Kinder Scout National Nature Reserve

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Overview

The famous plateau of Kinder Scout, created an NNR in memory of Sir Martin Doughty, chairman of Natural England in 2009, is in the heart of the Dark Peak and one of the most iconic upland landscapes in Britain. Kinder Scout has various upland habitats, including blanket bog and sub-alpine dwarf shrub heath, and also supports several upland breeding birds, notably birds of prey, red grouse, golden plover, twite and waders such as curlew and ring ouzel. Mountain hares also thrive here. Restoration, or re-wetting, of its habitats is a key objective not just for nature conservation but also for the wider benefits to people such as improving water quality and retaining carbon in peat soils. It is one of the most popular upland areas in England for walkers and holds a special affection as the scene of the famous 1932 Mass Trespass – a catalyst for the creation of National Parks.

Location

Edale

About the area

The natural features of this central English county range from the modest heights of the Peak District National Park, where Kinder Scout stands at 2,088 ft (636 m), to the depths of its remarkable underground caverns, floodlit to reveal exquisite Blue John stone. Walkers and cyclists will enjoy the High Peak Trail which extends from the Derwent Valley to the limestone plateau near Buxton, and for many, the spectacular scenery is what draws them to the area.