Ranger-guided Walks In The Peak District Cancelled

There have already been outbreaks of fire on Black Hill, Rainow and Bleaklow. Co-ordinated firefighting teams dealt with all of the fires. The Peak District National Park Authority closed access to open moorland and appealed for vigilance against starting fires.
Helicopters have helped douse deep-seated peat fires on remote moorlands – crossed by the Pennine Way – and firefighters were still damping down with high-pressure jets on the worst-affected area, 20 hectares of Bleaklow, near Glossop.
The walks that were cancelled for the weekend are:
Summer on Kinder Scout, Heart Start Walk in the Derwent Valley (both Saturday July 22) and the Dovestone Stroll on Sunday (July 23). The situation on guided walks next week (National Parks Week) will be reviewed on Monday, and people who are booked on walks are advised to contact the Rangers office on 01629 816290 before setting out.
Public rights of way – over 2,200km of pathways are still open, and people are still welcome to walk all over the National Park, as long as they keep to the pathways. Climbers are welcome to use Stanage and Burbage Edges and The Roaches. However the right to roam off the beaten track has been suspended for the first time since the Countryside and Rights of Way Act was launched in 2004.
Moorland fires are a major cause of erosion, destroying plants and wildlife habitats that take many years to recover. Moors for the Future, a £4.7m Heritage Lottery-funded project, has spent the past four years restoring huge areas of threatened moorland and blanket bog, which is one of the rarest habitats in the world and instrumental against global warming.
The Peak District Fire Operations Group, is a partnership of the National Park Authority. It was brought together following previous major moorland fires in excessively hot dry years. It comprises of six fire and rescue services and major landowners and operators. It is maintaining constant firewatch patrols and using specialist equipment for these remote areas.

By: Iain Thomas

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Iain Thomas writes articles on travel leisure and tourism in the UK. He has a particular interest in walking and the national parks. He runs a website about UK Walking where you can find 1000's of walk routes and places to stay nearby.