Latest news with #Castleton
BBC News
06-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Why I kick down Peak District stone stacks
BBC Stone stacks are a common sight along hiking trails up and down the UK. But one walker is on a mission to highlight the damage they can do to the environment - by kicking them over. Stuart Cox says some people have been building the stacks - some as tall as 6ft (1.8m) - using stones taken from an old wall near Mam Tor in the Peak District in Derbyshire. A recent video he filmed of himself kicking down the stacks has been watched more than a million times on social media. And the Peak District National Park Authority says the structures are "detrimental" to the area, and have become more prevalent in recent years. "Look at this," Stuart says, before swearing in frustration during his Facebook video on 20 May. "Destroy the lot of them." He then proceeds to kick down a stone stack. The 57-year-old, who works as a chartered engineer, lives in the Derbyshire village of Castleton, a short drive from Mam Tor. He's passionate about the area, and regularly documents his hikes on his Peak District Viking page. But his post about the dozens of stacks, built next to the busy Great Ridge footpath - about a 15-minute hike from the summit of Mam Tor - has received the most engagement. "The majority of people have been quite supportive saying: 'Yeah, I hate them. We reduce them back to their natural state if we see them. Totally agree with you'," he said. "Then I had the opposite reaction which was: 'Don't tell me what to do. I'll build them if I want and I'll carry on regardless'. "I even had a couple of threats by private message, but I don't worry about those." The Peak District is far from the only location where stone stacks have proven problematic. For example, campaigners said towers of stones on a Scottish beach were a worrying trend. Stuart says the stacks in his video have been built using stones taken from a former boundary wall, which ran alongside the popular Great Ridge walk. He is concerned this has damaged the habitats of the small creatures - such as frogs, toads and insects - that lived inside the wall. It is a view shared by the National Trust. "The majority of the stone stacks featured in this video are not on National Trust land," a spokesperson said. "However, there have been stacks created on parts of Mam Tor, and staff and volunteers will infrequently disassemble any found." The trust says stone stacks have also been an issue on land it is responsible for. It added rangers had carried out extensive work to protect and preserve the hillfort at Mam Tor, which is a "scheduled monument and is of great archaeological importance". "The Peak Forest Wall is also historically significant, itself dating back to 1579," a spokesperson added. "Sadly, the stone stacks are not only impacting the history of the site, but they are also affecting the natural habitats of wildlife that live and feed within these ancient walls. "In the longer-term, it will disrupt the delicate balance of the landscape." Stuart says there is evidence of stones being removed from paths, which he says could lead to further erosion at an already popular walking spot. According to The Countryside Code, visitors should "leave rocks, stone, plants and trees as you find them and take care not to disturb wildlife including birds that nest on the ground". Anna Badcock, cultural heritage manager at the national park authority, says the stacks damage the "special qualities" of the national park and that the problem has got worse in recent years. "[Stone stacks] are created by stone removed from historic features," she said. "They are very detrimental to the historic environment which we have a statutory duty to conserve. "Like walkers' cairns [a marker along a trail], once one is created, it encourages more." The authority says its rangers generally do not remove the stacks "unless they are dangerous or causing an obstruction on a right of way". "We're aware that the National Trust rangers have removed some at Mam Tor for this very reason," a spokesperson added. Stuart said he had tried to make contact with the owner of the land on which the stacks are located, and had offered to help rebuild the wall. And while his video has attracted some debate on social media, he hopes it might make a small difference to the place he loves. He added: "I'm very passionate about the area, it's an area people live and work in, and to see it being trashed, you know, it does rile you a bit. "The more important element [of reaction to his video] was: 'I thought you were a bit of a fool when I first watched the start of the video but by the time I got to the end of it I realised, actually I didn't know that and from now on I will not build the stacks'. "That's the important bit for me. Even if a handful of people have realised the error of their ways, then that made it all the more worthwhile." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Why I kick down Peak District stone stacks'
Stone stacks are a common sight along hiking trails up and down the one walker is on a mission to highlight the damage they can do to the environment - by kicking them Cox says some people have been building the stacks - some as tall as 6ft (1.8m) - using stones taken from an old wall near Mam Tor in the Peak District in Derbyshire.A recent video he filmed of himself kicking down the stacks has been watched more than a million times on social the Peak District National Park Authority says the structures are "detrimental" to the area, and have become more prevalent in recent years. "Look at this," Stuart says, before swearing in frustration during his Facebook video on 20 May."Destroy the lot of them." He then proceeds to kick down a stone stack. The 57-year-old, who works as a chartered engineer, lives in the Derbyshire village of Castleton, a short drive from Mam passionate about the area, and regularly documents his hikes on his Peak District Viking page. But his post about the dozens of stacks, built next to the busy Great Ridge footpath - about a 15-minute hike from the summit of Mam Tor - has received the most engagement."The majority of people have been quite supportive saying: 'Yeah, I hate them. We reduce them back to their natural state if we see them. Totally agree with you'," he said."Then I had the opposite reaction which was: 'Don't tell me what to do. I'll build them if I want and I'll carry on regardless'."I even had a couple of threats by private message, but I don't worry about