During the 19th century the moors in Derwent and Bradfield parishes were privatised by their owners by Parliamentary Acts of Enclosure for grouse-shooting and sometimes in an attempt to improve the land for agriculture. Land improvement appears to have been largely unsuccessful but grouse-shooting became widespread on all the moors.

A stone and turf-built grouse-shooting butt on grass moorland

By the end of the 19th century the area was becoming popular with walkers from the surrounding cities. Ramblers came into conflict with landowners and their gamekeepers who wanted to keep people off the moors. This lead to the mass trespass on Kinder Scout in 1932 followed by another on Howden moors. These trespasses were a major influence on the movement to create national parks in England and Wales.

An early walker’s signpost justifies the right of way by its Roman origins

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