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0:00:03 > 0:00:07- I'm on a journey - to six areas in England.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11- These areas are renowned for - their beauty and incredible scenery.
0:00:12 > 0:00:19- These locations attract millions - of tourists to enjoy the landscapes.
0:00:19 > 0:00:26- There's some excellent wildlife - that you will rarely see in Wales.
0:00:26 > 0:00:32- That's the main reason for visiting - these remarkable locations.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51- This time, my journey takes me - to the Peak District.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59- This area is less than an hour away - from North Wales.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02- Manchester is in the distance - behind me...
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- ..and the peaks continue - all the way to Sheffield.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10- This was Britain's - first national park.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24- It's a vast, open expanse.
0:01:26 > 0:01:32- Most of it is high ground but you - won't see any peaks or mountains.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34- Just rounded hills.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45- There are reservoirs - scattered everywhere.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50- There are also wonderful lowlands, - such as the Derbyshire Dales.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- I begin my journey - near Dove Stone reservoir...
0:02:10 > 0:02:14- ..about 10 miles - north-west of Manchester.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17- It's the first week of May.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23- This is the dove stone, - a rock shaped by nature...
0:02:23 > 0:02:25- ..into the shape of a dove.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- Almost instantly, - you sense that this highland...
0:02:32 > 0:02:34- ..is different to Welsh highlands.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38- The sound of grouse - is very prominent.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41- It's rarely seen in Wales.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47- The wheatear is far more common.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54- It's a summer visitor - to the highlands of Great Britain.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04- My main reason - for visiting Dove Stone...
0:03:04 > 0:03:06- ..is to see a mountain hare.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10- It disappeared from Wales - centuries ago.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13- I'm not disappointed.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23- This is a great way to start.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27- I knew I'd find mountain hares - in this area...
0:03:27 > 0:03:31- ..but I thought I'd have to - spend days searching.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35- There's one sitting - 50 yards away from me.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- They're animals - that turn white in winter...
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- ..before turning brown again - during the summer.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- This one hasn't quite - lost its white fur.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48- There's some white fur - around its backside.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54- In an area like this, a rocky area, - you'd expect to see wheatears.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59- I suspect the hen is nesting on - her eggs under one of these rocks.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30- The Peak District National Park - is the same size as Greater London.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- Half the land is open to walkers.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38- About 16m people live - less than an hour from the park.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40- A lot of maintenance work is needed.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45- Gareth Roberts is one of the park's - conservation staff.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- I visited Dove Stone - - what a wonderful place.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- I saw mountain hares - and all kinds of wildlife.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- I want to explore - the highlands and the lowlands.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- Is this a good place for wildlife?
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- Yes, and there's some - unique wildlife here.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05- Animals and birds - that you won't see normally...
0:05:05 > 0:05:08- ..unless you're here - during the winter.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11- Many birds congregate here - to mate during the summer.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15- This landscape is very important - to them.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19- How long have you been working here?
0:05:19 > 0:05:24- I've been working for Moors For - The Future for over three years.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27- We're trying to improve - the landscape.
0:05:27 > 0:05:33- There's been a lot of deterioration - over the past 200 years...
0:05:33 > 0:05:38- ..since the mills - of the Peak District burnt coal.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41- That damaged the landscape.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45- We're reintroducing plants - and improving the landscape.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- We want to create a better - environment for birds and animals.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- You live in a wonderful area.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- You live in a wonderful area.- - I miss Wales and I miss the sea.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- I used to live on the Nefyn coast...
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- ..but other than that, - I can't complain.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06- It's not too far away, is it? - North Wales is two hours away.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10- Precisely. It's two and a half - hours to Nefyn, door-to-door.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14- You're speeding on the A55 - if you can get there in that time!
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- It depends if the jet skis are out!
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- This path is the Pennine Way...
0:06:34 > 0:06:38- ..the famous track - that crosses the Peak District.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41- There's Glossop - and the main road...
0:06:41 > 0:06:45- ..linking Sheffield with Manchester, - crossing through Snake Pass.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49- I'm heading to the summit - you can see in the distance.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- That's Bleak Low, one of - Derbyshire's highest mountains.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56- I can hear birdsong from here.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59- I'll hopefully see many of them - along the way.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- This is a golden plover.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11- It nests in the highlands - during springtime...
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- ..after living on the lowlands - through the winter.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19- It's hiding and whistling - in the peat.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- A bird similar in appearance - is the dunlin.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39- Its call is very different.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47- Its beak is longer.
0:07:54 > 0:08:00- The dunlin is a rare sight - in Wales these days.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02- Being so close to one...
