Peak District
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Image:Dore - Hathersage Road Peak District stone 15-04-06.jpg The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England. Most of the area became the first national park in the nation. It is conventionally split into the northern Dark Peak, where most of the moorland is found, and the southern White Peak, where most of the population lives. The park's controlling authority claims it to be the world's second most popular national park.
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Geology
Image:Mamtor-valley.jpg The White Peak is underlain with early Carboniferous limestone, which produces numerous caves. Under the Dark Peak lie shales and sandstones of the late Carboniferous millstone grit. Much of the Peak, and its adjacent areas, approximates to the structure of an eroded dome. The coal measures of the carbonifous lie just outside the district, especially on the eastern edge. Then, moving inwards, come the gritstone edges, the shales, and in the central region the limestone of the White Peak.
For a detailed description of the geology of the area see Cope's monograph Template:Ref.
History
The Mass Trespass of Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District, was a landmark in the campaign for national parks and open access to moorland in Britain. The Peak District National Park became the United Kingdom's first national park on April 17, 1951.
The first long-distance footpath in the United Kingdom was the Pennine Way, which starts from the village of Edale in the heart of the Peak District.
Geography
The Park boundaries were drawn to exclude large towns from the park. However, Buxton is nearly entirely surrounded by the park.
Activities
- Rock climbing in the Peak District
- horse riding
- walking
- cycling
- caving
- windsports (like hang gliding and parascending)
- water sports
Image:Rock Climbers on Stanage Edge large.jpg
Climbing areas
Western Grit (Staffordshire, Kinder, Bleaklow, and the Chew Valley)
- The Roaches
- Hen Cloud
- Ramshaw
- Windgather
- Castle Naze
- Kinder
- Shining Clough
- Dovestones Edge
- Ravenstones
Eastern Grit (Derwent Valley, Sheffield, Derbyshire)
- Rivelin
- Stanage
- Burbage
- Millstone
- Froggatt
- Curbar
- Birchen
- Gardoms
- Black Rocks
Peak Limestone
- Deep Dale
- Chee Date
- Raven Tor
- Pic Tor
- Wild Cat
- High Tor
See also
Reference
- F. Wolverson Cope, Geology Explained in the Peak District, (1976), David & Charles. ISBN 0715369458
External links
- The Derwent Gallery
- A gallery of free wallpaper-sized photographs of the Peak District in winter
- Professional Outdoor Instruction (inc. Caving, Bushcraft & Climbing) based in the Peak District
- The official website of the Peak District National Park Authority
- Peak District Accommodation Guide
- A Photo guide to walking in the Peak District
- Attractions, activities, geology and historical information on the Peak District
- Official tourism website
| National parks of England and Wales: | |
| Current: |
Brecon Beacons | The Broads | Dartmoor | Exmoor | Lake District | New Forest | North York Moors | Northumberland | Peak District | Pembrokeshire Coast | Snowdonia | Yorkshire Dales |
| Proposed: | |