Routes for Kinder Scout

MP said:

Off to Castleton for a long weekend and am considering doing Kinder Scout
from ether Grindsbrook Booth or Upper Booth over to Kinder Downfall and back
by Kinder Low. I have a couple of questions really; firstly what are the
conditions are like at present for crossing the plateau and is it an
advisable thing to do having read of the peat hag problems after bad
weather. Also having never been on Kinder any advice on the best routes and
in what direction would be much appreciated.

Don't for god's sake forget your compass. Once up there in the mist you
will know exactly why.

It's autumn, therefore wet. Expect to get very muddy. Trekking poles are
useful for bog depth estimate. Take two poles so you can strap them
together for really deep bogs...:-)

Quoted message said:

Thanks,

MP

On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 19:31:35 +0100, Chris Street
<[email hidden]> wrote:

| On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 19:11:20 +0100, MP wrote:
|
| > Off to Castleton for a long weekend and am considering doing Kinder Scout
| > from ether Grindsbrook Booth or Upper Booth over to Kinder Downfall and back
| > by Kinder Low. I have a couple of questions really; firstly what are the
| > conditions are like at present for crossing the plateau and is it an
| > advisable thing to do having read of the peat hag problems after bad
| > weather. Also having never been on Kinder any advice on the best routes and
| > in what direction would be much appreciated.
|
| Don't for god's sake forget your compass. Once up there in the mist you
| will know exactly why.

A gps is likely to come in handy as well.
Knowing exactly where you are in the middle of a peat plateau can be
*really worthwhile
|
| It's autumn, therefore wet. Expect to get very muddy. Trekking poles are
| useful for bog depth estimate. Take two poles so you can strap them
| together for really deep bogs...:-)

;-) or perhaps not.

--
Dave F

MP wrote

Quoted message said:

Also having never been on Kinder any advice on the best routes and
in what direction would be much appreciated.

The bits you want to do are the most popular so don't expect to get the
place to yourself. They *are* worth doing but if you go back frequently
then you'll find yourself drifting off to other places. My preference is
Blackden Brook and Crookstone Knoll. which while far from destered
are significantly less visited. Kinder is best done when either frozen or
bone
dry, neither of which you'll get at present. If you're uncomfortable
navigating on a compass bearing then stick to the skyline paths around
the edge. It does get mist-bound quite often at this time of year.

Chris

MP <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Off to Castleton for a long weekend and am considering doing Kinder Scout
from ether Grindsbrook Booth or Upper Booth over to Kinder Downfall and back
by Kinder Low. I have a couple of questions really; firstly what are the
conditions are like at present for crossing the plateau and is it an
advisable thing to do having read of the peat hag problems after bad
weather. Also having never been on Kinder any advice on the best routes and
in what direction would be much appreciated.

We did Edale - Grindsbrook then missed any kind of path and found the
Downfall on a compass heading, up and down countless peat groughs, then
back via Edale Cross.

This was about 30 years ago, and I have never felt inclined to repeat
the crossing of that plateau!

Grindsbrook, then sharp right and follow the edge and explore the
eastern end of that chunk is ok, then return down by Ringing Roger, but
that's only about 7 miles.

To get across the plateau, if you insist, I would take a GPS and plot a
course which appears to miss the worst watercourses, although you tend
to follow the stream bed to the downfall eventually.
--
Gordon

In Article <[email hidden]>,Chris Street

Quoted message said:

It's autumn, therefore wet. Expect to get very muddy.

Been such a poor summer that I don't think it ever dried out!

Quoted message said:

Trekking poles are
useful for bog depth estimate. Take two poles so you can strap them
together for really deep bogs...:-)

Nah, just hang back and let the wife go first....

Regards,
Richard G.

The message <[email hidden]>
from Gordon <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

We did Edale - Grindsbrook then missed any kind of path and found the
Downfall on a compass heading, up and down countless peat groughs, then
back via Edale Cross.

Quoted message said:

This was about 30 years ago, and I have never felt inclined to repeat
the crossing of that plateau!

Quoted message said:

Grindsbrook, then sharp right and follow the edge and explore the
eastern end of that chunk is ok, then return down by Ringing Roger, but
that's only about 7 miles.

Following the edge all the way round is quite a long way.

Quoted message said:

To get across the plateau, if you insist, I would take a GPS and plot a
course which appears to miss the worst watercourses, although you tend
to follow the stream bed to the downfall eventually.

It is not very far from the top of Grindsbrook to the start of the
Kinder River and then there is a nice easy walk till you reach the
downfall. The Pennine way used to go that way but for some obscure
reason the powers that be have deleted the main route and sent the
pilgrims off on what used to be an alternative (longer, harder) start.
The OS didn't help. They had the Pennine Way (undefined) dropping down
into the headwaters of Crowden Brook before heading off uphill again
which was an unnecessary dogleg.

--
Roger Chapman so far this year 69 summits
New - 47 (Marilyns 13, Sweats 5, Outlying Fells 35)
Repeats - 22( Marilyns 7, Sweats 16, Wainwrights 16)

"Chris Gilbert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

MP wrote

Quoted message said:

Also having never been on Kinder any advice on the best routes and
in what direction would be much appreciated.

The bits you want to do are the most popular so don't expect to get the
place to yourself. They *are* worth doing but if you go back frequently
then you'll find yourself drifting off to other places. My preference is
Blackden Brook and Crookstone Knoll. which while far from destered
are significantly less visited. Kinder is best done when either frozen or
bone
dry, neither of which you'll get at present. If you're uncomfortable
navigating on a compass bearing then stick to the skyline paths around
the edge. It does get mist-bound quite often at this time of year.

