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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Peak District => Topic started by: stuartpb on 10:28:02, 18/09/16

Title: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: stuartpb on 10:28:02, 18/09/16
Hi everyone,


It's been a long time since I last posted here. Walking for me took a back seat as I was busy finishing uni as a mature student and setting up and running a new social enterprise. Excuses really, but the only excuses I have.  I've missed getting out though. I went to the Lakes with a couple of mates the other week and we camped near Keswick and got a couple of walks in while we were there. It's made me realise how much I've missed walking so I'm starting up again.


I've decided to do a sponsored walk next year to help motivate me into getting into shape again, I chose the Peak District as it's near to me in Doncaster. My plan is to walk 46 miles in 4 days, camping out along the way so I'll be carrying all the gear that I need. I have a hammock that doubles up as a bivi with a tarp and will be using that. Having set the route I'm now worried about it. I've got from now to May to familiarise myself with the route and to get practice walks in along the route so I know it well enough to feel secure doing it solo. I've always been a lowlands walker, preferring woodland or riverside walks, so Kinder Scout worries me, more the descent than the ascent.


I guess I'm looking for some advice/opinions on the route. I'm seriously out of shape so I've started doing training walks with the same load I'll be carrying on the trek so hopefully that will give me a bit more confidence.

The route can be found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t2IeGBcjDUUrnytlZ7xPsIIVXW8&usp=sharing


Any thoughts/ suggestions would really be appreciated  :)
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: adalard on 10:56:33, 18/09/16
Morning, Stuart  :)


The descent from the western point of Kinder to the junction of paths below Mill Hill is pretty steep. I've only done it in the ascent and wouldn't fancy descending it myself simply because I have problems with my knees at times.


There is an alternative route down to the reservoir, however, just past Sandy Heys which is somewhat gentler and an enjoyable walk in itself. You can see it here - it leaves the plateau where I have placed the dropped pin on this map and IIRC there is a small cairn on the ground there too:


(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14322577_10154495212963834_2696000738571838581_n.jpg?oh=73d5267c0f15ca8c037487fef87b39b4&oe=5884593E)


Not sure if that's any help? I guess if you are doing a few practice walks you could check it out from Hayfield maybe...
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: jontea on 13:12:21, 18/09/16
Hi there, my advise would be to check out William Clough without a big load on your back. It is very doable with a heavy pack, but it's not a straight forward path as you need to cross the stream a couple of times (or more) and with heavy rainfall, it isn't always easy.
However the steep section coming off kinder is stepped, and same on the higher parts of William Clough, but with a little bit of care I would think that's a fine route down into Hayfield. O0

I've not done adalard's suggested route down, so can't comment. Red brook is an easier descent, but you'd be missing Kinder Downfall and the reservoir going straight down into Hayfield. :-\
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: adalard on 17:18:21, 18/09/16
I agree, if you're heading to Kinder, William Clough also makes for a great way up or down - the path I suggested goes to the bottom of William Clough so the OP could probably combine the two routes one way or another in a neat circular walk onto the plateau and see which one suits.  :)
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: stuartpb on 17:45:21, 18/09/16
Thanks for the advice, much appreciated! I'm planning on getting out and down to Hayfield next weekend, maybe doing an overnight camp too so I can have some time exploring the route. I'll just be carrying a daysack for that though. That sounds good about combining the two routes into a circular and I'll definitely try that.


I'll be hitting the Peak District for day walks as often as I can, starting out with a daysack to get to know the route and then moving on to walking with the rucksack fully loaded once I feel up to it to see how I get on. I know I'd be fine with a daysack but I haven't walked with any weight more than butties, waterproofs and water for a good while. I'm hoping for at least 4 walks a week by Xmas, whether they be in the Peak District or lowland walks near me. I could be worrying more than I should be and I was feeling pretty confident until our lass put the seeds of doubt in my mind ;D
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: MoelPysgod on 18:11:12, 18/09/16
If you do as you say Stuart - walk the various stages a couple of times with a full pack - you have nothing to worry about! Good on you - wanted to do a charity walk for ages, never got round to it, despite being indebted to a couple of them.
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: Mick wmexile on 19:31:51, 18/09/16
I agree with Adalard's recommendation of leaving Kinder by Sandy Hayes. I actually ascended onto Kinder that way only yesterday, and it looks a lot easier to go down than Ashop Head (west tip of Kinder), that can be a bit of a killer on your knees, also if wet or raining makes it unsafe. Good luck either way and enjoy your days out
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: altirando on 00:07:32, 19/09/16
Must admit I find the choice of route strange - not much logic.  There are established marathon routes in the Peak. )ne well known one finishes down along the gritstone edges.  Marked absence of trees on Kinder so also can not understand the hammock which needs to be suspended surely.
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: altirando on 00:14:17, 19/09/16
Remembered the name of one Big Walk, the Derwent Watershed, described in the famous Big Walks volume probably still available via a library.
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: jontea on 09:26:37, 19/09/16
Must admit I find the choice of route strange - not much logic.  There are established marathon routes in the Peak. )ne well known one finishes down along the gritstone edges.  Marked absence of trees on Kinder so also can not understand the hammock which needs to be suspended surely.
I don't think there was any mention of sleeping up on Kinder!!! :-\
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: stuartpb on 01:41:30, 23/09/16
Thanks for the advice everyone. I really appreciate it. I've tried planning the route so it covers 10-12 miles a day and be enough of a challenge for me without becoming dicey as I'm doing it solo and will be lugging quite a bit of gear. I wanted a bit of variety in scenery too to keep me happy.

Must admit I find the choice of route strange - not much logic.  There are established marathon routes in the Peak. )ne well known one finishes down along the gritstone edges.  Marked absence of trees on Kinder so also can not understand the hammock which needs to be suspended surely.

The hammock doubles up as a bivi as the bottom double layers are waterproof. You can suspend the built in mossie net from walking poles to keep it off your body and face. Then I'd use the 3m square tarp to cover the bivi, also suspending that with the poles and some guy ropes. It's snug but you are bug free and dry. If I get the chance to use the hammock as a hammock at the stop offs then that's great. If not I'll be kipping in it as a bivi.I'll not be sleeping on Kinder if I can help it though  :)
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: PeakRambler on 15:08:42, 23/09/16
Jacobs Ladder, is a steep ascent, however, the descent on the western side of Kinder, while steep and semi stepped, is manageable in dry weather, but can be slippery when wet!

Another route to consider is Oaken Clough, from Edale Cross down to Bowden Bridge (where the Mass Trespassers met April1932) is a decent hard core agricultural path/track.

William Clough might be a better choice, the ground will be a bit more solid than your planned route. William Clough has a decent gradient, it follows one of the tributaries that supplies Kinder Reservoir, which will involve some water crossings.
Title: Re: Planning for a Peak District Trek, worried!
Post by: Jim Parkin on 21:33:44, 20/10/16
Jacobs Ladder, is a steep ascent, however, the descent on the western side of Kinder, while steep and semi stepped, is manageable in dry weather, but can be slippery when wet!

Another route to consider is Oaken Clough, from Edale Cross down to Bowden Bridge (where the Mass Trespassers met April1932) is a decent hard core agricultural path/track.

William Clough might be a better choice, the ground will be a bit more solid than your planned route. William Clough has a decent gradient, it follows one of the tributaries that supplies Kinder Reservoir, which will involve some water crossings.

Last time I went down William Clough, it was surprisingly slippery too. Oaken Clough was good going though. 

Mind you, as I live in Chapel, I tend to approach Kinder from Brown Knoll as then I can walk direct from my house...