made by car - in all parts of the National Park, efforts are being made to encourage greater use of public transport with extra bus services and special routes serving popular honeypot areas.
• promote understanding of the special qualities of the Peak District to visitors.
• maximise local social and economic benefits.

The Peak District Sustainable Tourism Strategy

The Peak District Sustainable Tourism Strategy was developed in 2000 by the Peak District Rural Development Partnership.  It sets out a new vision for tourism in the Peak District:

Recreation and tourism development must be sustainable to protect the Park for future generations to enjoy.

Using sustainability in a social, economic and environmental context, it is recognised there is a need to build an economy that depends on and contributes to the conservation of the unique qualities or the Peak District, which improves the quality of life for the local community and which promotes opportunities for public enjoyment and understanding.

The aims of the strategy are:

1. to increase visitor spend and maximise the local benefits of that spend
2. to encourage visitors to stay longer
3. to encourage visits throughout the year
4. to attract new visitors (with potential spending power) where appropriate
5. to reduce dependency on the car when visiting the area
6. to deliver for local people and not just visitors
7. to conserve the landscape, including the towns and villages, and their special qualities
8. to enhance visitor enjoyment and understanding of the market towns and rural areas
9. to ensure that the traditional enjoyment of the Peak District will be more accessible to a wider range of people
10. to encourage best use of existing resources

The strategy is being implemented through a co-ordinated programme of joint working initiatives with private and voluntary sector partners. 

How can tourism be managed?

The National Park Authority encourages recreation activities that are appropriate and do not conflict with the Authority’s main aim of conserving the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.  The Authority tries to meet the needs of different groups of visitors by providing targeted facilities.

Informal Recreation

Many visitors drive around, visiting various tourist attractions - such as the caves at Castleton, Well Dressings in one of the villages, Chatsworth House - or just simply enjoying the scenery.

• Car parks are provided in popular villages and at beauty spots, often with public toilets and information boards.  Picnic areas are often sited close to car parks (most people picnic close to their car).  Facilities like these are carefully designed to minimise their impact on the landscape.
• The National Park Authority also considers the needs of disabled people in provisions for recreation.  Routes suitable for wheelchairs have been developed; an adapted fishing platform has been provided at Ladybower and a special bus service is financed by the Boar.
• The National Park Authority is helping residents to set up small businesses to market local products such as crafts, cheeses and honey, to sell to visitors in order to generate a better local economy.
• There are some 13 Information Centres in the Peak District.  Centres are open all year at Bakewell, Castleton, Edale and Fairholmes in the Upper Derwent.  Touch Screen information points are also open in a number of villages. Bakewell Centre has an average of 500 visits per day.

Use of facilities by visitors
(taken from All Parks Visitor Survey 1994)

Active Recreation

Active recreation (e.g. walking, climbing, caving) require few facilities other than car parks, well marked and maintained footpaths and information signs such as that showing areas of Open Access, where walkers can ramble away from public footpaths.

Facilities are also provided for those who visit the Peak District National Park to enjoy cycling, fishing, horseriding, sailing or gliding:

• A cycle hire scheme and special routes along disused railway lines or traffic free roads has been provided at 4 centres (Parsley Hay, Upper Derwent, Ashbourne and Waterhouses) with around 55,000 hirings per year.
• There are 55 reservoirs of over 2 hectares in area in the National Park. Fishing is allowed on twelve of these and sailing on five of them.
• There is a gliding centre at Great Hucklow, and several sites for hang gliding eg. at Mam Tor and Stanage.
• There are 14 stables with horses for hire in and around the Peak District.

Various forms of motor sports are practised in the National Park, but the Authority’s policy is to discourage these as they can cause damage to the landscape, intrusive noise and pollution to air or water.

Providing Accommodation

65% of visits to the Peak District National Park are day visits, the remainder being visits by people staying on holiday (4.8 nights on average).

A range of accommodation is provided for staying visitors: camping and caravan sites (114 authorised sites with authorisation for 4,646 caravans and 891 tents), 13 camping barns, 13 Youth Hostels and Bed & Breakfast in a large number of private houses, pubs or hotels.

The 1998 Visitor Survey showed that staying visitors spend on average £21-26/day compared with day visitors who spend an average of £7.30/day in the Park .

Traffic Control

• The South Pennines Integrated Transport Strategy (SPITS) has been devised by the Peak Park Transport Forum to control visitor traffic over the next 20 years.
• The High Peak and Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership aims to encourage the use of trains to and from the National Park via the Hope Valley, Glossop and Buxton lines. The Derwent Valley Community Rail Partnership has similar aims for the Derwent Valley Line, a key gateway to the Greater Peak District. The work of both partnerships includes publicity and marketing, enhancement of service levels and special events including folk trains.
• An Accessibility Partnership for north west Derbyshire promotes non-rail alternatives to the private car for both residents and visitors to the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak areas of Derbyshire.

Management Partnership

The Upper Derwent Valley became so congested that a special Joint Management Scheme has been developed by the National Park Authority, local landowners and other bodies.  As a result, an Information Centre, cycle hire base, refreshment kiosk and public toilet were opened; parking was re-organised; motor access was restricted so creating closed roads for walking, cycling etc.; a full time Ranger post was established and bus services from towns and cities were encouraged.  This partnership approach now extends to other areas in the National Park.

Footpath Management

The National Park Authority assists its constituent Highway Authorities with the management and maintenance of the public paths network.  They aim to resolve conflicts of use and address erosion problems through a wide range of practical measures.

The Pennine Way, the most popular long distance path and with the greatest erosion problems, has been paved for most of its length within the Park.  This has prevented further erosion and has led to the re-vegetation of previously eroded peat.

Dovedale is a honeypot area where the footpath through the dale can be used by up to 1,000 people an hour.  A better path has been constructed to cope with this heavy pressure.

A Local Countryside Access Forum has been set up to explore how the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 can be implemented in the Peak District with the potential to open up a further 18000ha of land for public use.

Ranger Service

The Peak District National Park Authority Ranger Service provides information and advice to visitors and local communities and resolves immediate problems created by visitor pressure.  The Rangers carry out practical countryside work and provide rescue services.  Conservation Volunteers help with wildlife conservation and practical maintenance.

Interpretation

The Peak District National Park Interpretation Team works with partners and local communities on projects that help people understand the environment and the rich cultural heritage of the Park.  Interpretation panels, leaflets and trails help to provide visitors with information.

Learning about the National Park

Learning about the countryside and our affect on the natural world around us can help to overcome some of the negative impacts we have on this fragile environment.  Losehill Hall, the Peak District National Park’s Study Centre, provides a range of learning opportunities for people of all ages and encourages them to find out more about looking after the Peak District National Park.  The Education Service offers advice and information to schools, as well as organising educational visits for schools and colleges.

Points to Consider

Some areas of the Park can become extremely congested - should road tolling be used to put money back into looking after the landscape?

In order to develop sustainable tourism within the Park should the Authority encourage more day or more residential visits and if so how?

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