Manifold and Hamps Valleys - Introduction
The National Trust cares for 1,000 acres within the Hamps and Manifold Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a European designation. The SSSI designation covers both the flora and fauna and the geological interest of the karst landscape of the Manifold Valley with the underlying reef limestones of the (National Trust owned) Wetton Hills. The SAC (European Designation) interests include natural ash woodlands and species rich grasslands.
National Trust ownership within the Hamps and Manifold Valleys is fragmented and includes many features of special interest. As well its high wildlife value there are important geological features such as Apes Tor and archaeological interest of national importance.
Facilities
Two holiday cottages (converted redundant farm buildings) owned and managed by the National Trust situated at Wetton Mill. Each cottage accommodates four people and a cot. Tea-rooms also located there.
Visit the National Trust holiday cottages website or call 0870 4584422 for other cottages in the area, further information or to make a booking.
Hamps and Manifold Valleys - Information
Click on the links below to find out more about Manifold Valley, Hamps Valley and the Outlying Areas:
Manifold Valley
Hamps Valley
Outlying Areas
Manifold Valley
Apes Tor: Grid Ref: SK 100 586
Rock formations exposed at the northern end of Ecton Hill, show the folding and faults of the rock strata visible there. (See on site interpretation Panels). Ecton Hill was once the largest copper mine in Britain and one of the mine entrances was on the Trust’s land at Apes Tor.
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Ecton Hill South: SK 095 566
Calcareous grassland, managed by stock grazing, selective cutting of encroaching gorse scrub to retain quality of grassland habitat. Small areas of semi-natural ash woodlands, with understorey including hazel, and thorn. Ground flora includes dog's mercury and wood anemone. Managed by stock grazing. Otherwise non intervention.
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Wetton Hills: SK 105 562
Wetton Hills is a good example of upland unimproved limestone grasslands and is an excellent habitat for ground nesting and ground feeding birds. It is managed by traditional methods including stock grazing by a mix of sheep and cattle. The condition of grasslands is monitored to record effects of management of habitat. The monitoring is undertaken using indicator species to detect early change in condition of grassland condition. Monitoring is undertaken every three years by National Trust Wardens.
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Ossoms Hill: SK 091 554
This area consists of upland meadows, calcareous valley side grasslands, limestone tors; Ossoms Crags, Redhurst Crags, semi-natural ash woodlands and an ancient woodland site (Ladyside Wood). Management of valley side grasslands is by stock grazing, and of upland meadows by cutting for winter crops (silage and hay). Grassland scrub is monitored and selectively removed as necessary to the improvement of the habitat. Grassland monitoring takes place of key areas using random quadrats, within SSSI grassland sites on Ossoms Hill east, and north slope, using standard South Peak Estate methodology.
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Ladyside Wood: SK 094 549
Woodland ride maintained along length of footpath, also coppicing glades along sides of ride to diversify age structure of vegetation, to improve value of habitat for wildlife, including range of woodland birds and plants including ancient woodland indicator species.
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Beeston Tor: SK 107 541
Grassland areas managed by stock grazing. Invasive gorse scrub to be monitored and managed. Selective cutting of scrub cover north of Tor. Woodlands and gorse scrub south of the Tor are fenced to exclude grazing to allow them to develop into natural woodland.
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Hamps Valley
Old Soles Coppice: SK 101 534
Semi-natural ash woodlands including stand of lime trees, with good understorey of hazel, hawthorn, and stands of holly and silver birch. Management includes light grazing by cattle and sheep. Glades are maintained within woodland for benefit of butterfly species, which are monitored. Calcareous grasslands grazed by sheep and cattle to maintain quality grassland sward.
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Old Soles Hollow: SK 099 531
Calcareous grassland with good mosaic of managed hawthorn scrub, managed by sheep/cattle grazing to maintain diversity. Hawthorn scrub monitored and selectively cut as necessary. Small areas of young ash at northern end of site are being monitored and will be thinned if necessary. Excellent site for butterfly species, also good bird habitat.
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Soles Wood: SK 095 530
Semi-natural ash woodland with rich understorey of hazel and hawthorn developing over past 14 years since grazing was excluded. Recent management has included hazel coppicing to improve wildlife habitat. There is a valuable section of pasture woodland at northern end of Soles Wood.
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Hellhole: SK 094 524
Area of semi-natural woodland, hawthorn & hazel scrub, with a few stands of mature trees. Small pockets of ancient woodland including stands of lime especially around rock outcrops along the lower woodland edge. Grazing is excluded from the majority of the woodland and fences are maintained. Existing woodland rides and glades are maintained to provide additional woodland edge habitat improving the value of the site for butterfly & bird species, and the ground flora.
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Outlying Areas
Grindon Moor: Grid Ref: SK 060 557
Grindon Moor consists of 30 acres of heather moorland, surrounded by agriculturally improved grasslands. Mosaic of heather, western gorse, and acidic grassland including herb rich areas adjacent to trackway. Areas of scrub on northern part of moor are a valuable bird habitat. Birds include curlew, lapwing, snipe and meadow pipit.
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Stanton Moor Edge: SK 250 629
This property was acquired to protect the wonderful views across the Derwent Valley and ensure that it was not affected by further extensive quarrying. The steep slopes are bracken covered with small areas of heather, mainly along the upper boundary. There are also areas of birch woodlands on the northern part of the property, with a sycamore woodland (Hillwood) at the south eastern side of the Stanton Lees road. There is extensive evidence of small scale quarrying along the Edge.
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Alport Heights: SK 304 515
This property consists of 9 acres of mainly gorse cover, including small pockets of western gorse. Good bird habitat; species include yellow hammer, linnet, and meadow pipit. Small areas of acidic grassland, dominated by wavy hair grass. Property contains old redundant gritstone quarry, Two hardcore car parking areas, with excellent views especially to the south west, where on clear days the Wrekin in Shropshire can be seen.
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Winster Market House: SK 241 605
A market house of the late 17th or early 18th-century, now restored and housing an un-manned information room. The Winster Market House was the Trust’s first acquisition in the Peak District in 1906. Open April to end of October daily.
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Monyash House Farm: SK149665
In 1995 the Trust acquired this 144 hectare dairy farm on the White Peak plateau. Substantial investment has been made into securing a sustainable future for the farm and ensuring that its wildlife, landscape and historical interest is conserved. A traditional farm building has been converted into a Learning Centre to enable the Trust to inform others of its approach to sustainable agriculture. There is no provision for public access other than the extensive network of public footpaths in the area.
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Taddington Wood: SK165707
This 50 acre ash woodland lies on a very steep slope alongside the busy A6 between Bakewell and Buxton.
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