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MANAGING TOURISM
The National Park Authority encourages recreation activities that are appropriate to the different areas of the Park.
Informal Recreation
 Many visitors drive around, visit the various tourist attractions - such as the caves at Castleton, Well Dressing in one of the villages, Chatsworth House - or just simply enjoy the scenery. Car parks are provided in popular villages and at beauty spots, often with public toilets and information boards. Picnic areas are often sited close to car parks (most people picnic close to their car).
The National Park Authority also considers the needs of disabled people in provisions for recreation. Routes suitable for wheelchairs have been developed; an adapted fishing platform has been provided at Ladybower and a special bus service is financed by the Boar.
Information Centres
Centres are open all year at Bakewell, Castleton, Edale and Fairholmes in the Upper Derwent with several further Information Points open on Summer weekends. Village Shop information points are also open in a number of villages. Bakewell Centre has an average of 500 visits per day.
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Torside Information Centre |
Use of facilities by visitors
| Facility |
Percentage using facility |
| Toilets |
84% |
| Footpaths |
83% |
| Car parks |
82% |
| Cafe/pub/restaurant |
72% |
| Information boards |
61% |
| National Park leaflets |
48% |
| Visitor/information centre |
43% |
| Picnic site |
34% |
| Public transport |
13% |
| (taken from All Parks Visitor Survey 1994) |
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Active Recreation
Such recreation includes walking, climbing, caving, which require few facilities other than car parks, well marked and maintained footpaths and information signs such as that showing areas of open access, where walkers can ramble off the public footpaths.
Facilities are provided for those who come into the Peak Park to enjoy cycling, fishing, horseriding, sailing or gliding:
 a cycle hire scheme and special routes along disused railway lines or traffic free roads has been provided at 4 centres (Parsley Hay, Fairholmes, Tissington Trail, Waterhouses) with around 55,000 hirings per year.
- There are 55 reservoirs of over 2 hectares in area in the Peak Park. Fishing is allowed on twelve of these and sailing on five of them.
- There are 2 gliding centres, one at Great Hucklow and one at Morridge and also sites for hang gliding
- There are 18 stables with horses for hire
Various forms of motor sports are practised in the Park, but the policy is to discourage these as they can cause damage to the landscape, intrusive noise and pollution to air or water.
Providing Accommodation
Although 65% of visits to the Peak Park are day visits 35% of people visiting the Park are on a short holiday in the area. The needs of these staying visitors, who spend a few days in the Peak Park, are met with a variety of accommodation such as camping and caravan sites, (114 authorised sites with authorisation for 4,646 caravans and 891 tents), 11 camping barns, 19 Youth Hostels, and Bed & Breakfast in a large number of private houses, pubs or hotels. Staying visitors normally spend more in the Park and return for regular visits.
 Management Partnership
The Upper Derwent became so congested that a special Joint Management Scheme was developed by the National Park Authority, local landowners and other bodies. An Information Centre, Cycle Hire, Refreshments and Toilets were opened: parking was reorganised: Motor access was restricted, so creating closed roads for walking, cycling etc: a full time Ranger service was established and bus services from towns and cities were encouraged. This partnership approach now extends to 10 area Management Schemes in the Peak Park.
Footpath Management
The Pennine Way, the most popular long distance path and that with the greatest problems, has had 27 erosion black spots identified in the most heavily used stretch between Edale and the moors above Oldham. Many of these are on peat which is easily eroded under heavy pressure. A project has been set up and variety of hard surfaces are being tried. Dovedale is a honeypot area where the footpath through the dale can be used by up to 1,000 people an hour. A new path has been constructed to cope with this heavy pressure.
Ranger Service
The Ranger Service provides information and advice to visitors and resolves immediate problems created by visitor pressure. They carry out countryside work and provide rescue services. Conservation Volunteers help with wildlife conservation and practical maintenance.
Environmental Education
Education about the use and abuse of the countryside, helps to overcome the problems that can be caused by the heavy use by tourists of a fragile environment such as a National Park. Losehill Hall the Peak District National Park’s Study Centre, provides courses that encourage considerate use of the Park’s natural resources. The Environmental Education Service offers advice and information to schools, as well as organising educational visits for schools and colleges.
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