Photography by Mike Williams, Karen Frenkel, Mark Hamblin, Margaret Holland and Derbyshire ... check our website for dat
Jackdaw
Derbyshire
Welcome to the wild Wye Valley
Wildlife Trust
From crystal-clear waters where fish and water voles swim, to towering limestone cliffs and beautiful wildflower meadows, the Wye Valley is a wonderful place to visit. It is an area steeped in history. The Monsal Trail which now provides a peaceful place to walk, cycle or ride a horse, was once a railway line which provided connections for passengers between Buxton, London and Manchester. It was also a vital link for the limestone industry – coal was brought in by train to make quicklime, which was then taken along the railway for use in the steel and chemical industries. In other parts of the valley, lead was mined, and signs of this ancient industry can still be found. Mill owners, too, harnessed the power of the river.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is the only organisation working to protect all wildlife across the county. Founded in 1962, we have been protecting the county’s wildlife and wild places ever since. We are part of The Wildlife Trusts, a 47-strong partnership of Trusts throughout the UK.
As industry has gone from the area, nature has gradually taken over. Explore the valley and you will discover a fascinating area rich in wildlife and history, with many a story to tell.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is committed to The Wildlife Trusts’ strategy of creating Living Landscapes – robust, connected landscapes that address the challenges facing our wildlife and countryside.
This leaflet highlights some of the most interesting points along the Wye Valley where you can discover wildlife, geology and history on and around the five Derbyshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves located here. It’s not a walk route as such but there are many footpaths throughout the valley that you could use to create a route of your own based on some of the points of interest.
If you love the county’s wildlife you can help Derbyshire Wildlife Trust by becoming a member.
In addition to the Trust’s reserves, there are nature reserves managed by other organisations such as Natural England and the Peak District National Park. The tunnels on the Monsal Trail, which were closed for many years, have now been re-opened to create an 81/2 mile trail between Bakewell and Buxton, giving an alternative way to explore the area.
Explore the wild Wye Valley
Support us and help protect local wildlife
Volunteering in the Wye Valley To help maintain this beautiful landscape, the Trust runs regular Sunday conservation work parties on the Wye Valley nature reserves. If you would like to take part, check our website for dates or contact us on 01773 881188.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust East Mill, Bridge Foot, Belper Derbyshire DE56 1XH Tel: 01773 881188 Fax: 01773 821826 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
River Wye
Photography by Mike Williams, Karen Frenkel, Mark Hamblin, Margaret Holland and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Designed by FDA Design Ltd, Hathersage, tel 01433 659776, www.fdadesign.co.uk Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is a company registered in England and Wales, company number 715675 Registered charity no. 222212
Chee Dale
www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Protecting wildlife, Restoring landscapes, Inspiring people
Wye Valley from Monsal Head to Deep Dale Monsal Trail Footpath Pennine Bridleway Road Parking Toilet Easy Access Pub
1 Kilometre Left to right: Monsal Trail, Fragrant Orchid, Monsal Head Viaduct
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Explore the wild Wye Valley Deep Dale
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Deep Dale and Topley Pike
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Chee Tor, Chee Dale
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Miller’s Dale Quarry
At the western approach to the valley, Deep Dale is typical of the Peak District’s limestone geology.
One of the highest rock faces in the area, this is another popular destination for climbers.
This former limestone quarry has now been taken over by nature.
Look for: • Thirsk House Cave, high up on the valley wall, evidence of where the river once ran. The cave was excavated by the Victorians who found animal bones and RomanoBritish artefacts, which are now at Buxton Museum. • A great range of limestone flowers including bloody cranesbill, a bright magenta flower found on dry rocks and cliffs and clustered bell flower, a deep blue flower which is in bloom between June and September. • Scree slopes – these have existed here since the Ice Age and remain bare as they are shifting fractionally all the time so that only a very few specialised plants such as limestone fern can grow on them.
Look for: • The large rhubarb-like leaves of butterbur. This plant is found in wet meadows and beside streams and produces tiny pale pink flowers between March and May. • Dippers with their distinctive white breasts, flitting from stone to stone and diving into the river in search of a meal of insects or crustaceans. • The graceful grey wagtail which spends much of its time by the river. • Evergreen yew trees fringing the edge of the tor, clinging to the limestone edge where few other trees can survive.
