David and Jacinta's Walks- 2023

 Edale, Mam Tor and Brown Knoll A dry day in Edale, according to David's little weather station, so we got out early and arrived in Edale soon after 9. After a customary visit to the Penny Pot (now shutting during the week for winter) we began the ascent of Mam Tor via Hollins Cross. The top of Kinder was in the mist for most of the day but, fortunately, we had good views most of the time. Kinder with its head in the clouds On the way up to Hollins Cross- Rushup Edge in the clouds Looking back along The Great Ridge with the Eastern Edges on the Horizon When we arrived at the top of Mam Tor there were scores of people coming up from the Mam Tor car park and it was a bit of a relief to escape the crowds on the other side of the M.T. road. As usual, the walk along Rushup Edge was fairly deserted. More solitary- on the way up to Rushup Edge We decided to go on to Brown Knoll as the day was clear and mild. David at the Brown Knoll trig point After lunch (just after Brown Knoll) we came...

Edale, Kinder and Madwoman's Stones As ever, our trip to Edale started with a coffee at The Penny Pot, and a sustaining scone was also purchased! We made our way up to The Nab and, rather than scrambling up Ringing Roger, we stayed on the path up Golden Clough. On the way up, it looked as if we'd be walking in the mist, but by the time we reached the Kinder plateau, the mist had lifted. Mist rolling down from the Kinder Plateau The stones at Ringing Roger with Mam Tor in the background When we reached the trig point at Pt.590, the sky had brightened up and we had great views all around. Trig point at Pt.590 with Bleaklow and Alport Castles in the background We walked on to Madwoman's Stones and then on to Crookstone Knoll, where we had our lunch and enjoyed the views. After our break, we contoured back around to Rowland Cote Moor and dropped down to Ollerbrook Clough through the tree-less Blackwall Plantation. The final leg of the walk was via Ollerbrook Farm and back to th...

Edale, Hope Cross, Lose Hill and Hollins Cross A misty moisty day so we were off to somewhere where we could get a nice cup of coffee and do a relatively straightforward walk. Where else but Edale and the Penny Pot? After our cuppa, we walked through Ollerbrook Booth and up to the Youth Hostel and Jaggers Clough. We stopped for a quick break at Hope Cross and admired quite a few sheep. Sheep, near and far Then it was on, down to Townhead Bridge just outside Hope and up to Townhead itself. There, we met several very happy pigs (on the basis that they were in lots of muck). Happy pigs We reached the top of Lose Hill and the mist lifted, albeit briefly, when we had our lunch in the lee of the summit. We were lucky enough to see a rainbow. Rainbow at lunchtime at Lose Hill From Lose Hill, it was down to Back Tor, Barker Bank and Hollins Cross. Looking back from the descent from Hollins Cross, we had another lucky break in the clouds and a view along the Great Ridge. Eastern Great Ridge fro...

Edale, Mam Tor, Brown Knoll and Grindslow Knoll  A fine weather forecast meant that we were able to go to Edale which always provides lots of options regarding ways up and down. We walked up to Hollins Cross and then on to Mam Tor- where there were crowds of people (and sheep dogs). Mam Tor from Hollins Cross The Great Ridge (and Win Hill) from Mam Tor We managed to leave the crowds behind simply by crossing the road and heading up to Rushup Edge. As we were going well, we walked up to Brown Knoll- passing a couple of (very clean) sheep who had managed to camouflage themselves as builders' material bags from a distance! Very clean sheep At Brown Knoll we ate our lunch balanced on the edge of the trig point. On our way down to the top of Jacob's Ladder we met a man with his two dachshunds who had walked 20 miles, which was pretty impressive. Then we walked up to Kinder and up to Noe Stool and the plateau. The Woolpacks on the LH skyline and Grindslow Knoll (Center skyline) Noe S...

Edale, Kinder and Grindslow Knoll (Jacinta Solo)  Jacinta drove to Edale as the forecast was good and there have been few dry days this month. I was solo again- missing joint walks a lot and hoping that D. is back soon. First stop, as ever, was The Penny Pot Café for a cup of coffee. Penny Pot coffee and mini-granola biscuit I walked up to the Kinder Plateau, enjoying the sight of the heather which has grown so much since we were here last. Heather on Kinder The walk around the plateau was uneventful; I met two Dutch women several time who were struggling with the concept of Kinder as an area rather than a particular hill and also the name "Kinder"- coming as they did from the part of Holland nearest to Germany. I had lunch on Grindslow Knoll with a view of The Great Ridge. The Great Ridge from Grindslow Knoll I made my way back down to Edale (under the watchful gaze of the sheep who were newly shorn). Watchful sheep The walk was rounded off by a welcome cup of tea at Newfold...

Edale We aimed for a short(ish) walk as Jacinta was doing the Manchester 10k on Sunday 21st May. After our usual pit stop at The Penny Pot, we ambled up to the plateau, taking it easy and stopping to admire the lambs and other views. Obligatory lamb Looking back to Mam Tor and Rushup Edge The day was clear and not cold- it always comes as a little surprise that we can dispense with hat, gloves and extra layers after spending the best part of five months getting equipped to withstand the weather. We walked round to Grindslow Knoll via the head of Grindsbrook Clough, looking back on the way we'd made our way up to the plateau. The path up Grindsbrook Clough (centre, foreground) and our path up to Ringing Roger. Back Tor, Lose Hill and Win Hill in the distance We made our way down from Grindslow Knoll, stopping to watch the farmer dispensing feed to his sheep and causing something fo a sheep riot as he drove through them on his quadbike. Sheep really are rather strange animals! 6.4 Mi...

Edale, Hollins Cross, Lose Hill and Hope Cross Monday's forecast was brilliant so we went off to Edale to make the most of the weather. After walking up to Hollins Cross, we followed The Great Ridge to Back Tor and Lose Hill in the company of many other walkers. On the way to Hollins Cross, with Back Tor and Lose Hill Grindslow Knoll and Kinder in dappled sunlight A great perch on Back Tor However, after Lose Hill the crowds fell away and we completed the rest of our walk with very little company. We dropped down to Hope and then up to Wooler Knoll as normal, admiring the clear and dramatic vistas to the left. Lose Hill and Kinder from Wooler Knoll At Wooler Knoll, the sheep had mad...

Edale, Grindslow Knoll and Jacob's Ladder The forecast was reasonable (with a small chance of snow) so we went to Edale, along with many others! It has become so usual to have the place almost to ourselves during the week. We decided on a different route up to the Kinder plateau so we climbed up Grindslow Knoll which was quite reasonable. We had an interesting perspective on our frequent route up The Nab and Ringing Roger. Route up The Nab and Ringing Roger Working the way up Grindslow Knoll. Mam Tor, Lose Hill and Win Hill on the horizon Gritstone formation with Grindslow Knoll in background We turned left/west at the end of the Grindslow Knoll spur and passed through The Woolpacks and past Pym Chair. Pym Chair and The Woolpacks from nearing Jacob's Ladder We walked on to Jacob's Ladder, having our lunch in the lee of the beehive-shaped cairn. A great spot for lunch! We could watch the walkers coming up the ladder, many young people which is good to see, including one youn...