Totley Moor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Totley Moor
Post on Totley Moor
Highest point
Elevation	395 metres (1,296 ft)
Geography
Location	Peak District, England
OS grid	SK278799
Topo map	OS Explorer OL24

Totley Moor is a wide-open hill covered in moorland. It's located west of Totley, a suburb of Sheffield. This beautiful area is part of the Peak District in Derbyshire, England. The highest point of Totley Moor reaches 395 meters (about 1,296 feet) above sea level.

Exploring Totley Moor

Totley Moor is a special place for nature and history. It offers amazing views and a chance to see wildlife. It's also a great spot for walking and exploring the outdoors.

The Secret Under Totley Moor: Totley Tunnel

Imagine a long tunnel running right under Totley Moor! This is the Totley Tunnel, and it stretches for about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles). It goes all the way under Totley Moor and the Longshaw Estate. The tunnel connects the train stations of Totley and Grindleford.

Building the Tunnel

The Midland Railway company built this huge tunnel. Construction happened between 1888 and 1893. Its main purpose was to create a train route between Sheffield and Manchester. This route goes through the beautiful Hope Valley.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Deep inside the tunnel, there's a large air vent. This vent rises from a natural cave that the tunnel passes through. It goes all the way up to the surface on Totley Moor. This helps keep the air fresh inside the tunnel. Today, the Totley Tunnel is still very busy. Many passenger trains use it to travel across the Pennine hills.

Waterways of the Moor

A stream called Bar Brook starts in the marshy area known as Totley Moss. It flows south towards the disused Bar Brook Reservoir. From there, it continues its journey south. Eventually, it joins the River Derwent near Chatsworth Park.

Blacka Moor Nature Reserve

On the north-eastern side of Totley Moor, you'll find the Blacka Moor Nature Reserve. This important area is looked after by the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. The reserve covers a large area of 181 hectares (about 447 acres). It is part of the Eastern Peak District Moors, which is a special protected area called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Plants of the Moor

The open moorland here is home to different types of plants. You'll see purple moor-grass and various kinds of heathers. There's also bilberry, which is a small shrub with tasty berries.

Animals of the Moor

Blacka Moor is a fantastic place to spot wildlife. It provides a perfect home for many moorland birds. Keep an eye out for willow warblers and blackcaps. You might also hear the call of a cuckoo. Other birds include wheatears, stonechats, and whinchats. If you're lucky, you might even see Red deer roaming across the moor.

Ancient Discoveries on the Moor

Totley Moor holds secrets from a very long time ago, back in the Bronze Age. Along a ridge called Brown Edge, there are three special areas. These are called cairnfields, which are groups of ancient stone mounds. They are protected as Scheduled Monuments.

Uncovering History

In 1963, archaeologists dug into one of these sites. It was a ring cairn, about 7 meters (23 feet) wide. They found some amazing things! These included the remains of cremated bodies, ancient pots called urns, a tiny cup, and a hearth (an old fireplace). You can see these ancient objects on display at the Weston Park Museum in Sheffield.

Shale Workshop

Another discovery happened in 1960. After fires on the moor, a Bronze Age shale-working floor was found at Flask Edge. Shale is a type of rock. People from the Bronze Age used it to make jewelry. At this site, fragments of shale bracelets and rings were found. This shows that people were crafting things here thousands of years ago.

Enjoying the Moor Today

Thanks to the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Totley Moor is now "Open Access" land. This means the public can freely explore this gritstone upland moor. It's a great place for hiking and enjoying nature.

Walking Paths

Several paths cross the moor. The Sheffield Country Walk bridlepath runs across the moor. It connects Totley with the A6187 road. The Peak District Boundary Walk also crosses the eastern side of Totley Moor. This path goes through Blacka Moor Nature Reserve and above Brown Edge, just below the very top of the moor.