KinderScoutEdale08PartTwo-2

Kinder Scout (Edale), Peak District

- Camping -

6th - 8th June 2008

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Spectacular views at the Millstone Grit south-western edge of the Kinder Plateau, shortly after Kinder Downfall.

The foursome again.

Millstone Grit south-western edge of the Kinder Plateau, overlooking the River Kinder.

A quick check of the map upon reaching the northern edge, the continuation of the Pennine Way in the distance, near Ashop Head - here we turned east along "The Edge".

We stopped for lunch, which was constantly being interrupted by a couple of sheep making a bloody nuisance of themselves, tame and used to being fed by passers-by, perhaps. Martin recalled a previous encounter during which a sheep "attacked" John Adams. From here we could see the continuation of the Pennine Way. The plan was to walk the "back" of Kinder Scout along the northern side, Black Ashop Edge, effectively avoiding the peat bog we had crossed on our previous walk (based at Cheesehouse), thus walking in an easterly direction. Across the valley below, Black Ashop Moor, between us and the Snake Path, flowed the River Ashop. We reached Fairbrook Naze and its distinctive rocks, then turned south until we reached and crossed Fair Brook. From here, heading east again on the northern side, we followed Seal Edge all the way until we crossed Blackden Brook. We stopped for a short break and Bob smith kindly offered me some of his water, as he had a sufficient amount whilst I had run out. Following Blackden Edge part of the way, then navigated across the plateau in an attempt to locate the southern edge towards Gate Side Clough, finally descending at The Nab.

Mad dog's an Englishman.

It was here that Martin called Vanda on his mobile. The others marched on down the valley. The late afternoon sun bathed the landscape in glorious sunlight and I stopped for this magnificent photo opportunity, looking across Grinds Brook and the summit of the southern edge of the Kinder Plateau. On a previous visit a year ago (captured elsewhere on this website), the heather across the entire Vale of Edale Valley had turned a beautiful, bright purple colour, as we ascended The Nab on that occasion.

Along "The Edge" - view across Ashop Moor and the River Ashop.

Rock outcrop at Black Ashop Edge, looking across the River Ashop.

View across Ashop Moor.

A small stream encountered along "The Edge".

Martin on "The Edge", in reality, the northern Black Ashop Edge of the Kinder Plateau.

Lush green heather.

Looking back along Black Ashop Edge or "The Edge" (in the direction from which we had just walked) - the sun comes out and bathes the landscape.

Edale is best known to serious walkers as the start (or southern end) of the Pennine Way, and to less-ambitious walkers as a good starting point for day Peak District walks. The Pennine Way is a National Trail in England. The trail runs 429 kilometres (268 miles) from Edale, north through the Yorkshire Dales and the Northumberland National Park, to end at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border. The path was inspired by similar trails in the United States, particularly the Appalachian Trail.

The Pennine Way has long been popular with walkers, and in 1990 the Countryside Commission, a statutory body in England, reported that 12,000 long-distance walkers and 250,000 day-walkers were using all or part of the trail per year. The popularity of the walk has resulted in substantial erosion to the terrain in places, and steps have been taken to recover its condition. Kinder Scout is a popular hiking location and the Pennine Way crosses Kinder Scout and the moors to the North. The erosion of the underlying peat has prompted work by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak District National Park to repair it.

The plateau was also the target of the mass trespass of Kinder Scout on 24th April, 1932, a notable act of wilful trespass by ramblers, to highlight weaknesses in English Law of the time, which resulted in a UK-wide rethink of access to the countryside. This denied walkers in England or Wales access to areas of open country, and to public footpaths which, in previous ages (and today), formed public rights of way. From the National Park's inception, a large area of the high moorland north of Edale was designated as 'Open Country'. Eventually, in 2003, the "right to roam" on uncultivated land was enshrined into law, and this area of open country has been significantly extended.