From 1284 until 1515 Shining Cliff Woods were part of the Fee of Duffield, a medieval hunting forest. More recently, industry included charcoal burning and quarrying – coppiced sweet chestnut trees and small quarry faces with piles of waste and rejected millstones are evidence of this. In the 1870s Richard Johnson & Nephew constructed the reservoir to serve their new wire works in the Amber valley beneath.

Two men. Two axes.

In 1932 Grith Fyrd, a non-profit making organisation set up to help unemployed men, acquired part of Shining Cliff Woods from the Hurt family. The woods became home to a small community of men where educational and practical activities supported self-sufficient living. In 1939, with the threat of war, unemployment fell and the community dwindled.

Some of the people originally involved with Grith Fyrd set up a small residential school in the abandoned buildings. The school flourished, taking evacuated children and a small number of refugees. Outdoor activities were also organised for local children, many of whom had never had a holiday.

From 1946 the buildings were leased to the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) and for many years YHA members enjoyed the remote location of the hostel. Since 2009 the hostel has been run as an independent activity centre.

Over the last fifty years, the Woods have been managed by Grith Pioneers (formerly Grith Fyrd) to provide a place for outdoor activities, especially for young people’s organisations. In the 1980s, Shining Cliff Woods were identified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of their biodiversity. The ancient woodland is home to a number of endangered species. Grith Pioneers work to preserve and maintain the woods. One example of this work is the gradual removal of non-native trees such as sycamore and rhododendron, to allow native flora, like oak, holly, hazel and bluebells, to flourish.

• Please respect and protect these woods
• Leave no trace – do not cause harm to the wildlife; take all rubbish away.
• Keep to public rights of way; cycling and horse riding are not permitted except on the restricted byway (see map).
• Keep dogs under close control and on the rights of way.
• No motorised vehicles are allowed.
• Camping and other activities not on public rights of way are only allowed by permission of Grith Pioneers.