
First circumnavigation of (eastern) Kinder Plateau, to include the northern rim. Started from Penny Pot Cafe (Closed for COVID), through Edale over the foot bridge up to Heardman's Plantation and the Nab, along the base of Ringing Rodger and onto the Kinder Plateau. Turned east along the southern ridge line to 'Druid's Stone', northeast to Crookstone Knoll, then turned west along the northern edge of Kinder Plateau, with a diversion off trail to Mad Woman's Stones. Back to the north rim, continued west to a position due north of the Trig Point in the middle of the east moor. Took a bearing from the trail due south into the moor to the Trig Point (590m), then returned north back to the northern rim along Blackden Edge. Proceeded west to the major clough at Blackden Brook where it falls off of the Plateau, then turned north onto Blackden Moor to the point where the trail bears west at Seal Stones, and along Seal Edge. Continued west on the northern rim to a point (SK 0950/8915). From that point on the trail, took a bearing due south to Crowden Head (632m). Traversed open Edale Moor for 1km, navigating around deep groughs, staying roughly on the bearing south to reach Crowden Head. From Crowden Head, took another bearing towards the top of Grindslow Clough, again crossing open moor and navigating around and through the deep groughs. Arrived at the head of Grindslow Clough, and descended back down to Edale.
Journey Time: 6 hours, 33 minutes; Total Distance: 19.1 km; Total Ascent: 1,110m; Total Descent: 1,073.8m
Planning the journey included weather forecasts from Mountain Weather Information Service (MWIS) for the Peak District and Met Office weather forecasts for Edale and for Kinder Scout. Weather forecasts were accurate, showing no rain, partly cloudy, temperatures in Edale of 7C and on the plateau of 3C. Winds gusting to 30 mph. When I arrived at the Trig Point in the middle of the plateau I used my hand held Kestral weather station to measure the wind gusts from 19 to 25 mph, and a temperature of 3C.
Route planning was conducted with OS OL 1 and the OS App. Printed sections of the route and left a route plan with my wife.
Primary objective of this walk was to cover new ground I had not previously traversed on the north rim of the Kinder Plateau, and to venture on longer runs off trail and onto open moor. The main challenge was maintaining a bearing while dealing with the deep groughs on the Kinder Plateau. I have been over much of the Peak District now and there is no other moorland as deeply cut by groughs as Kinder. Navigating to Crowden Head, approximately a kilometer south from the northern rim trail, and then another 1.5 km from Crowden Head to the the top of Grindslow Clough, was a good choice of challenge.
Area :
Dark Peak
Is situated between Sheffield and Manchester. The underlying rock is Millstone grit which is often exposed at the edge of the higher peat bogs for which the area is famous.