Chris

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, I am competent with a compass and
have gps so no worries there. It's more the wet and boggy conditions and how
bad they are that's got me wondering whether to cross the plateau or have a
rethink.

MP.

* The air of uk.rec.walking was filled with the delicate perfume
* of violets, as MP <[email hidden]> descended on a shaft
* of golden sunlight, and announced:

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, I am competent with a compass and
have gps so no worries there. It's more the wet and boggy conditions and how
bad they are that's got me wondering whether to cross the plateau or have a
rethink.

If the weather's clear you won't need a compass to navigate - you can always
use the smoke from the cement factory chimney at Hope to orient yourself!
Also, if you don't like wet and boggy conditions, avoid 'Brown Knoll' - it's
awfull!

Regards: Jim Ford

"Jim Ford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

* The air of uk.rec.walking was filled with the delicate perfume
* of violets, as MP <[email hidden]> descended on a shaft
* of golden sunlight, and announced:

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, I am competent with a compass
and
have gps so no worries there. It's more the wet and boggy conditions and
how
bad they are that's got me wondering whether to cross the plateau or have
a
rethink.

If the weather's clear you won't need a compass to navigate - you can
always
use the smoke from the cement factory chimney at Hope to orient yourself!
Also, if you don't like wet and boggy conditions, avoid 'Brown Knoll' -
it's
awfull!

Regards: Jim Ford

Arrrr! nothing like the site of cement works chimney's to shatter the
illusion's, and I will stay away from boggy 'Brown Knoll' , thanks.

MP

On Sat, 09 Oct 2004 22:49:14 +0000, Jim Ford wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Also, if you don't like wet and boggy conditions, avoid 'Brown Knoll' -
it's awfull!

Seconded. We were there yesterday and it was unspeakable. The low point
was alimost stumbling into a sump with at least 18" depth of water before
the stick began to sink very easily into the soft stuff beneath. Her
Ladyship was entirely unimpressed by my emphasising the majesty of the
view etc.

saki

saki said:

On Sat, 09 Oct 2004 22:49:14 +0000, Jim Ford wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Also, if you don't like wet and boggy conditions, avoid 'Brown Knoll' -
it's awfull!

Seconded. We were there yesterday and it was unspeakable. The low point
was alimost stumbling into a sump with at least 18" depth of water before
the stick began to sink very easily into the soft stuff beneath. Her
Ladyship was entirely unimpressed by my emphasising the majesty of the
view etc.

saki

That's not too bad then! In the says before the slabs were laid I was
following the 'path' from Mill Hill down to the A57. I came across a
very wet looking puddle and so I decided it would be best to walk around
it. As soon as I stepped off the 'path' I sank up to my backside :-(
If the rucksack hadn't worked like a lifejacket, I'm sure I would have
gone in even further.
Whenever walking in the Dark Peak, take a friend, and make him walk in
front!

--
Dave McLaughlin

[censored] Sapiens Non Urinat In Ventum

Gordon wrote

Quoted message said:

This was about 30 years ago, and I have never felt inclined to repeat
the crossing of that plateau!

There is a route across the centre of the plateau. If you follow the
stream inward of Crowden Tower, you walk on the grit bed for a few hundred
metres and pop out of it once it leaves the bedrock You then cross an area
of bog about 50 metres long before dropping into the upper reaches of the
Kinder River.

Chris

Jim Ford <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

If the weather's clear you won't need a compass to navigate - you can always
use the smoke from the cement factory chimney at Hope to orient yourself!
Also, if you don't like wet and boggy conditions, avoid 'Brown Knoll' - it's
awfull!

It sure is well named! We walked down from Brown Knoll to Edale in
cloud one day, and met some pigeons which had been reduced to walking.
:-)
--
Gordon

Chris Gilbert <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Gordon wrote

Quoted message said:

This was about 30 years ago, and I have never felt inclined to repeat
the crossing of that plateau!

There is a route across the centre of the plateau. If you follow the
stream inward of Crowden Tower, you walk on the grit bed for a few hundred
metres and pop out of it once it leaves the bedrock You then cross an area
of bog about 50 metres long before dropping into the upper reaches of the
Kinder River.

So everyone tells me! I don't know how, but we just spent ages
ploughing up and down groughs almost the whole way!
One small consolation, we found a grouse's nest complete with eggs.
--
Gordon

[email hidden] (Chris Gilbert) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Gordon wrote

Quoted message said:

This was about 30 years ago, and I have never felt inclined to repeat
the crossing of that plateau!

There is a route across the centre of the plateau. If you follow the
stream inward of Crowden Tower, you walk on the grit bed for a few
hundred metres and pop out of it once it leaves the bedrock You then
cross an area of bog about 50 metres long before dropping into the
upper reaches of the Kinder River.

Chris

....which is also gritty IIRC. The only problem is that it is so twisty
and lacking in water that it is difficult to know which way to follow
the river.

--
Adrian

Gordon <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Chris Gilbert <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Gordon wrote

Quoted message said:

This was about 30 years ago, and I have never felt inclined to
repeat the crossing of that plateau!

There is a route across the centre of the plateau. If you follow the
stream inward of Crowden Tower, you walk on the grit bed for a few
hundred metres and pop out of it once it leaves the bedrock You then
cross an area of bog about 50 metres long before dropping into the
upper reaches of the Kinder River.

So everyone tells me! I don't know how, but we just spent ages
ploughing up and down groughs almost the whole way!
One small consolation, we found a grouse's nest complete with eggs.

Age 17 I followed a friend "across" Kinder. Destination Snake Inn.
After an hour of walking we were back at the top of Grindsbrook :-(

--
Adrian