Peak District - Kinder Scout - Ringing Roger & Hope Cross

I'm having a great run at the moment it seems when it comes to walking weather, I had checked the advanced forecast and selected Thursday the 13th of December to have a wander this week. When the day finally arrived I still hadn't chosen where I was going to walk, I quickly checked my Dark Peak Combi Map on ShareYourAdventure.com and had a look what gaps need filling in. I decided to go for a walk I have done before but I haven't tracked it while Social Hiking. I got all my cold weather gear ready, set up my map on ShareYourAdventure.com, loaded the car, made coffee and off I went.

[caption id="attachment_2126" align="alignnone" width="600"] A frosty start in Edale[/caption]

When I arrived in Edale I was met by a beautiful winter scene, hoar frost, valley fog, and the sun piercing through the clouds into the valley. I managed to grab a parking space next to the school, put my boots on and then went over to the Old Nag's Head to film a snippet of video for a short film I had planned to make during my walk today.



I had been planning on making this short movie for some time, one of those projects that I dream up in my head while at work and then take a while to get around to actually doing. sadly, allot of my projects are still on the "to do" list but this one has made it through to completion :-)

listen to ‘Peak District - Walking Up To Ringing Roger from Edale’ on Audioboo

The views were stunning down in to the Vale of Edale as I climbed up towards Ringing Roger. The cloud was slowly dispersing and the sun was peeping out from behind Mam Tor to fill the valley with light.

[caption id="attachment_2125" align="alignnone" width="600"] Vale of Edale[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2127" align="alignnone" width="600"] Kinder Scout - Grindsbrook[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2130" align="alignnone" width="600"] Moors for the Future - Workers Tools[/caption]

I spotted a couple of guys who were working on the footpath on behalf of Moors For The Future. They have been doing some great conservation work over the last few years, not only have they been building or repairing paths, they have been planting various things to help keep the moors in good condition. You can really see how the vegetation they have planted is taking hold and protecting the bare peat.

[caption id="attachment_2129" align="alignnone" width="600"] Ringing Roger on Kinder Scout[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2128" align="alignnone" width="600"] Moors for the Future - Bags of Rocks[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2121" align="alignnone" width="600"] Moors for the Future path work on Kinder Scout[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2122" align="alignnone" width="600"] Ringing Roger on Kinder Scout[/caption]

The final part of the video was filmed up on Ringing Roger itself, I had envisaged myself looking out over a valley at the crescendo of the movie and this was a great spot to choose. The views from Ringing Roger are stunning as you look down to Edale and up Grindsbrook. The cloud was lingering at around 600 metres today so I had to go for a slightly higher shooting angle. The video itself was only really ever supposed to be a bit of fun, i'm hoping that a few more serious walking route videos will follow soon.

[caption id="attachment_2123" align="alignnone" width="600"] Kinder Scout Upper Tor[/caption]



These 2 Bambuser Videos were being broadcast live while I was stood up there on Ringing Roger. The first one ends abruptly as I received a phone call, the second one ends after 9 minutes as my phone decided to switch off :-).



[caption id="attachment_2124" align="alignnone" width="600"] Win Hill and Lose Hill valley fog[/caption]

listen to ‘Peak District - Fog In the Hope Valley - Mindful Mountaineering :-)’ on Audioboo

As I walked across towards Crookstone Knoll I witnessed a fantastic sight when looking down towards Hope Valley. The fog was rolling up the valley, it looked stunning as it was framed by Win Hill and Lose Hill. I recorded the AudioBoo above while I was stood there totally amazed :-)

[caption id="attachment_2120" align="alignnone" width="600"] Looking down Jaggers Clough[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2117" align="alignnone" width="600"] Crookstone Moor[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2118" align="alignnone" width="600"] Crookstone Moor - PeakRoutes Logo Sign[/caption]

I always like visiting Crookstone Moor, The sign post there has got to be one of my favourites now. I have kind of adopted it as the logo for PeakRoutes which means I look at it allot now days, Its always nice to physically go back there and see it in person.

[caption id="attachment_2116" align="alignnone" width="600"] Roman Road to Hope Cross[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2115" align="alignnone" width="600"] Great Ridge looking from Bridleway near Hope Cross[/caption]

I'm not sure which farm owns the land up here but they really do not want you to stray off the path. They have done everything than can to keep you "Off My Land" here. The Bridleway down to Edale and the Old Roman Road down to Hope is rather hemmed in.

[caption id="attachment_2119" align="alignnone" width="600"] Looking up Jaggers Clough[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2112" align="alignnone" width="600"] Jaggers Clough River Crossing[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2113" align="alignnone" width="600"] Jaggers Clough Bridleway [/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2110" align="alignnone" width="600"] Win Hill and the Vale of Edale[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2114" align="alignnone" width="600"] Lose Hill looking frosty[/caption]

By this part of my walk the skies were totally clear and the sun was streaming down in to the valley, Lose Hill looked impressive with its icy northern flanks and I even snapped one of the many trains running through the valley.

