From Chinley/ Chinley Park, north to Cracken Edge - Chinley Churn Trig Point (not on access land so walked near by on closest access land) to north along the edge and quarries - turned east descending to 'Peep-O-Day' Farm, crossing road to join Pennine Bridleway - continuing west and then north descending to the River Sett, then west, ascended onto the Kinder Plateau to the base of Swine's Back - turned north over Swine's Back to Edale Rocks, and then Kinder Low (633). Turned back south to Brown Knoll (569m), continuing south to turn east to Rushup Edge and Lords Seat - then to Mam Tor, and then descending to Edale.
Total Journey Time: 6 hours, 21 minutes; Total Distance: 21.4 km; Total Ascent: 1,513m; Average Speed: 3.96kmph
This was a new route which started from Chinley. Well west of the Kinder Plateau, having ascended to Kinder Scout from Edale to the east. This gave a significantly different view coming from the west and I noted a couple of next walks from Chinley/Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Journey planning included checking weather forecasts for the area, including MWIS for Peak District and the Met Office forecasts for Chinley (Chapel-en-le-Frith), Kinder Low (Derbyshire) and Mam Tor (Derbyshire). Forecasts called for partly cloudy, misty with drizzle and 3C, with a feels like of -4C on summits and edges. Small chance of rain. Temperatures where correct and morning was partly cloudy, but when I crossed from Kinder Low to Brown Knoll the winds started blowing hard with rain and sleet mixed, and from Brown Knoll to Rushup Edge the sleet was blowing horizontal. On Mam Tor the wind seems always to be blowing hard and today was no exception. Up to the Trig Point and back down quickly because at the end of a 6 hour walk that was enough wind and sleet.
Route planning was accomplished with OS Maps App on computer. Printed the first legs of the journey (enlarged) through an area I had not previously visited, the immediate area of Chinley is off to the west of the edge of the OS OL 1 map. I carried the OL1 (and compass) with me, along with the print outs. I used the physical maps for the Chinley area all the way to Swine's Back. From there I was familiar enough with the route that I did not need any navigation aids, though I used the stretch From Swine's Back (after returning from Kinder Low) to Brown Knoll and Mam Tor for more familiarization with the SATMAP active20, which I am really happy with as I have become accustomed to the data fields and pages. On the first 2 journeys with it I left the map setting on 1:25,000. The detail was good, but it felt claustrophobic because the view was a small area. This time I alternated between 1:25K and 1: 50K, and was very happy with toggling in and out. The GPS file uploaded to this DLog is from the SATMAP.
On the early part of the journey in Chinley/Chapel-en-le-Frith area and especially as I ascended from the River Sett to Kinder Plateau, It took bearings off to interesting looking hills and edges that I will walk soon from Chinley to Hope.
During journey planning I set 4 kph as goal. The average speed from the Active20 showed the average speed tracked as 3.96kph. Considering a lunch stop at Edale rocks I was happy with that.
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.