those." The Peak District is far from the only location where stone stacks have proven problematic. For example, campaigners said towers of stones on a Scottish beach were a worrying says the stacks in his video have been built using stones taken from a former boundary wall, which ran alongside the popular Great Ridge is concerned this has damaged the habitats of the small creatures - such as frogs, toads and insects - that lived inside the is a view shared by the National Trust."The majority of the stone stacks featured in this video are not on National Trust land," a spokesperson said."However, there have been stacks created on parts of Mam Tor, and staff and volunteers will infrequently disassemble any found."The trust says stone stacks have also been an issue on land it is responsible added rangers had carried out extensive work to protect and preserve the hillfort at Mam Tor, which is a "scheduled monument and is of great archaeological importance"."The Peak Forest Wall is also historically significant, itself dating back to 1579," a spokesperson added."Sadly, the stone stacks are not only impacting the history of the site, but they are also affecting the natural habitats of wildlife that live and feed within these ancient walls."In the longer-term, it will disrupt the delicate balance of the landscape." Stuart says there is evidence of stones being removed from paths, which he says could lead to further erosion at an already popular walking to The Countryside Code, visitors should "leave rocks, stone, plants and trees as you find them and take care not to disturb wildlife including birds that nest on the ground".Anna Badcock, cultural heritage manager at the national park authority, says the stacks damage the "special qualities" of the national park and that the problem has got worse in recent years."[Stone stacks] are created by stone removed from historic features," she said."They are very detrimental to the historic environment which we have a statutory duty to conserve."Like walkers' cairns [a marker along a trail], once one is created, it encourages more." The authority says its rangers generally do not remove the stacks "unless they are dangerous or causing an obstruction on a right of way"."We're aware that the National Trust rangers have removed some at Mam Tor for this very reason," a spokesperson said he had tried to make contact with the owner of the land on which the stacks are located, and had offered to help rebuild the while his video has attracted some debate on social media, he hopes it might make a small difference to the place he added: "I'm very passionate about the area, it's an area people live and work in, and to see it being trashed, you know, it does rile you a bit."The more important element [of reaction to his video] was: 'I thought you were a bit of a fool when I first watched the start of the video but by the time I got to the end of it I realised, actually I didn't know that and from now on I will not build the stacks'."That's the important bit for me. Even if a handful of people have realised the error of their ways, then that made it all the more worthwhile."
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Castleton: Shopfronts revamp 'too little too late', trader says
A business owner who complained cycle path roadworks had impacted his trade has said a plan for a £600,000 revamp of the high street is "two years too late".Rochdale Council has approved a shop front improvement scheme for Castleton's high street as part of its wider regeneration of the business owners have said roadworks to build cycle lanes on Manchester Road over the past few years had impacted footfall. Mark Foster, who runs the New Bridge Chippy on Manchester Road, said his business had struggled with "one thing after another after Covid", with this funding "two years too late", in his opinion. "It should have been there before the cycle lane and the roadworks even started," he said."There's no cyclists. Cyclists can't even park their bikes anywhere in the village to come to my shop so I just don't understand what they are doing."Work on the cycle paths, which cost nearly £5m, began almost three years businesses on the high street have spoken of suffering a collapse in footfall because cars had nowhere to pull over and park. Dee Phillips, who runs D's Waxmelts, said the revamp "will make Castleton look better but there's just no parking".She said it had been a "really tough" few years due to the roadworks taking Phillips said "a lot of people now do want to park right outside the shop". Businesses across Castleton have been invited to apply for funding of up to £30,000 to revamp shop funding will also cover improvements like repairs to stonework and brickwork and new signage, lighting and artwork, as well as the reinstatement of historical Khalid, a barber who runs the Urban Hair Studio, said he hoped "it does do some good"."I've got faith in it because of the fact of how many houses are getting built around here so the footfall will hopefully be back," he said. 'Attract more customers' The council said the shop front improvement scheme was part of the wider regeneration of Castleton, with "many of its brownfield sites transformed with high quality new homes".A council spokesperson said the area had benefited from Transport for Greater Manchester investment into the roads and pavements, the creation of a new cycle lane, new parking facilities and a new children's play on the next part of the cycle lane scheme - further down Manchester Road - is now underway, with the entire project due for completion in 2026. Councillor Danny Meredith, cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Rochdale Council, said: "This investment will help business owners in this vital area organise repairs and improvements to their premises, which they otherwise may not have been able to afford. "This, in turn, could help them attract even more customers in future, including the residents who are moving into the new houses which are being created and making Castleton their long term home." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Peak District walks with 'breathtaking scenery' among UK's must-visit valley trails
