Who owns Bamford Moor?
Bamford Moor is in the private ownership of Mr Jeremy Archdale of Moscar lodge. It is a classic example of a well maintained grouse moor, and is managed for sporting and wildlife interests. Although the Moor is mapped as open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act (2000), this does not preclude the need to respect someone else's property and interest. It is particularly important to avoid damage to walls, fences, and all ground nesting birds and their nest sites.
What are climbers' rights of access to the Edge?
Under CRoW, which in the Peak was 'rolled out' in September 2004, there is now statutory right of access to the Edge. However, you should use only the agreed access points to gain admission to the moor (see below). Do not attempt to access the Moor or the Edge except by these points.
The landowner has a right to close the Moor, or any part of it, for up to 28 days in any year (excluding bank holidays, summer weekends or more than four weekend days outside the summer period) for a variety of purposes. Closures will be posted on the Countryside Agency website www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk and on 0845 100 3298.
There are additional Restrictions at Bamford Edge in respect of dogs because the Moor is a grouse moor. Dogs, whether or not they are on a lead, are banned at all times. This ban will be reviewed in October 2009.
The whole of Bamford Moor is part of the Eastern Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a designation that has been made because of the assemblage of breeding moorland birds. Under the CRoW Act, the Access Authority can close the Moor (and Edge) altogether on the advice of English Nature if the integrity of the SSSI is threatened, for example by a sudden increase in human traffic. Disturbance to wild birds and their nests also constitutes an offence under the Countryside and Wildlife Act (1981).
If you trash the place, climbing will be banned.
What are the negotiated access agreements?
You can reach Bamford Moor across Moscar, from Heatsherdene car park, or from Cut Throat Bridge (but beware because the large lay-by on the Sheffield side of Cut Throat is a hot spot for car crime). The only practical access point for climbing on the Edge is from the New Road, which runs from the Yorkshire Bridge Inn to the Dennis Knoll area of Stanage. There is only one access point on this road, at SK 216839 (near the top of Leeside Road / Bamford Clough). The Edge is accessed via a sunken trackway, running broadly northwest. It is important not to attempt access from any other point on the New Road. This means that access notes in old guidebooks that suggest scrambling over a fence, or an iron gate, lower down New Road are now wrong.
This access agreement was negotiated by the Access Authority, the landowner and the BMC, and has been endorsed by the Local Access Forum. It was agreed to protect the landscape from vertical erosion and scarring, and in the interests of road safety. It emphatically does not imply any denial of statutory access rights. We do have rights, thanks to CRoW, but we also have responsibilities.
Henry Folkard and Bunny McCullough
BMC Peak Access Team
3 November 2005.