13th March 2016 - Around the head of Edale
Walk Details
Distance walked: 9.7 miles
Total ascent: 1917 ft
OS map used: OL1 - The Peak District, Dark Peak area
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Edale-Hardenclough Farm-Greenlands-Mam Nick-Lord's Seat-Rushup Edge-Chapel Gate-Brown Knoll-Swine's Back-Edale Rocks-Pym Chair-Wool Packs-Crowden Tower-Grindslow Knoll-Grindsbrook Booth-Edale
I can't stay away from the Peak District for long and with the best of the sunshine and blue skies today to be found to the south of where I live, I had no hesitation in deciding to head for Edale to do this walk around the head of the valley. Little did I know but my visit to Edale today would coincide with the annual running of the Edale Skyline race. The place was packed when I arrived and I considered myself lucky to find a spot in the car park. When I got back home I did a bit of research about it, the route it took and its length. Starting from Edale it heads up to Ringing Roger on Kinder Scout, east to Crookstone Knoll then on to Hope Cross and Win Hill. There's then a descent to Hope before it's up again to Lose Hill. The Great Ridge is then followed west to Mam Tor, from there the route follows mine today around the head of the valley to Grindslow Knoll. Instead of following me back down to the valley they keep going east to Ringing Roger before heading down to Edale and the finish. It's 21 miles long and the fastest make it round in about three hours. Impressive stuff. I fancy giving the route a go sometime but obviously at a much slower pace. They certainly had a nice day for it. Blue skies, warm sunshine with a cool breeze on the tops, though the haze restricted the view to the neighbouring moors there was a lovely light to show off their colours. That warm sunshine was causing rapid snow melt so it was very wet underfoot in places.
From the car park in Edale I made my way out to the Edale Road and then up the track past Hardenclough Farm and onto Greenlands. The bridleway from here took me up to Mam Nick. I then had the walk around the head of the valley to do; up onto Lord's Seat and along Rushup Edge, a long moorland walk to the trig point on Brown Knoll, then to Swine's Back and my lunch stop on Edale Rocks. Next came Pym Chair, the Wool Packs and Crowden Tower and after a tricky crossing of Crowden Brook I arrived on Grindslow Knoll. From here I finally made my way back down to the valley and Grindbrook Booth. A short road walk later and I was back in Edale.
Total ascent: 1917 ft
OS map used: OL1 - The Peak District, Dark Peak area
Time taken: 6.5 hrs
Route description: Edale-Hardenclough Farm-Greenlands-Mam Nick-Lord's Seat-Rushup Edge-Chapel Gate-Brown Knoll-Swine's Back-Edale Rocks-Pym Chair-Wool Packs-Crowden Tower-Grindslow Knoll-Grindsbrook Booth-Edale
I can't stay away from the Peak District for long and with the best of the sunshine and blue skies today to be found to the south of where I live, I had no hesitation in deciding to head for Edale to do this walk around the head of the valley. Little did I know but my visit to Edale today would coincide with the annual running of the Edale Skyline race. The place was packed when I arrived and I considered myself lucky to find a spot in the car park. When I got back home I did a bit of research about it, the route it took and its length. Starting from Edale it heads up to Ringing Roger on Kinder Scout, east to Crookstone Knoll then on to Hope Cross and Win Hill. There's then a descent to Hope before it's up again to Lose Hill. The Great Ridge is then followed west to Mam Tor, from there the route follows mine today around the head of the valley to Grindslow Knoll. Instead of following me back down to the valley they keep going east to Ringing Roger before heading down to Edale and the finish. It's 21 miles long and the fastest make it round in about three hours. Impressive stuff. I fancy giving the route a go sometime but obviously at a much slower pace. They certainly had a nice day for it. Blue skies, warm sunshine with a cool breeze on the tops, though the haze restricted the view to the neighbouring moors there was a lovely light to show off their colours. That warm sunshine was causing rapid snow melt so it was very wet underfoot in places.
From the car park in Edale I made my way out to the Edale Road and then up the track past Hardenclough Farm and onto Greenlands. The bridleway from here took me up to Mam Nick. I then had the walk around the head of the valley to do; up onto Lord's Seat and along Rushup Edge, a long moorland walk to the trig point on Brown Knoll, then to Swine's Back and my lunch stop on Edale Rocks. Next came Pym Chair, the Wool Packs and Crowden Tower and after a tricky crossing of Crowden Brook I arrived on Grindslow Knoll. From here I finally made my way back down to the valley and Grindbrook Booth. A short road walk later and I was back in Edale.
Route map
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On the track to Hardenclough Farm
Looking back to Edale
Past Greenlands and on the bridleway to Mam Nick
A better if somewhat hazy view of Grindslow Knoll, Edale and Ringing Roger
Made it to Mam Nick and now on the ridge to Lord's Seat
Looking back to Mam Tor. It's so hazy that I barely make out the ridge to Lose Hill to its left.
Very hazy across to Kinder Scout. The moorland grass does look good in the spring sunshine.
Following the bridleway across Rushup Edge. Well almost. It was covered in snow.
Briefly on the Chapel Gate byway. I'll soon turn off to the left for the path to Brown Knoll.
Which is currently in the process of being paved. It made the going much easier.
The moors to the southwest above the Vale of Goyt just about visible
Work in progress
The southern slopes of Kinder Scout, from Pym Chair round to Grindslow Knoll
The first of many. He was second actually. Two hours after they set off the fellrunners had caught up with me. I'd turn round at regular intervals from now on to see if there were any that I needed to let past. I didn't want to get in their way.
Kinder Scout from the trig point on Brown Knoll. There was a checkpoint for the race here.
On the path from Brown Knoll to Swine's Back. It was very wet underfoot with the melting snow and the deep drifts hid some nasty puddles.
South Head and Mount Famine on the other side of the Sett valley
Swine's Back ahead with Edale Rocks on the hillside to the right. I think it's about time that I stopped and had my lunch.
Pym Chair, Crowden Tower and Grindslow Knoll
and again but from my lunch stop on Edale Rocks
Looking down the Vale of Edale to Mam Tor
Approaching the gritstone outcrops that contain..
..Pym Chair
Now to make my way through the Wool Packs..
Looking back to Swine's Back
Grindslow Knoll and Crowden Clough from Crowden Tower
There's a lot of water in Crowden Brook with all the snow melting on Edale Moor and I need to cross it
Hmm. Could be tricky. Good job I have my trekking poles with me.
Approaching Grindslow Knoll and what will be my final stop of the day
Looking west from Grindslow Knoll to Swine's Back and Crowden Tower
Win Hill, Lose Hill, Back Tor, Barker Bank and the Vale of Edale
Across Grindsbrook Clough to the craggy southern slopes of Kinder Scout
Nether Tor and Ringing Roger as I take the path down to Edale
Not far to go. Edale is in sight.