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- ..I can't remember the last time - I saw one like this.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10- In Wales, you'll only see a handful - of pairs, no more than that.
0:08:10 > 0:08:15- This one is feeding - - its nest is somewhere nearby.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20- This one is feeding while - the other one nests on the eggs.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- This one will return to the nest - and take over those duties...
0:08:24 > 0:08:27- ..while the other one - flies away to feed.
0:08:27 > 0:08:32- When I used to go searching - for dunlins in the Elenydd area...
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- ..I would also look - for golden plovers.
0:08:35 > 0:08:36- It's nice to see those here.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42- They're another species that - are very rare in Wales nowadays.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- I remember seeing dozens of them - in Elenydd in the 1980s.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49- You'd be lucky to see - 10-12 pairs today.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01- The land around the summit of Bleak - Low looks like Welsh highland...
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- ..but it's far richer - in terms of wildlife.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07- That's partly thanks to the grouse.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13- There are shooting rights every year - between August and December.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- The land is managed - to sustain its numbers.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20- It likes eating fresh growth - of heather.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23- The heather is regularly - cut and burnt.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- You'll see very few sheep - and birds of prey here.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- This is beneficial for the grouse, - other nesting birds...
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- ..and animals such as the mountain - hare which also lives on Bleaklow.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54- I've reached one of the highest - summits of the Peak District.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- Even though I'm sweating pints, - as I look to the west...
0:09:59 > 0:10:01- ..it's a wonderful sight.
0:10:01 > 0:10:06- On a clear day, I suspect I could - see as far as Prestatyn and Rhyl.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38- I've climbed up to Derwent Edge.
0:10:38 > 0:10:43- It's a rock edge that stretches - away from me in that direction.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45- No matter where you go...
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- ..there are marvellous views - around every corner.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52- This is Ladybower reservoir.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54- Further up the valley...
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- ..you'll discover - Derwent and Howden reservoirs.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- It's a system that's similar - to the one in the Elan Valley.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- The slopes that lead - to the reservoirs are steep.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12- They're a perfect habitat - for a summer visitor from Africa.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23- You might have heard this call and - thought it sounded very familiar.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28- You might have seen the bird - and thought it looked familiar.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- In a way, you'd be right - if you thought it was a blackbird.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37- It's a mountain blackbird or ring - ouzel to give it its proper name.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39- I like that name.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45- I remember someone in Cwmtwrch - calling it 'ficer y graig'.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50- That's a wonderful name - it has - a white collar similar to a vicar's.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- Earlier, it was searching for worms.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- There must be a nest nearby. - This is a perfect habitat.
0:11:57 > 0:12:01- A mixture of heather, - grass and berries...
0:12:01 > 0:12:03- ..and the stone walls.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- It will nest in stone walls - such as these.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48- The terrain has changed.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- It's unexpected terrain - for the Peak District.
0:12:52 > 0:12:57- These deciduous trees, mostly oak, - above one of the reservoirs.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01- To be honest, they're very similar - to trees we have in Wales.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- I've timed my visit perfectly.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08- The leaves haven't quite - started to sprout.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- I hope some of the early migratory - birds have returned from Africa.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25- One of the finest deciduous - tree birds is the pied flycatcher.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31- Another is the redstart.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35- I'm very fortunate to have found - somewhere comfortable to sit.
0:13:35 > 0:13:41- Both birds I really wanted to see, - the pied flycatcher and redstart...
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- ..they're both here.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- They've only just returned - from Africa. They're very busy.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50- They feed for a time...
0:13:50 > 0:13:56- ..but then, they want to sing - and establish their territory.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- They'll sit in a prominent place.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02- Without leaves on the trees, - it's easy to spot them.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05- Imagine being here in a month, - with leaves everywhere.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09- The birds will then do - one of two things.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14- They're either excellent singers - and you can hear their voices...
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- ..or they're very beautiful - and colourful.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- The two most colourful birds - in this forest are these two...
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- ..the pied flycatcher and redstart.
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0:14:38 > 0:14:38- Subtitles
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:14:56 > 0:15:01- I'm further south, - not far from Chesterfield.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06- This is Big Moor, part of - a wider area called East Moors.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- I'm here to meet Alan Heeley.
0:15:08 > 0:15:14- More than anything else, - I hope Alan can show me some adders.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22- Alan, how are you, boy? - Good to meet you. Good to see you.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27- More than anything else, I want to - see adders. Good place for them?
0:15:27 > 0:15:30- Very good - - if we go down into this area...
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- ..that banking just down there, - we should be lucky...
