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Introduction
The edge, which extends into Howden Edge as you go northwards, is a remnant of the capping of gritstone that originally covered all of what is now the Peak District, and was scraped off by an ice sheet. This is the eastern block of the estate, with its boundary following the watershed of the Derwent river valley, the top two thirds fall within South Yorkshire, the lower third in Derbyshire.
Gritstone crags and tors dominate the sky line, most notably at Dovestone Tor and Rocking Stones.
The majority of the area is internationally important moorland, valued for its blanket peat bogs and heather, which support many nationally rare species such as red grouse, mountain hare, golden plover and ring ouzel. Species such as cotton grass, mountain strawberry, and crowberry grow on these wide, open spaces, which are wet for most of the year.
The steep side valleys, known locally as cloughs, which feed into the main Derwent valley, contain areas of woodland, which are all that remain of the ancient 'Royal hunting forest of the Peak'. These areas of oak, birch and rowan (mountain ash) are important habitat for birds, insects and fungi.
Between the moorland and the reservoirs of the valley bottom is enclosed farmland, some of which is important for flowering hay meadows. These farms are a vital part of the landscape with their stone walls, barns and farmsteads.
All the National Trust moorland is open access, subject to occasional closure for management purposes.
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What to see and do
Explore the remote moorland, with its seasonal changes of colour and sounds. Spring has the calls of curlew, red grouse and meadow pipit, with the fresh greens of grass and young heather. High summer has the highest population of grouse and young mountain hares, with the scent and colour of heather in full flower. Autumn brings changes in colour of bracken and trees and grass, with the likelihood of a white, winter coated mountain hare fleeing away when startled. Winter can be very harsh on the high moors, with snow fall frequent in cold weather, giving stunning views across to the imposing bulk of the Kinderscout and Bleaklow plateaux to the south and west.
Walk freely over the moorland areas, but please keep to established routes where possible, especially during the nesting season (March to June) to avoid disturbance to breeding birds.
Venture into one of our woodland regeneration areas, which although fenced to exclude sheep, are open access. The oldest have been fenced for over 15 years, resulting in spectacular growth of rowan and silver birch with, slower growing oaks now making good progress.
In June, take a walk across the hay meadows of Ashes Farm on the surfaced bridleway, up to the recently restored Grindle Barns where a new information shelter has been built.
Like the rest of the High Peak Estate, Derwent Edge is rich in archaeology, with evidence of land use and occupation back to Neolithic times. The most obvious features are the burial mounds, one of which forms the high point of the moors on Pike Low, above the Derwent Valley. Other more recent features include the many old tracks or hollow ways up onto the moors, from the original farms in the valley bottom. New sites are still being identified as a result of the Upper Derwent Valley archaeological survey, including medieval farming settlements 300metres above sea level.
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How to get there
Best map Ordnance Survey Leisure No.1 Dark Peak
The main access is from the National Park visitor centre at Fairholmes, which is served by several bus routes, mainly at weekends, with connections from the Hope Valley rail line.
Parking is available in the valley, although access is restricted north of Fairholmes on weekends and bank holidays.
The enclosed farmland is crossed by public rights of way, which link with the routes in the valley bottom.
The area can also be approached via many footpaths starting in the Derwent Valley, as well as on Public Rights of Way from all other directions.
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Peak Watch - restoration projects
Work has just been completed (apart from ongoing re-vegetation) on the Lottery Paths Project, resulting in surfacing and restoration of severely eroded routes on Derwent Edge, from the Salt Cellar to Lost Lad Hillend.
Many hundreds of metres of hedge have been planted, as field boundaries and future wildlife habitats. The first of these will be ready for laying in a few years time.
A rolling programme of enclosure of remnant woodland areas is gradually restoring the tree cover to the valley sides.
Under the Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme, hundreds of acres of severely degraded moorland are being converted back to a mixed heather community on Nether and Upper Hey.
With our farming tenant, the hay meadows of Ashes Farm are being maintained and improved for their value as diverse habitats for scarce grassland flowers and insects, and they are wonderful to see as well.
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