• Article |
• Discussion |
• View source |
• History

The Dark Peak is the higher, wilder part of the Peak District in England. In contrast to the White Peak, the underlying rock is millstone grit, resulting in largely uninhabited moorland plateaux. The areas of millstone grit form an 'inverted horseshoe' around the lower limestone areas of the White Peak. Hence the Dark Peak is said to cover the higher Derbyshire Peaks north of the Hope Valley, as well as the Western Moors in the area of Buxton, and the Eastern Moors stretching south towards Matlock.

Principal areas include Kinder Scout, Bleaklow (both of which rise to over 2000 ft, and lie wholly within Derbyshire), and Black Hill.

The High Peak is an alternative name for the Dark Peak, but High Peak is also the name of an administrative district of Derbyshire which includes part of the White Peak.

Sheffield City Council has plans to construct a wind farm as a renewable power source for the urban area of Sheffield. An area of moorland in the Southern Dark Peak has been selected as a potential site for the wind farm. There has been strong support for the scheme, as well as bitter opposition by many locals. The Sheffield Green Party, for example, has expressed its opposition to the construction of the turbines.

Over the years, a number of military aircraft have crashed on the Dark Peak, generally due to atrocious weather conditions. Thanks to the bleakness and emptiness of the high moorlands, their wrecks tend to remain untouched, and are often stumbled across by hikers in these remote places.

• Hayfield: Valley trail is one of outstanding natural beauty
• High Peak
• Kinder Scout
• Peak District National Park
• White Peak

FEEDBACK

Did you enjoy this article? If so, why not comment on it? Perhaps you disagree with something in it, or you know something the writer doesn't and can add some extra facts. You may want to ask a question about this article. Making a contribution is easy - either click 'edit' to insert more information or 'discussion' and then 'add comment.' This is your site. Please feel free to use it to the full and share your memories, thoughts and knowledge about Derbyshire with others.

If there is no 'edit' link showing it means the article has either previously been published in the Derby Evening Telegraph, or it has been protected by the site administrator and cannot be edited.'

County:  Derbyshire

Return to Peak District National Park