Millstone Grit south-western edge of
the Kinder Plateau, overlooking the River Kinder. |
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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". |
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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. |
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. |
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Along "The Edge" - view across Ashop
Moor and the River Ashop. |
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Rock outcrop at Black Ashop Edge,
looking across the River Ashop. |
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A small stream encountered along
"The Edge". |
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Martin on "The Edge", in reality,
the northern Black Ashop Edge of the Kinder Plateau. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Steve Rogers, accomplished
professional artist. |
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John and Martin map reading. |
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Martin, relaxed, in his element,
doing what he loves best. |
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Along the northern Kinder Edge
approaching Fairbrook Naze. |
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View northeast across Fairbrook Naze. |
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Dramatic edge after turning south at
Fairbrook Naze - Fair Brook can be seen in the cutting. |
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