The Derbyshire Times describes Bonsall as a UFO hotspot, with numerous reports over the years.
A UFO casebook site compiled sightings from the local Matlock Mercury covering the end of 2000 and the start of 2001: a bowler-hat-shaped black object seen over Curbar Gap on 6 January 2001, a triangular craft seen over Crich on 13 January that appeared to split in two, red and orange lights over Beeley Moor, a dome-shaped object at Bakewell on 3 February, and a blue light with an orange tail seen from Summer Lane, Wirksworth on 8 February. A 62-year-old Cromford man reported an orange, changing-shape light over Slack Hill, Kelstedge on 1 June 2001. The casebook's page also refers to a flying saucer filmed at Bonsall, the footage later linked in press coverage to Sharon Rowlands and an October 2000 camcorder recording, but the details of that film were not independently checked.
On 7 April 2002 the Derby Evening Telegraph reported that Ron Gaunt, 71, of Darley Dale, was operating a long-wave radio on Bonsall Moor when a bright blue light shone on his car for nearly two minutes, startling sheep nearby and interfering with the radio. Police said their helicopter was not in the area, and East Midlands Electricity said no power problems had been logged.
Most of the witnesses are named only by age and town, and many such lights could be aircraft or lasers, as one witness himself suggested. The record shows how a local press campaign gathered reports. No cause is established. The pin is on Bonsall village.
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