Longshaw > White Edge

This is part of the long gritstone edge stretching from Stanage to Birchens Edge near Chatsworth, marking the boundary of a wide sweep of moorland overlooking the Derwent Valley. It is mostly covered with grass interspersed with patches of heather where red grouse breed.

A stroll across White Edge Moor offers a good opportunity to try and spot interesting breeding birds such as snipe and spotted flycatcher. On a brisk winter’s day with clear skies you’ll be rewarded with excellent views in all directions.

Forming the edge of a wide sweep of moorland, White Edge Moor overlooks the Derwent Valley and forms part of the long gritstone edge stretching from Stanage towards Birchens Edge south of Chatsworth House. The moor is predominantly mat grass with patches of heather moorland on the rocky scarp edges where red grouse breed. White Edge Moor is primarily an access route out to the wider area known as the Eastern Moors. White Edge Moor has some interesting breeding birrds such as snipe and spotted flycatcher to look out for. A visit in July and August when the heather is in flower is always pleasant, as can a visit on a brisk cold day in winter with clear skies and excellent views in all directions

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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