Peak District Walk

Members Present : Ken Beetham, Roger Dyke, Alan (L'pool) Jones, Iain McCallum, Lorna Marsland, Alan Peck, Phil Ramsbottom, Nigel Rosenbaum, Chris Thickett, Dave Wylie.

Guests Present : Zoe Rosenbaum.

 

We were blessed with a cool but sunny day for our tramp around the upper Edale valley. Leaving the foot of the Winnats we followed the track up past Treak Cavern and the Blue John Mine to Mam Nick.

Decision time! Alan Jones decided to carry on with us over Rushup Edge. As we tramped along the Edge, we were joined by Nigel and Zoe who had raced after us following a late start. Towards the end of the Edge, Ken hove into view heading for the summit. At the junction of the paths leading into the Edale valley and across Colbourne it was decision time again. We decided to lengthen the walk by going over Brown Knoll, Kinder Scout and Grindslow Knoll to Edale. While Alan Jones decided to head directly for Edale and Cooper's Café. Our elevenses were rudely interrupted by a gaggle of motor cyclists thundering passed us along the track from Edale.

Colbourne lived up to its reputation as boggy morass. Eventually we squelched up through the black porridge to the trig point on Brown Knoll. Still the intrepid walkers were not deterred and more by luck than judgement we soon found ourselves on the "yellow brick road" taking us down to the top of Jacob's Ladder. Good progress was maintained with a short pull up on to Kinder and then along the edges by way of Pym's Chair, the wonderfully shaped stones known as the Wool Packs and Crowden Tower. We stopped for lunch in a sheltered spot by the side of Crowden Brook and were rewarded with splendid views over the valley below and across to Lose Hill and the Eastern Edges. From here the party headed for Grindslow Knoll and Edale. Cooper's Café was busy and its DIY service system - not a patch on the Old Café! We joined Alan and Ken for tea. No doubt they were awash with tea as they had been there for some time awaiting our arrival.

Following the tea break Ken and Alan departed in Ken's car and we made our way down the road, crossing Grinds Brook opposite the church. Then across the fields to the road and along the track to Hollins Cross. In the bright sun light we descended the hillside down to the old Mam Tor road returning to our cars via the Odin Mine. (Distance about 14 miles)

A grand day on the hills with good company and good weather. What more can one ask for ?

Thank you all for your support

Iain McCallum