Knotbury Common

An important site part of the Leek Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest, South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation and the Peak District Moors Special Protected Area.

Location

Knotbury Common
Nr Flash
Staffordshire
SK17 0TG

SK17 0TQ

Know before you go

Parking information

There is no parking at the reserve. You can walk from the convenience stores at Flash on the A53 (SK17 0TF). Numerous footpaths including the Dane Valley Way will take you there.

Grazing animals

Yes

Walking trails

This is one of our smallest nature reserves, only taking around 20 minutes to explore. However, walking across the common can be part of a longer walk through the area to enjoy the heathland landscape.

It is fairly hilly but there is a track that runs across the top of the common to help with access.

Access

You can’t drive to the reserve but you can walk from the convenience stores at Flash on the A53 (SK17 0TF). Numerous footpaths including the Dane Valley Way will take you there.

No gates onsite

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open all year

Best time to visit

Any time

About the reserve

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust acquired Knotbury Common in 2019. It was an important site to add to the Trust's portfolio as it is part of the Leek Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest, South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation and the Peak District Moors Special Protected Area. This means it is of international importance!

It contains importance areas of wet heath and blanket bog that are in need of restoration, and is also home to many important upland bird species including red grouse, curlew and snipe.

For visitors, the common is part of the remaining wider network of heather moorland which forms the characteristic landscape of the Peak District. Walking across the common can be part of a longer walk through the area to enjoy the heathland landscape accompanied by the bubbling calls of curlew and the “go-back, go-back” of the red grouse.

The site will be undergoing restoration work, with the vision that in the near future, visitors will be able to see lovely flowering areas of cottongrass and bog asphodel in the wet heath.