Improving access
The Peak District is the most accessible, national park in the UK, with 20 million people living within an hour’s journey time and over 13 million people visiting each year.
Improving Paths and Trails
The National Park has 202 square miles of open access land – open to walkers without having to stay on paths – and 1,600 miles of public rights of way (footpaths, bridleways and tracks). The Peak District National Park Authority also owns and manages 34 miles of traffic-free trails, mostly on former rail routes, used by over 400,000 people annually.
We want to ensure that everyone can access nature and enjoy the Peak District. Yet the sheer popularity of the Park leads to severe erosion – the impact of footfall, extreme weather and climate change are causing significant damage to our paths and trails. Many paths are deteriorating faster than they can be fixed and are sliding into disrepair.
Repair work is expensive – it can cost up to £200 per metre for path repair work on the uplands, and it costs over £100,000 per year to fund basic maintenance work on the Monsal, Tissington and High Peak Trails.
We are working with the Peak District National Park Authority and other partners to fundraise for vital repair works for paths and trails, improved interpretation and signage, as well as working to create exciting new walking and cycling routes.
Access for all
According to the UK Census, over 17% of the UK population report having a disability, and moving around natural environments can create challenges for many people living with disabilities.
We want to improve provision throughout the Park for people with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can experience our beautiful landscapes.
We are working with the Peak District National Park Authority to create dedicated routes for those who are less mobile or disabled and to replace stiles or kissing gates with gates to create more accessible routes. We’re helping to increase the provision of equipment for people with disabilities to explore the traffic-tree trails and bridleways of the Park, including all-terrain trampers, trikes and electric wheelchairs; and we’re supporting the introduction of vital infrastructure such as accessible toilet facilities.