Two walking routes in the Peak District have been named among the UK's must-visit valley walks. Outdoor experts at GO Outdoors have revealed the top 10 UK valleys to visit this summer, using AllTrails reviews and Google search data to come up with the list. Dovedale Stepping Stones Circular in Dovedale and Castleton and Cave Dale in Cave Dale have been named among the must-visit valleys for this summer. See what GO Outdoors had to say about each walking route. GO Outdoors considered a few factors when coming up with its ranking, including the number of reviews on AllTrails and the rating given on the walking site (scored out of five), trail distance (km) and an overall score out of 10. Dovedale Stepping Stones Circular is a 5km route and has 403 AllTrails reviews and a rating of 4.6. Its overall score from GO Outdoors is 7.2. The Castleton and Cave Dale walk is slightly longer at 5.5km and it has 469 AllTrails reviews with a rating of 4.4. Its overall score issued by GO Outdoors is 5.97. Located near Ashbourne, AllTrails says the Dovedale Stepping Stones Circular route is 'moderately challenging' and takes an hour and 32 minutes to complete, on average. It added: 'Parking is free in a lay-by, followed by a small walk down the road before getting into the fields to start. 'The path leads across stepping stones over River Dove, then up the steep hill of Thorpe Cloud to a beautiful viewpoint. The river can be tough to cross certain times of year, so come prepared.' The Castleton and Cave Dale walk is an 'out-and-back' route near Castleton and takes an average of one hour and 56 minutes to complete. All Trails said ramblers can expect 'breaktaking scenery' when looking at the limestone cliffs. It added: 'This is a lovely trail exploring Castleton and taking you through the beautiful limestone valley of Cave Dale in the Peak District National Park.' Sam Chadwick, blog author and outdoor enthusiast at GO Outdoors, said: 'When visiting valleys, it is best to wear comfortable and supportive footwear as there is often uneven terrain. Recommended reading: 5 circular walks you can do near Bolton this spring including 'beautiful' route Peak District walk with nearby pubs named best UK hike from a train station Best spots to watch the sunset and catch 'stunning' views in the Peak District 'On more difficult hikes, such as Coire Gabhail, it may be a good idea to take supportive equipment such as walking poles. 'This will help you stay steady on your feet and make the experience of tougher hikes more enjoyable. 'It is always important to check how you feel throughout any walk. If you feel out of breath, or that a walk is too hard, turn back.'
The Independent
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Subpostmasters say their fight is still on as they are made OBEs
A former subpostmaster was in tears as she described going from 'convicted criminal to an OBE' but said the 'fight is still on' for justice despite the recognition. Seema Misra was eight weeks pregnant with her second child when she was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment in 2010. She has been campaigning for Horizon scandal victims since having a conviction overturned in April 2021, in which she had been accused of stealing £70,000 from her post office in West Byfleet, Surrey. Reflecting on her journey at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, where she was made an OBE by the Princess Royal, she said: 'Going to prison, that's like a shameful thing. 'I'm OK to fight the Post Office day in, day out but it's just prison I was still coming to terms with.' The former subpostmaster said she would continue to fight to see 'real culprits go behind bars' for the scandal. Ms Misra was made an OBE along with fellow former subpostmasters Lee Castleton, 56, and Chris Head, 37. All three said that, while the honour was special, the fight for compensation and accountability is still on. Mr Castleton, from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, went bankrupt in 2004 after being sued by the Post Office over claims that there was a £25,000 shortfall at his branch which he could not account for. He said he still wants 'vindication' for the way he and his family were treated after that case. Mr Castleton said: 'As a postmaster when things are going well it's wonderful and it's very warmly received. 'But when things go wrong and you are suddenly cast out as it becomes very difficult, life becomes very, very difficult. ' People screamed 'thief' in the street at myself and my family, my daughter was spat at. 'It's so much of a fall from grace really and it's very difficult to take.' Mr Castleton, who was portrayed in ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office by actor Will Mellor, launched a civil action against Fujitsu and the Post Office in March, alleging that they failed to disclose flaws in their software. He explained: 'This is not about money or what's right or wrong, this is about the original case in 2007 and getting vindication for how I was treated. 'It's very important to me, we have redress, and we have accountability but that we also have our right to be vindicated in a way that the public can see.' He said that he was 'very elated' by the OBE and that he was inspired 'to shout louder' by being recognised for his work. Mr Head was the youngest subpostmaster in the UK, aged just 18, when the Post Office pursued him through the courts for shortfalls of £80,000. He has since set up petitions calling for compensation which have received more than 550,000 signatures. Now 37, Mr Head admitted that, while he was proud, the OBE felt slightly premature. 'It would be nice if this was at the end of the process rather than strangely in the middle,' he explained. The subpostmasters said Government promises of fair compensation led to expectations rising, but they have been disappointed by the offers they received. Mr Head said: 'The Government's rhetoric all the time is that they're going to pay full and fair compensation and yet then you're saying people's expectations have risen from them words and then when the offers drop, they've been described as derisory. 'It's a battle in itself to get increases in small increments.' Mr Castleton, Ms Misra and Mr Head were all made OBEs in the King's New Years Honours list. Anne had a 'real understanding' of the campaign and had 'real empathy' for the former subpostmasters and their families, according to all three campaigners. 'She understood because she's done most of the postmasters ones, she said herself she can't understand why it (compensation) hasn't been finalised,' added Mr Head. Among the dozens of people honoured on Wednesday was the former mayor of the West Midlands Sir Andy Street who was knighted by Anne. The Conservative politician held the position for two terms before being defeated in last May's elections by Labour candidate Richard Parker.
