Longshaw > Padley Gorge

Follow the stone path through this ancient wooded gorge and feel centuries of history beneath your feet and overhead. Padley Gorge is one of the finest remaining examples of oak and birch woodland that once covered many Dark Peak valleys.

Down below, Burbage Brook – the largest water course running through the Longshaw estate – tumbles over the massive boulders beneath. This is a popular spot for walkers, picnickers and families in all seasons but beware! – it is also a prized habitat for many small creatures from rare birds to hairy ants which have contributed to its designation as a site of special scientific interest.

Padley Gorge is one of the finest remaining examples of the oak/birch woodland once characteristic of the edges and valley sides of the Dark Peak. The woodland mainly consists of sessile oak and birch with alder along the stream side and holly and rowan scattered throughout the remainder of the wood. Padley Gorge is a very popular spot for picnics in summer and school holidays. Burbage Brook is the largest water course running through Longshaw and has cut into the main valley side to create Padley Gorge. Its source is 1,400ft (427m) up on the Hathersage and Burbage Moors

The history information below is for the whole area of Longshaw.

Archaeologists argue about the origins of the stone circle on Lawrence field at the north-west corner of the estate, though most agree there is evidence of tree clearance and enclosures dating certainly to the Vikings and possibly as far back as the Bronze Age.

Longshaw - literally ‘long wood’ - Lodge was built as a shooting box for the then Duke of Rutland. Over the centuries the area has been a centre for charcoal burning to provide fuel for Sheffield’s smelting industries and millstone quarrying for the local cotton and woollen mills. In the early 20th century it provided stone for the reservoir dams in nearby Derwent Valley. It has also been an important trading route for salt, silk, wool, and lead.

Discover more about the Peaks past from prehistory to the modern day with our history timeline..

The habitat information below is for the whole area of Longshaw.

The semi-natural woodlands of the Longshaw Estate are very special in that they represent the best surviving example of the oak-birch woodland that once covered much of the Dark Peak. Some of the trees may be as old as three hundred years, though they’re surprisingly small because of the way they are rooted in thin soils amongst huge blocks of scree. Beneath the tree canopy is a rich assemblage of lichens and mosses, while up above breeding birds – more often heard than seen – include pied flycatcher, wood warbler, redstart and hawfinch.

Explore these habitats and learn more about the wildlife that inhabit them by selecting the links below:
Oak Woodland   Moorland   

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