The weather improved on Saturday so we set out to do a walk which had not featured last year. When we arrived at the layby on the Snake Pass it was already nearly full. The first section of the walk has changed due to the immense forest clearing that has taken place, but we wove our way, sometimes a little precariously, down to the river crossing and on up past the pools which in the summer are very popular.
Fairbrook Naze from the Fair Brook ascent
It is always a good walk up to the top and to the Kinder plateau and we had the place almost to ourselves.
Above Fair Brook, north-east Kinder plateau background right
Nearing top of Fair Brook
Most of the ascent done- steep section hidden by perspective
At the top of Fair Brook, the longish walk around to the large cairn on the Pennine Way (via Fairbrook Naze) was fine and again one has the impression that fewer people come to this part than elsewhere on Kinder.
Fairbrook Naze with Snake Pass in middle distance
We descended the steep section down from the cairn, at the same time as lots of runners/walkers who were competing in a 35/70 km race run by the Derby Runners made their way up. Some were very fresh; others less so- 21 miles in that part of the Peak District is quite demanding. We then started the long, rather muddy/boggy descent which is in some ways a downside of the walk, but in the end the wood on the edge of the moor was reached. We sat and had a last snack, watching the cascading stream down Urchin Clough and walkers on the other side of the River Ashop making shakey progress. Then it was a reasonable 30 minutes walk back to the car.
Cascade down Urchin Clough
A good walk and certainly, at times, a pleasantly solitary ramble. 10.1 miles, 620m ascent.
Bleaklow Stones and Bleaklow Head The original plan was for David to meet Paul at Langsett but, for very valid reasons, the plan fell through. I set off for Langsett but, on reflection as I started along the Woodhead road, I hadn't walked on Bleaklow for quite some time so I stopped off at the old Woodhead Station to walk up to the Bleaklow Stones and Bleaklow Head. The mist was fairly low and I wasn't anticipating good views. The view from the Far Black Clough path I didn't expect to meet many people but I did encounter a ram with very fine horns. Ram with fine horns Fortunately, the mist lifted and at the Bleaklow Stones the views were good. The Bleaklow Stones Kinder and Stanage in the distance When I reached Bleaklow Head, the wooden stake had collapsed, so I made a (probably very temporary) repair. Before... After! As I left Bleaklow Head, I could see clouds tumbling over Black Hill and Holm Moss: I anticipated that I'd be walking back mainly in the mist. As it wa...
Shining Tor and Thursbitch Our last walk of 2023 was not very ambitious on account of the weather. We went up to Shining Tor as usual- battling into the wind; the cloud was low and just grazing the top of Shining Tor. Shining Tor with its head in the clouds After a very short break at the top, instead of just reversing the walk, we went down into the valley and visited Thursbitch for the first time this year. Clouds blowing in from Shining Tor towards Cats Tor The ruins of Thursbitch We saw no one except for some (hopeful) sheep who wrongly assumed that we might be bearing food. Optimistic sheep Persistently optimistic sheep The only downside to this really nice walk is the somewhat boring plod up the road from the end of the drive to Howlersknowl up to the car park at Pym Chair and the welcome sight of the car. It was then home for lunch. An occasionally cold and occasionally wet outing of 4.6 miles with 320m ascent but well worth doing nonetheless.
Castleton and Mam Tor At this time of year it's all about seizing the opportunity and the weather window, if they appear. We went to Castleton, had a coffee at the visitor centre and then walked up past the three Blue John mines- Speedwell Cavern, Treak Cliff Cavern and the Blue John Cavern. Then it was up onto the moorlands leading up to Mam Nick. It was cold and quite windy, but nice to be out- although a Saturday during the Christmas Holidays meant crowds, especially as we neared Mam Tor. We always feel that it's great to see so many people out, enjoying the Peak District and we know that, in a week or so, we will have the place (almost) to ourselves. At the top of Mam Tor it was blowing a gale and we didn't hang about. A party of three, which we had initially met at the Treak Cliff Cavern and then a couple of times more, were kind enough to take some pictures of us, with the lovely light illuminating The Peak to the east. In the chilly wind, descending Mam Tor We w...
