ABSTRACT
The uplands are a popular destination the world over for those seeking to enjoy outdoor recreation. In the Asian massif they have been places of pilgrimage, of human endeavour (particularly mountain-climbing) and of adventure tourism. In the New World they have been places of wildness, engendering a national sense of belonging where access to them has often been based on traditions of the ‘old country’. In Europe, walking in the uplands had a certain social cachet. When the train brought transport and mobility to the masses, a stroll in the Alps had an exclusivity about it. In England, the uplands were the theatre where access battles were determined. The mass trespass of Kinder Scout in the Peak District was to have a significant influence over postwar access legislation and the introduction of national parks.