Look for: • Jackdaws and ravens, which nest in the quarry walls, where they are protected from predators. • Numerous wildflowers, including orchids, wild thyme and the early flowering daphne mezereum. • Butterflies including dark green fritillary – its caterpillars feed on violets. Common blue can also be seen here, and they lay their eggs on birdsfoot trefoil. Common Blue
Chee Tor
Deep Dale
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Wormhill Slope, Chee Dale
This slope provides a great picnic stop – you may have company in the shape of the sheep and cattle that graze here to control growth of scrub and encourage wildflowers. Look for: • Signs of Roman occupation. Look across the valley towards Blackwell, where you may be able to make out the ridges and terraces in the fields below the village. There was once a fortified Roman settlement on the top of Chee Tor, dating from around 400 AD. • Anthills – yellow meadow ants build their mounds which remain relatively undisturbed here and can therefore reach a substantial size. The ants are a favourite food of the green woodpecker which can often be heard ‘yaffling’ in the woods.
Lead spoil heaps at Priestcliffe Lees
Take a bracing walk through the woods to the top of Priestcliffe Lees where you will find waste heaps dating back to the area’s lead mining days. For centuries lead mining was vital to the Peak District and national economy and lead ores have been mined here for about 2000 years. Look for: • Winding circles and shafts, further indications of lead mining activity. • Unique plants which thrive on the lead spoil, such as cushions of spring sandwort and yellow mountain pansies. • The stunning view and one of the best photo opportunities in the spring when the early purple orchids and cowslips carpet the steep slopes.
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Topley Pike and Plumb Buttress
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Topley Pike, on the approach into the nature reserve from the Wye Dale car park on the A6, provides a superb vantage point at this end of the valley. Just below and to the right of the layby is Plumb Buttress. This distinctive rock, popular with climbers, was the last place in Chee Dale where house martins were still known to breed, until about 20 years ago. Look for: • Views of Tunstead and Old Moor Quarries, which combined are the biggest producer of high purity industrial limestone in Europe. • Several plants typical of long limestone grassland. These include Jacob’s ladder, Derbyshire’s county plant, which can be recognised by its bright blue flowers and its ladder-like leaves. Black knapweed, also known as hardheads, produces pinkish purple flowers in the late summer. • Glimpses of Chee Dale Nature Reserve, with its spectacular cliffs and limestone grassland full of wildflowers.
Green Bridge, Chee Dale
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This is a good spot to stop and admire the views all around you. From here you can see some of the springs that feed the river, providing pure water as it emerges from the limestone. Look for: • Wild brown trout and rainbow trout. The fish spawn in the clean gravel in the river in the winter. Rainbow trout have a distinctive pink band along the side of their body and are introduced into the river for the fishermen. • Meadow sweet, which grows along the river banks and has fragrant white flowers in July. Water Vole
Priestcliffe Lees east end
This pasture is important for its variety of wildflowers with over 200 species of plant being recorded here. Look for: • Birds in the scrub including bullfinches, dunnocks and great tits. • Woodcock, found here every winter on the edge of the woodland. They are well camouflaged and hard to spot. • Drystone walls which provide shelter for many creatures including birds and small mammals. • The tall, dark purple columbine, which is frequently found in gardens but only occasionally seen in the wild. Priestcliffe Lees
Jacob’s Ladder
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Station Quarry Limekilns
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Cramside Wood
These are remnants of the limestone quarrying that once took place here. A detailed notice on the kilns explains the process involved in the production of quicklime.
This ash woodland clings to the daleside and is difficult to access. Even from afar, though, you can enjoy views of the reserve’s wildlife.
Look for: • Spoil heaps which contain waste from the quarries. Only a few specialised plants such as autumn gentian can thrive in the harsh conditions on these heaps. • Swifts and bats flying around the kilns on summer evenings. Old buildings such as these provide perfect conditions for creatures like these to breed. Boxes have been installed to provide them with an ideal home.
Look for: • Buzzards flying over the woodland. • Lily of the valley on the woodland floor in spring. • A variety of ferns and the rare mountain melick grass growing on the rocky outcrops. • Rock whitebeam, a nationally scarce shrub, which grows precariously high up on the cliffs. The leaves of this tree have white undersides. Left to right: Bullfinch, Lily of the Valley, Cramside Wood
