I've just got back from another fantastic walk on Kinder Scout. This time I decided to go and take some pictures of what I feel are some of Kinder's highlights that are easily accessible following a route from Hayfield, this will be part one of a multi part series as i'm sure next time I go up there i will get some more shots to show you. Firstly we'll start with the view from Kinder Reservoir up towards the plateau, I must have this exact shot in all different weather conditions and seasons.
Sabre Jet Wreckage... I've covered this topic before on the site but decided to get some better pictures today to post up, The last few times i've visited the wreckage sites i've sadly been shrouded in mist and fog. luckily today was nice enough weather to get a good few shots. The History surrounding the wreckage is as follows.. In 1954 two Canadian Sabre Jets took of from their base at linton-on-Ouse near York, They failed to reply to radio messages and simply disappeared. A group of ramblers found the wreckage later that evening, It can only be assumed that they collided mid air. The reason why they were about 50 miles off course remains a mystery.
The wreckage is spread across quite a wide area, there is also some more scattered down in Ashop Valley but i'm yet to photograph that part. If you would like to visit this area then head for N53°24'14", W1°53'48". The exact coordinates of the wreckage below are
N53°24'15.63", W1°53'44.24". Why not give it a click and have a look on Google Maps, if you pan around you will be able to make out metalic items which more than likely will be wreckage.
Aetherius Society... Another rather intriguing highlight of Kinder is its link to the Aetherius Society. What is that I hear some of you ask.. Well for those that don't know here is a brief outline. The Aetherius Society is an organization founded by George King in London in 1955 as the result of what King claimed were contacts with advanced extraterrestrial intelligences. For more of an incite why not have a look at the
Aetherius Society on Wikipedia. To cut a long story short, the Society have identified a number of Mountains around the world which they call "Magic Mountains". Kinder Scout is one of them.
You may notice the white cross and the intials GK in white paint on the image below. They stand for George King and this is the point where Aetherians will be evacuated by Extra Terrestrials from Venus when the world ends in the year 2015. I'm yet to find an exact date for this but i'll keep looking. If you manage to find out some more info and would like to view this spot or perhaps phone home with ET .. The co-ords are roughly N53°23'58.99", W1°53'29.94.
Kinder Downfall is well known highlight, perhaps the most famous and congested part along the plateau. it is a fantastic place to have lunch or just sit and admire the views. Kinder Downfall is the main drain for the plateau, dependant on recent weather and time of year the waterfall can range from a raging torrent to a small trickle. Perhaps one of the best times to be here is when the wind is blowing from the south west, if the wind is strong enough then the waterfall turns into reverse gear and looks to go back upwards.
River Kinder & Kinder Gates... If you head up the river Kinder from the downfall you will follow its shallow sandy bed up to Kinder Gates. This is a nice spot to experience the plateau at its most remote. providing the weather is good from here you could continue to follow the river and then head on a bearing towards the summit cairn or Edale Rocks, it wouldn't be advisable to attempt this if the weather is bad and you aren't competent with a map and compass.
In the image below you can get an idea of how deep the layer of peat is on the top of Kinder, in places it is over 15 feet thick.
KinderLow Bowl Barrow... if you descend via KinderLow End then you will most certainly pass the Barrow. The monument is within a fence and is an early Bronze Age (2000-1500BC) burial mound. Over 500 barrows have been identified across the Peak District. Most are still highly visible in the landscape. Evidence shows that it was normal for between 5 to 20 burials to be placed individually, in various positions, within a barrow. It is thought that monuments were probably built by family communities, to reflect the importance of ancestry and people's relationship with the land.
