Monsal Trail : Essential lighting works is taking place from Mon 13 May for five weeks. Tunnels will remain open but light levels may be lower than usual. Please obey signs and take care when passing the works.

Looking after

How we work to look after the national park, conservation, ranger services, biodiversity and policies.

Recreational motor vehicles in the Peak District

The Peak District National Park has about 300 green lanes. These are historic tracks that are used by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and motor vehicles. The use of some of these green lanes can be controversial – where the surface becomes damaged or different uses conflict with each other – and some use is illegal.

Our strategy for managing recreational motor vehicles

To improve how these lanes are managed, we have adopted a revised ‘Strategy for the Management of Recreational Motorised Vehicles in their Use of Unsealed Highways and Off-road’ and a revised ‘Procedure for Making Traffic Regulation Orders’.

The strategy emphasises the need to protect the special qualities of the national park. To do this we are:

  • working on routes where there may be vehicle rights
  • working to tackle illegal use
  • working with people living in and visiting the national park to conserve, enhance, understand and enjoy our green lanes

How we carry out this work

Our action plans outline how we will carry out this work.

Who does what?

A number of different agencies and authorities are involved in managing the green lanes in the national park.

  • The highway authorities maintain the surface of routes and decide on the legal status of routes.
  • The police take action against illegal use.
  • The highway authorities and the Peak District National Park Authority have powers to make Traffic Regulation Orders.
  • District councils are responsible for dealing with noise nuisance.
  • The Peak District Local Access Forum is a statutorily appointed body to advise on access and recreation matters.
  • The Green Lanes Forum represents a range of interests including recreational user groups, landowners and authorities.

Get involved

All users can reduce their impact on other users, the environment and local communities by using the lanes in a responsible and sustainable manner.

We encourage everyone to work with us to help us achieve long-term effective management of the green lanes in the national park and to control illegal use.

From time to time, we need volunteers to help maintain our green lanes. This work is carried out through Peak Park Conservation Volunteers. You can find out about forthcoming working parties in our vehicles newsletter.

If you have any suggestions or would like to find out more, please contact rightsofway@peakdistrict.gov.uk.

Newsletter

If you would like to receive the vehicles newsletter, please email media@peakdistrict.gov.uk.