[caption id="attachment_2111" align="alignnone" width="600"] Bridleway from Hope Cross to Edale[/caption]

It had been a great walk again today, infact every walk in the Peak District is great regardless of the weather. I would go out if it was chucking it down, I need to get my walking fix or all is not well with the world :-)

[caption id="attachment_2132" align="alignnone" width="600"] Grindslow Knoll & Grindsbrook from Edale[/caption]

I finished off the day by going for a pint of 1577 at the Old Nag's Head. It was lovely and warm in there which felt very welcoming after being out in the sub zero temperatures all day. I got chatting with the lady behind the bar about history and she very kindly fetched a book for me to read. It was her copy of the History of Edale and it had a great wealth of information to soak in about the area. I have added it to my list of reading material to locate in the library the next time I go.


[caption id="attachment_2131" align="alignnone" width="600"] Edale - Old Nag's Head[/caption]

I headed back to the car after I had finished reading and drinking. I scraped the ice from the windows and then begun to drive home. I spotted a chap who was trying to thumb a lift at the entrance to the main car park in the village. I thought.. what the heck, i'll give him a lift. I've never picked up a hitchhiker before and he turned out to be a thoroughly nice chap. He was a fell runner who had been out on Kinder researching routes for an upcoming fell race in January. I gave him a lift to Hathersage and we chatted about running, the Peak, the Lakes, Scotland and Snowdonia.

listen to ‘Peak District - History & The Hitchhiker ’ on Audioboo

I'm hoping to be out again towards the end of next week, I shall bring you another bucket load of images, video and audio for you to sample. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read, watch, listen or just look :-)

Peak District - Edale Skyline - Ring of Mild Steel :-)

This is another one of those fantastic Peak District routes that I have been wanting to do for some time now, I had seen it on the map and while out walking I could see there was a clear route all the way around. I decided to name it affectionately after the “Ring of Steel” in the Mamores in Scotland.. It is the Peak District’s very own “Ring of Mild Steel”.



I set off this morning from home and headed for Hope, I parked the car and got myself suited, booted and ViewRanger running ready to record another walk on Social Hiking. I set off along the footpath towards LoseHill Farm and then headed up to the top of Lose Hill. The weather today was absolutely perfect, a nice breeze and beautiful sunshine. You can get a fantastic panoramic shot in any direction from Lose Hill as it stands alone in a perfect position at the end of the ridge.

After a short picture break on Lose Hill I made my way along the ridge to Back Tor and then via Hollins Cross to Mam Tor. A coach load of kids were on the summit of Mam Tor today so I didn’t hang around, I kept on going down to the road and then began the climb up to Lord’s Seat. A couple of guys were flying rather large scale model Airplanes/Gliders at the summit so I paused to watch them very briefly as I was amazed at the control they had as the caught the wind rising up Rushup Edge. After walking over Lord’s Seat I swung North West and headed straight for Brown Knoll. The Cotton Grass was blooming today and dancing in the breeze.

Brown Knoll was its typical boggy self today as we have had rain in the last few days which makes path finding on here a pain at times, luckily it’s a pain I’m willing to endure

The next stop Edale Cross where join the Pennine Way for a short time on your way to Kinder Low Summit, I decided to have a lunch break at Pym Chair which is a fantastic looking rock formation. After my short break I kept on going over the boulder field at Crowden Tower. This area is the perfect place for Navigation exercises in bad weather as it can be pretty disorientating at times if you get caught out, We have used the area north of here for map and compass practice many times.

Next you head over Crowden Brook and then along the top to the top of Grindsbrook Clough. I love Grindsbrook Clough in all weather as it is a nice little scramble and becomes very interesting in winter when it turns to ice. The views down in to Edale Valley become really spectacular now and some of the Rock Formations here are well worth a look and a snap with the camera.

After you leave Grindsbrook you make your way over to Crookstone Knoll and it was here I chose to stop once again for a bask in the glorious sunshine. I stayed for a good half an hour just relaxing and enjoying the sound of silence, which was only interrupted every now and then by the Grouse.

The next part of the walk takes you off the eastern flanks of the Kinder Plateau and down to Hope Cross, I took the opertunity to snap some more pictures of the nice little stone sign that keeps you on course and off the farmers track. You then swing South Eastward and are hemmed in by the fences that have been erected to keep us dirty walkers and cyclists from disturbing anything we shouldn’t. the walk from here up the hill with the forest to your left is another high point for me, the wind was whistling in the pine trees and reminded me of my nights of Bushcrafting.



Win Hill was the last summit of the day and it was the first time I had actually come to the very top too, I have skirted around numerous times but was impressed with the viewpoint you get from here. Ladybower was looking rather calm and majestic this evening and the light was perfect as the sun was fading off to the east. I recorded a short video, took some panoramic shots and then made my way off the rocky summit.

The walk down the grassy bank becomes rather steep at times on the route that I took and would be rather slippery in wet weather I can imagine. The road was upon me before I knew it and as I passed underneath the train line I was on the final stretch back to the car. What a fantastic day it had been, what a great route this is and hopefully the Social Hiking Map will look pretty good too. Those were the thoughts in my head as I drove home after what has been another day to remember in the beautiful Peak District.

Download the KML file so you can view the route in Google Earth ]]>