Return of the Kinder Scout.

So, day two.

We'd decided to change from our original plan of a walk around Allgreave and the Roaches, considered by some to be one of the finer walks in the Peak District, our chance to comment on this would have to wait until another day. So Kinder Scout again, a few reasons why, Joe had never been, the weather was looking good, unresolved issues of navigation and to find the elusive 'path' across the top.

To make it a bit different this time we decided to go the opposite way around from our previous visit, although we would still be starting from Edale. So from the car park at Edale we headed into the very picturesque village and took a left onto the start of the Pennine way. Walking along here you get a great view of the Vale of Edale with Mam Tor and the great ridge behind, but it seemed noisier this time and it wasn't the sheep and cows (they were the rather pungent odour wafting about the place). The noise was coming from a helicopter that was landing in the Vale and then flew off in the direction of the top of Kinder. Whilst walking towards Upper Booth, the helicopter passed over or around us several times carrying large bags of materials to the summit. We later found out that they were carrying lime and fertiliser to the summit to sustain the grasses and peat that was being eroded away by wind and rain.

                                                    Walking along the Vale of  Edale.

We reached Upper Booth where we had a quick 5 minute break and guess what made its appearance.....a Ginster's beef slice this time. We had stopped at a small bridge where Crowden Brook flowed through, so this was now to be know as Ginster's Bridge and should anyone visit from now on, they should pay homage to the bridge by scoffing a pastie of some description and leaving a few crumbs. Back to reality, on we trekked towards Jacobs ladder, which Joe was particularly looking forward to due to our tales of woe when we came down it the last time. How he loved it, as did I, we both had issues with blisters and now they were becoming painful. We soldiered on, watching Matt and Adrian getting further ahead. We all rested at the top and were joined by three sheep who seemed to be strangely attracted to Adrian's nuts.......and raisins. As we set off again, the sheep disappeared, but after a while they came running after us. We came to the conclusion that they knew a lot of short cuts to jump out at hikers and relieve them of any food stuffs they were carrying, fortunately Matt had already eaten the gourmet part of  our food stocks, so they were left with healthy rubbish.

Not sure who's bothering who here !!!

Reaching Edale rocks, we carried on the Pennine way to find out where we had slightly taken a wrong turn last time. At the trig point at 633 metres we could see exactly where we had gone in the wrong direction last time. Never mind, we know now. Carrying on our way, the constant noise from the helicopter became louder and louder, in fact it was quite noisy along the top of Kinder with planes, helicopters and the odd rampaging sheep attack all contributing to the atmosphere of a nice quiet walk in the country.

The weather was superb again, but a bit windy along the edge, so the views across the countryside were as excellent as you could expect. Reaching Kinder Downfall, we decided to stop for lunch and blister watch. Lunch was good, blister watch wasn't so good. Yesterday's bad boy had got worse and was sore, so plenty of patching up was required. It was now apparent where the helicopter was dropping off its payload, about a kilometre away from where we were sat. I'd estimate that it was about 5 to 10 minutes from pick up to drop off for each load, it'd taken us about 2 and a half hours to get here and he was going further across the Vale of Edale than we had walked from. Maybe he'd like to assist with our 3 peaks walk, 2 hours job done.

                                                        Wasps, don't ya love em?

So now we were going to attempt to find the so called path across to Crowden Tower, at least this time there was no low cloud and we could see where we were going. This made it a lot easier. We stuck to a compass bearing and looked for features we could head for. The ground was a bit firmer this time around, so there was no being buried up to your knees this time (Adrian), that said a few hairy moments were had. Confident that we had cracked this navigation lark we stuck to our course, despite seeing scatterings of  people reading maps and pointing at all angles, we were right and they were lost we kept telling ourselves. It proved to be right, we reached the partly dried up stream bed of Crowden Brook which would lead us to Crowden Tower.

Peat, Gritstone and sky.

The idea was to walk along towards Grindsbrook Clough and then back down to Edale. But being able to change a route when you feel like it has it's benefits, but i guess it could have its downfalls too. It was all benefits this time, we chose to go down Crowden Brook to Upper Booth (land of Ginster's Bridge). With Joe leading down the Brook like a mountain goat, we did our best to keep up with him. It was tough going in places, with some steep drops, slippy rocks and a few ankle breakers lurking along the way. At one of the steepest parts and whilst stretching for a decent foothold, a strange ripping sound could be heard, initially I thought it was my knee or hip (being not as flexible as I once was, if I ever was), but it was my trousers. The draft was nice though.

It was tough going, all the way to Upper Booth, but very enjoyable, must try going up next time.

Adrian on his way down Crowden Brook.

From Upper Booth it was back the way we had come along the first stretch of the Pennine way, with the helicopter still buzzing above us like an annoying wasp we entered Edale, a bit footsore but having had another brilliant walk, in brilliant weather, in beautiful surroundings.

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ENDOMONDO TIME.

The data seemed to stop working for the drop down Crowden Brook (I think I may have paused it before we started on our way down by mistake), but it gives you an idea of the route. The wavy green line at the bottom is my heart rate, I needed to be revived on several occasions.

Chris