The Peak District beauty spot ‘under siege’ by hordes of day trippers ‘leaving rubbish’, having BBQs and clogging up roads

For hundreds of years people have been fascinated by the beauty of the Peak District and in particular the steps at its most popular spot, Dovedale.

Here hikers meander along the babbling Pigeon River to picnic in the shadow of dramatic hills.

But in the age of social media, tranquility is threatened by hordes of tourists fascinated by apps like TikTok and Instagram.

Visitors are flocking to this picturesque pass in unprecedented numbers, and some locals are becoming increasingly uneasy about the crowds and accusing day-trippers of leaving rubbish behind.

Farmer Barry Frith, 71, who has lived within half a mile of the stones since 1960, said: ‘People come from all over Birmingham, Manchester and London and they bring everything with them except the kitchen sink.’

“Covid was what started this,” he continued. ‘We parked our cars on this road. Sometimes caregivers could not visit my husband, who had MS.

‘We had to erect bollards along the verge to stop cars blocking the roads because the police were not doing anything.

‘It’s still bad. All car parks will be full by 13:00 and then they can park anywhere.’

Social media posts on TikTok and Instagram helped spread the word about the steps being taken to a new audience, helping to increase tourism in the region

‘Visitors bring everything with them except the kitchen sink,’ says 71-year-old farmer Barry Frith, who has lived half a mile from the stones since 1960

Peter and his wife, Shirley, have been visiting the area for forty years. ‘It’s a beautiful place, but a minority can ruin it for everyone,’ he said.

John Roulston, 74, was in nearby Belper with his grandchildren and was also angered by the area’s growing appeal.

He said: ‘When I came here a few years ago there was rubbish everywhere. ‘It mixes with the river and damages everything.’

On a weekday, the £6-a-day cashless National Trust car park was almost full at lunchtime and the road leading to the stones was packed with families, school trips and people walking their dogs.

Large, bright red signs state the rules clearly: ‘No barbecues, No fires, no cooking, no hookahs, no gas stoves. Please also dispose of cigarettes responsibly.’

Joel, 21, who has worked at the ice cream and drinks stall in the car park for two years, was skeptical about how effective they were: ‘On busy days the car park can be overflowing by 10am. This is the Peak District’s most popular spot and has attracted a lot of attention on social media.

‘Do people respect the signs? ‘Most do, but most don’t actually do that.’

Peter and his wife, Shirley, who have been visiting the area for four decades, made the same point.

‘I saw busloads of people arriving with strollers full of food, barbecues and other things. The rangers talk to them but they are ignored. ‘It’s a beautiful place, but a minority can ruin it for everyone.’

There are no bins next to the stones in the picnic area, and people are encouraged to take their leftovers to the car park, a five-minute walk away, and use the bins there.

National Trust rangers patrol the picnic area with litter-picking equipment.

One person, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘Most of the rubbish I collected was bags of dog poo. There’s no bin here, so we expect people to take it back to the car park, but not everyone does that. There’s even a skip there, so no excuses.

Queues of people often form to cross the Dovedale stepping stones

However, locals claimed that a small number of people visiting the beauty spot were leaving behind waste and damaging the local environment

John Roulston, 74, who lives near Belper with his grandchildren, said: ‘We all want to go somewhere nice.’

Neighborhood residents complain about garbage being thrown into the area

But there was nothing at the scene other than this lone KitKat wrapper floating in the river.

Bob Sellers, 94, one of Ilam village’s oldest residents, has seen it all and claims the situation was actually worse in the 1980s, with campers setting up tents everywhere with no regard for the countryside.

‘Most people are very respectful. ‘They just come to have a nice day and there’s really no big problem.’

News of the thriller came as a surprise to Adrienn, 45, a mother of six who was visiting from Nottingham with her four children.

He said: ‘I’ve been coming here a few times a year for five years, on busy weekends, weekdays and all the time, and I’ve found people to be really respectful.

‘I didn’t see any garbage. Sometimes plastic packaging blows away, but there are staff to clean it up or others pick it up. I don’t recognize this statement at all.

‘For me this is a paradise for children. They can have fun exploring magnificent hills, rowing where they won’t drown; This is perfect for them.’

Anger has been known to wear off as people pass by the iconic stones, which were erected in 1890 as Victorian England began visiting in large numbers. The stones are wide and flat but cannot be crossed in both directions at the same time, leading to queues and frustration as people stop to pose.

In 2024, a fight broke out after a father desperately tried to cross the street with his baby stroller. The ensuing fight went viral.

In Ilam village, just half a mile from Stones, villagers are well accustomed to the challenges of living next to a popular beauty spot.

Every Friday evening the Neighborhood Council erects a series of barriers in the village center to prevent cars from parking on the verges.

A villager in his 40s, who did not want to give his name, said: ‘We only go there in winter because it is dilapidated. ‘I heard they collected 40 bags of garbage in one weekend.’

In a statement, the National Trust said they collected an average of four bags of rubbish a day during peak season.

Bob Sellers, 94, one of Ilam village’s oldest residents and has lived there all his life, had a very different perspective.

He said: ‘I was born here and I’ve seen it all. I don’t think it’s as bad as it used to be. I remember the 1980s when camps were set up all over the fields by people who had no respect for the countryside. They would engage everywhere.

‘I think nowadays people behave better than before and have more respect for beautiful places.’

Another elderly villager, Sheila, 84, added: ‘It was always popular but now lots of people come. I won’t go there myself because of the crowds.

‘He was always popular,’ said Sheila, 84, another elderly villager

Large signs have been posted saying barbecues are not allowed, but locals say visitors regularly break the rules

Signs have been put up to discourage littering, but some residents say it’s still a problem

‘When I step out of my house, I feel like a tourist guide. People stop and ask me where the road to the Stones is. It’s weird because there are so many signs for them.’

Below at Stones, dogs and children frolic in the shallow waters, while others dip their toes in the water while sitting on the shore.

Student Misha Tayyab, 28, who was on a day trip to Nottingham with her two cousins, said: ‘I read a lot of negative comments about this place on Instagram; People say it’s dirty with a lot of people but it’s perfect, a very lovely, peaceful place.’

In the statement made by the National Trust, the following statements were made: ‘Dovedale is a popular destination and many people come to enjoy the beautiful scenery and great outdoors.

‘As the weather is warm and sunny, there is an increase in the number of visitors to this beautiful place. Unfortunately, the downside of this is that it increases the amount of garbage left behind, as in other beautiful spots of the country.

‘Littering is not only unsightly, it also has a negative impact on the environment and poses a threat to wildlife.

‘Our rangers, welcoming team and volunteers work hard to maintain Dovedale by carrying out regular litter picks, talking to visitors about ways to enjoy the area respectfully, and encouraging responsible visiting whilst also carrying out vital conservation work.

‘We want people to continue to enjoy the countryside but encourage everyone to take their rubbish with them and throw it away. ‘It’s important to remember that most people visit responsibly and it’s important for people to play their part in looking after the places they love.’