In reply to Gaia:
They breed pheasants there IIRC, so they want least disturbance so that it maximises the number that can be blasted out of the sky by people prepared to pay lots of £ - I think that's probably the major income for the Hoghton Tower estate. So even if (like me) you don't like the idea of shooting, it's at least understandable why the restriction is there.
This lack of disturbance makes it a better location for Peregrines, which of course means further restrictions - although I don't think the previous agreed access was during breeding season anyway even pre-Peregrine.
Not a lot really that can be done about it, in this venue, we (climbers) have to take whatever we can get.
Any rich climbers out there fancy buying Hoghton Tower and changing its modus operandi?