Kinder Scout
Edale, the starting point for this ramble, was reached at about 10.30 a.m. Unlike most other times I have been to Edale the car park was comparatively empty so it looked as if Kinder would not be too crowded.
Boots on, rucksacks checked - making sure we had our sandwiches and water - and we were off. As usual I had my trusty walking poles ready to tackle the pull up Kinder via Heardman’s Plantation and Ringing Roger so we would reach the perimeter path on the southern edge of Kinder at the top of Golden Clough. We had considered the walk up Grindsbrook Clough. However, as we wanted to go across the bogs to Kinder Downfall by going up via the Grindsbrook we would have missed many of the views across the Edale Valley that can be enjoyed to the west of the top of Golden Clough. A second reason was I always feel it a lot easier to go up via Golden Clough. Although you reach the same height it always seems less of a grind.
So soon the car park was behind us as was the Nags Head, the pub at the starting point of the Pennine Way. I think we all made a mental note to visit it on our return. We crossed the bridge over Grinds Brook and walked along the flat slabs that have been laid to protect this busy right of way. However, before too long we turned off right to start the zig zag path to the top of Golden Clough and the edge of the Kinder Playeau peat bogs.
The Golden Clough path
is initially steeper than the Grindsbrook path and
so very soon we were well above the early stages of
the Grindsbrook route. The views were superb as
visibility was particularly good and while Mick and
Larry speed to the top Ray and I took it easier and
enjoyed the splendour of the elevation. That was
our excuse! I could easily see across the Edale
Valley to the Great Ridge between Castleton and
Edale. This revived some of the memories of the
Hope Moors and Tors Challenge Walk.
With in an hour of leaving the car park in Edale we
were above Golden Clough and the four of use took a
welcome break. Using rock outcrops as seats we sat
and admired the view and enjoyed late elevenses
before following the path that took us westward to
the top of Grindsbrook Clough.
This is a lovely walk. The peaty path is easy on
the feet and thanks to the local rangers the worse
of the boggy bits have been covered by large flat
rock slabs. To the south is the beautiful vista of
the Edale Valley and later we were able to look
down into Grindsbrook Clough and I’m thankful that
I’m not clambering over the rocks near the top of
the clough that makes any sort walking rhythm
impossible.
Fortunately I had my GPS with me so all I needed to do was lock on to the grid reference for Kinder Downfall and follow the arrow on the instrument's display. Easy? Not quite. Initially we were bog jumping and I almost lost one of my boots when a particularly hungry patch of Kinder bog seemed intent on sucking by boot off. However, we quickly realised it would be a lot easier to walk in the groughs (the deep drainage channels that cross the plateau) which, because of the recent good weather were comparatively dry. The grough we walked in, although its course twisted, was going in the general direction of Kinder Downfall so we followed this, which turned out to be a tributary of the River Kinder. This took us all the way to the "Downfall" which, like the river, was devoid of any significant amount of water. However it had been very interesting walking. The later stages being almost like walking along a small estuary towards the sea when the tide is out.
It was now lunchtime.
Our stomachs were receiving this message, which
also seemed to being communicated to the local
inhabitants – sheep – that were soon looking
greedily at our sandwiches. Being hungry and not
wanting to start another Foot and Mouth epidemic –
some of us were eating meat – we kept our food to
ourselves. Even Ray’s fondness for animals was
severely strained as we did our best to shoo the
sheep away while we enjoyed the view of Kinder
Downfall and Kinder Reservoir, which could be seen
in the distance. Unfortunatly, it took the sheep a
long time to realise we did not intend to feed them
despite them lining up and looking quite
aggressively at us. At on point we thought they
might even "mug" us for our lunch. It was therefore
nice to get walking again leaving the woolly
predators behind as they, no doubt, prepared to
intimidate the next group of walkers that were
hoping for a quiet picnic.
We were now heading
south along the Pennine Way to Kinder Low and the
trig point that denotes it as being 633 metres
above sea level – 3 metres less than Kinder Scout
which at 636 metres is the highest point on the
plateau.
Carrying on southwards
we passed the Swine’s Back out crop of rocks before
continuing along the Pennine Way to the top of
Jacob’s Ladder, which is a very very steep stone
pavement. Here we were surprised when a couple of
cyclists overtook us. They obviously had good
brakes and nerves. They needed both to cycle down
the steep gradient.
Needless to say after changing footwear and dumping rucksacks in the car boot it was off to the Nags Head for a pint or two and an opportunity to reflect on our day on the Kinder Plateau.