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Introduction
Bleaklow known as the 'Wastes' to medieval map makers is a massive expanse of wild, remote, windswept moorland. A first impression would give the appearance of a waste land but a closer look will reveal some of the hidden secrets and show how we and our ancestors have affected this vast landscape.
Climate change and man's influence have continued to change this landscape over thousands of years. Early man began clearing the ancient forest to improve hunting and provide grazing for livestock. Approximately, 5,500 BC the worlds climate became warmer and wetter, this allowed the Sphagnum mosses on the high slopes of Bleaklow and surrounding moors to grow and spread, the accumulation of this plant material produced the deep peat which now blankets the moor. Even today the preserved remains of ancient trees can be found where the peat edge has eroded away.
The blanket of peat supports specialised plant species, plants such as hares tail and common cotton grasses, bilberry, crowberry, bell heather, cloudberry, crossleaved heath, heather and the rare bog rosemary which have all evolved to live in these harsh conditions. Bleaklow is also important to moorland birds species which live and breed here. Birds such as golden plover, dunlin and curlew rely on the moorland habitat to rear their young in early summer. The red grouse with its distinctive 'go back, go back' cackling call is a year round resident of the high moor.
However, erosion of the peat and the loss of the specialised plant communities it supports is a major concern to the National Trust. Atmospheric pollution, accidental fires, grazing pressure during past management and recreational pressure on the main paths that cross the moor have all taken there toll on this fragile landscape. Management by the National Trust to reverse these effects is now underway in the form of revegetation of bare peat areas, prevention of accidental moorland fires, sustainable levels of sheep grazing and surfacing of eroded pathways, all contribute to the conservation of this special landscape for future generations.
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What to see and do
Devils Dyke
An ancient boundary ditch dug in the 13th century by the monks of Basingwerk Abbey, Flintshire at the border of North Wales and England. The monasteries were very rich and powerful at this time, they owned large areas of land for grazing sheep and used boundary ditches to mark their land holdings. The Pennine Way now goes through the remains of the ditch. Imagine yourself as one of the monks having to dig by hand tons of wet peat in this inhospitable place!
Doctors Gate
Two theories relate to the existence of Doctors Gate. One, is this ancient trackway was built by the Romans to link the forts of Ardotalia in Glossop with Navio at Brough in the Hope Valley. The second theory is that during the Medieval period Doctor John Talbot who became vicar of Glossop in 1491 had the trackway built to link the Talbot family seat in Sheffield to Glossop. Hence the name Doctors Gate - gate meaning road or trackway. Imagine yourself as a Roman legionnaire or a Medieval trader walking this high, exposed route on your way to Sheffield or the Hope Valley.
There is open access for walking, bird watching and enjoying the dramatic scenery.
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How to get there
Access points at various locations, easy access for all through gates at Snake Summit on to surfaced sections of the Pennine Way.
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