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Regions - Trip reports, destination advice, recommended routes, etc. => Peak District => Topic started by: Ridge on 23:20:20, 01/07/17

Title: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: Ridge on 23:20:20, 01/07/17
First I must declare my love for Kinder, I know some people who are not keen but it was probably the first big hill I walked up and definitely the first I walked up on my own. I like the Lakes more than the Peaks these days but Kinder is special.


Having caught the bus from Buxton, where I am working, I arrived in Hayfield and set off following the Pennine Bridal Way, a route I have done a number of times. MWIS had promised dry and cloud free summits, CLOUD FREE SUMMITS! This is where the full waterproofs went on.


(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn129/Birkhouse/WP_20170701_001_zps5c5wvgil.jpg) (http://)


Then I rustled along up to Edale Cross hoping that the weather would start to clear, it didn't. I try to have a rule, particularly when on my own and no one knows where I am. When I may not be able to turn round and follow the path back it is time to turn round and follow the path back. This is where I took that decision.


 (http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn129/Birkhouse/WP_20170701_004_zpstdoatcl9.jpg) (http://)


So I headed back down but cut round under Kinderlow End to the reservoir. My original plan had been to walk over Kinder and then Mill Hill and Burnt Hill, perhaps if I went up William Clough it would be clear by the time I got to the top. There were lots of people on the path, including some very shouty twenty somethings, so instead I took the path from the point of the reservoir that comes out near Sandy Hays. Mel and I walked down this path once and it is quite steep, surely by the time I dragged myself to the top the weather would have improved.
It hadn't.


(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn129/Birkhouse/WP_20170701_010_zpsyde7dkjv.jpg) (http://)
Remember this picture for future reference.


So I turned left along the plateau edge and then headed down to the crossing at the top of William Clough before carrying on as planned up Mill Hill. Down past the plane wreckage, only 2 on board and both survived.


(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn129/Birkhouse/WP_20170701_014_zpsphstxdvv.jpg) (http://)


(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn129/Birkhouse/WP_20170701_013_zps59z8z5hz.jpg) (http://)


Then following the path down and down towards The Grouse pub before heading south round the end of The Knott. Normally this path gives you a great view of Kinder but today, with the cloud being so low then...
Oh rude-word,


(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn129/Birkhouse/WP_20170701_023_zpshtk0p5uo.jpg) (http://)


For a moment I thought about heading back up William Clough. I only had a mouth full of water with me, no food and the last bus was in 3 hours.
Like I said, I only thought about it for a moment.






So an hour later I was back at Sandy Hays on top of Kinder having sprinted up William Clough and boy was it worth it.
This is where I had stood 5 hours earlier in full waterproofs taking the 3rd picture in the TR.

(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn129/Birkhouse/WP_20170701_026_zpsacdszsjx.jpg) (http://)

I then resigned myself to leaving Kinder for the last time of the day and set off at world record pace to catch the last bus. Buying an ice cream and water on the way and actually managed to get the bus earlier than I planned. Maybe I should have walked a bit further.


3 trips up Kinder, 17.5 miles and 4150 feet of ascent. No wonder I'm cream crackered now after food and a small glass of wine or 2.






Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: beefy on 13:23:27, 03/07/17
Quote
3 trips up Kinder, 17.5 miles and 4150 feet of ascent
  :o


hi Ridge
great pics and TR  O0
ive been on kinder many times in bad weather...
pleased it cleared up for ya  8)


Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: sunnydale on 19:58:09, 03/07/17
Great photos Ridge O0   Yep, it was a funny old day weather wise on Saturday.  We started out from Birchen Clough CP in low cloud and fairly heavy drizzle and it stayed that way for some time.  We got no views either up or down Fairbrook and at times, we even lost sight of each other! Twas rather drab on Kinder for a while.
Summer finally arrived after lunch and it was well worth the wait.  Luckily, the best views of the walk were during the second half, so all was well with the world again! 8)


Tracey :)
Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: karl h on 21:16:13, 03/07/17
Bit of an epic expedition that Ridge
Glad you got the views in the end O0
Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: Ridge on 22:12:59, 03/07/17
Thanks for he comments.


At the time I didn't really notice the distance but it was a bit of a full on day in the end.


Pleased you got the good weather too Sunnydale. I arrived early as I thought the weather was due to get worse towards the evening, how wrong I was.
Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: pleb on 10:17:44, 04/07/17
Very funny......er I mean interesting O0
Damn weather forecasts................... :o
Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: April on 13:42:58, 04/07/17
Great pics and it was a bit of an epic  O0 The forecasters seem to be the same ones that do the Lake District  :D
Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: adalard on 14:15:34, 04/07/17
Great pics and write-up, Ridge.  O0


Funnily enough I did a walk to the west of Kinder a couple of weeks ago that I'm halfway through writing a blog post on. I'd never walked any further in that direction than Mill Hill's summit before and I really enjoyed it. I came over via Harry Hut but Burnt Hill is now on my radar to visit. The plane crash site came as a surprise to me as I didn't know there was one there.
Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: Ridge on 23:59:04, 04/07/17
Thanks for the comments. Weather forecasting does appear to be more alchemy than science sometimes.


Adalard, the crash site is to the north of the Mill Hill-Burnt Hill path and must be about where the Harry Hut path comes in.
Title: Re: A Kinder Scout wander about
Post by: adalard on 11:59:48, 05/07/17
Adalard, the crash site is to the north of the Mill Hill-Burnt Hill path and must be about where the Harry Hut path comes in.


Yes, it was just after that, on the way up to Mill Hill summit. When I first saw it from a way off I thought it was someone in the grough, either doing research or just having lunch! It wasn't until I got closer I realised what it was.


Good that the crew survived on this one but it's sobering to think how many died in similar crashes after the war in the Peaks (and in Wales, it seems). I never realised until I took up walking seriously.