Kinder Scout - Peak District Walk

Saturday 27th October 2007

Today I was walking with 7 other members of the OFC on a walk that myself and Neil Haslewood had organised as part of an OFC Peak District weekend. We set of hoping that the faint bits of blue sky we could see meant that the cloud would lift and that we would have good views both from Kinder's edges and as we crossed the moors. As we reached the top of Jacob's Ladder we headed into the cloud with no views that meant limited pictures until we had crossed the moor and were heading towards Kinder Downfall. As we headed towards the downfall sunshine could be seen in the valley below and we hoped, yet again, that the cloud might lift but when we got to Kinder Downfall rain was starting to fall. Crossing Kinder Scout with visibility down to a few yards we were totally dependant upon our ability to use a map and compass to get us safely across the peat groughs. As we approached Crowden Head we acquired two additions to our group, Sarah and Tony, who as Tony put it. " Were following their noses" and trying to get across Kinder without a map or compass. They had been picked up by another couple with no idea as to where they were or which direction they needed to be going in. As, unlike the couple they were with, we were heading close to where Sarah and Tony wanted to be, we suggested they joined us and so we took them safely across Edale Moor and onto the path between Crowden Clough (their destination) and Grindsbrook Clough (our destination). We were unable to persuade them to stay with us until they were safely down and so had to settle for giving them a spare map and firm instructions to stick to the path and to ask others on the path for confirmation of where they were. We all hope they got down safely. Having parted company with Sarah and Tony we then made for Grindsbrook Clough where we had a very enjoyable scramble down Grindsbrook and headed back to Edale for a well earned pint. Warning: Kinder Scout is a dangerous place and even more so in low cloud. If you are going to attempt to go across the middle of it you must have a map and compass and know how to take and follow a bearing. Even in good visibility there are few features to head towards and negotiating the peat bogs and groughs means you will have to make numerous changes of directions and it is very easy to become disorientated. In the low visibility we were experiencing Sarah and Tony were incredibly lucky to come across the first couple and to then bump into us as well.

Start: Edale car park (SK1239 8535)

Distance: 9.5 miles     Ascent: 552 metres      Time Taken: 6 hours 40 mins

Terrain: Boggy peat across Kinder Scout, a scramble down Grindsbrook Clough.

Weather: Low cloud with light rain.

Pub Visited: The Nags Head, Edale    Ale Drunk: Coach House Brewing Company, Wizards Wonder

Route Map >>