William Clough, on the flank of the Kinder Scout Plateau, is well-known by walkers and sightseers for the heather blankets and widening streams running through its core. Whilst it is now controlled by the National Trust, and therefore open for public access, this was not always the case. In fact, it took a coordinated effort to make that so.
On the 24th April, 1932, around 500 walkers, mostly from Manchester, carried out a wilful mass trespass on Kinder Scout. This area was considered private land, held under the tight grip of the wealthy aristocracy, and these people were protesting the lack of public access to the British countryside. Despite violent skirmishes with gamekeepers and police, the public pressure to open up these natural beauty spots to the public grew to such an extent that National Parks and defined public ways were established in 1949.
Next time you’re embarking on a wild adventure in the Peak District why not wrap your picnic in this tea towel to remind you of those who fought for your right to roam?