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- ..even in this weather.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38- Should be good. Come on then.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41- It's still relatively cold - for adders...
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- ..but spring has definitely sprung - on Big Moor.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- Birds are already nesting here.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55- This is a stonechat. Its beak is - stuffed with food for her chicks.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57- They're in the nest nearby.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- Although her beak is full, - she sounds a warning call...
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- ..because we're very close - to the nest.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11- Her partner sounds the same call.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- Nearby is a reed bunting.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- Alan's eagle eyes has spotted - an adder hiding in the reeds.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35- I think it's two there, - are there, Alan?
0:16:36 > 0:16:37- Two males?
0:16:37 > 0:16:38- Two males?- - Yep.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42- That's nice, isn't it? - I really like adders.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- I think - they're beautiful creatures.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- The blood-red eye - and the black zigzag on the back.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- They're cracking things.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- There's one there, the black - on him looks almost greenish.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56- It is apparent in this area.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01- We've not seen them, or photographs, - anywhere else in the country.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03- It's just this area.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- I hadn't heard of that - anywhere else.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11- They're really beautiful - one - of them is about to shed its skin.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13- The other one - looks as if it just has.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22- Big Moor, near Chesterfield, - is vast.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26- It's like walking - through a savannah in Africa.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30- Like a savannah, - there are animals grazing here.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33- These are red deer, not antelopes!
0:17:35 > 0:17:39- These are females. - Only the males grow antlers.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46- The mature males live apart - until mating season.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55- Big Moor is one of the most - desolate areas of the Peak District.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00- It's on the eastern side of the - national park, close to Sheffield.
0:18:00 > 0:18:06- I'm heading south, to Bakewell, - and totally different terrain.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31- When we think - about the Peak District...
0:18:31 > 0:18:33- ..we think about the highlands.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- That's the area that attracts me.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40- There is also another side - to this area, the lowlands...
0:18:40 > 0:18:44- ..especially the valleys, - or the dales as they're known here.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49- There is as much wildlife here - as you'll find on the highlands.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17- This is Lathkill Dale.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20- It's a national nature reserve...
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- ..primarily because of its - rare plants.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27- It's hard to believe this - but two centuries ago...
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- ..is was a very important - industrial site.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- You can see the remains - of a lead works here.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- They mined lead here - all the way back to Roman times...
0:19:38 > 0:19:40- ..but this is more recent.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43- This dates back to the 19th century.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48- Back then, - 120 people worked in this valley.
0:19:52 > 0:19:53- It's the first week of May.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58- Early spring flowers - are starting to blossom.
0:19:58 > 0:19:59- Bluebells...
0:20:00 > 0:20:01- ..red campion...
0:20:04 > 0:20:05- ..forget-me-not...
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- ..and around the remains - of the old industries...
0:20:10 > 0:20:12- ..cowslip.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24- The water is incredible clear.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26- I can see every stone...
0:20:26 > 0:20:28- ..on the riverbed...
0:20:29 > 0:20:31- ..all the way over - to the other side.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36- If you could smell what I - can smell here, it's wonderful.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- This plant is water mint.
0:20:39 > 0:20:45- It's similar to mint but - the aroma is significantly fresher.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49- I remember collecting water mint - with Nain...
0:20:49 > 0:20:53- ..and another plant that grows - over there, watercress.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- She would use water mint - for cooking...
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- ..but we ate watercress - as we collected it.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12- There's a pair of dippers - feeding in the river.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- This can only mean one thing.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19- There's a nest nearby.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36- I think the dipper's nest - is one of the best.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39- It's a large ball of moss - tucked into the bank.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- They're built above the water level - for a reason.
0:21:42 > 0:21:48- When the chicks defecate, they turn - their backside to the hole...
0:21:48 > 0:21:52- ..and defecate - straight out into the water.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54- It's obvious from the noise...
0:21:54 > 0:21:57- ..and every now and then - when they return with food...
0:21:58 > 0:22:00- ..I can see the chicks' beaks.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03- I think they're within a day or two - of leaving the nest.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10- Both chicks are being well fed, - and fairly fed.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14- The one on the right - is fed this time.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21- It's the turn - of the one on the left.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01- This is the old Monsal Dale viaduct.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04- I must say, - I've been pleasantly surprised...
0:23:04 > 0:23:06- ..by the Peak District.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10- The wildlife has been diverse - and incredible.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14- Whether you're a naturalist, - a cyclist or a walker...
0:23:14 > 0:23:18- ..this is a very special area.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21- Remember, - it's only two hours from Wales.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:23:42 > 0:23:42- .