HARDCASTLE CRAGS
Past And Present

Hardcastle Crags is one of the most beautiful and romantic valleys in the North of England and is visited each year by thousands of tourists, this film describes the many moods of the valley throughout the year showing how it has changed over time as it remains one of the real jewels in the crown of the National Trust.

It's a fantastic place to visit with 400 acres of unspoilt upland woodland making it feature regularly in national surveys as a paradise for families and walkers alike, through old photographs and interviews with local residents they show how it has been a tourist attraction since Victorian times.

The film tells the story of the Crag's industrial past featuring Gibson Mill which lies at the heart of the valley. Recently a major re-development project by the Trust, we are given a tour by staff outlining its ever changing identity from mill to 'Entertainment Emporium' to its present status as a museum and exemplar of sustainable living.

A member of the Hardcastle Crags Preservation Society relives the drama of how on three occasions water companies have had to be fought off in their attempts to flood the valley – an unimaginable idea but it went all the way to parliament before it was defeated.

The film also highlights the many activities run by the National Trust throughout the year from "Bluebell Walks" to "Foraging for Fungi" and the Trusts "Stewardship Scheme" is featured where a local primary school uses the Crags as a "living classroom" under the guidance of Trust staff.

A very full and dramatic story then but the film above all brings to life the majestic beauty of the Crags in all the seasons by walking some of its many and varied footpaths.

DVD Info

Region: 2
Running Time: 90 mins