Edale, Kinder scout plateau

During the weekend we had a friend visiting from Sweden, so instead of stalking a kingfisher the priority was to spend some time together.
Not many pictures were taken, except during a hike on the Kinder plateau which has the Peak district's highest peak at 636m. We started from Edale and it is from here the 429km long Pennine Way starts that follow the mountain range all the way from there to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland.
We hiked an amazing short route of about 9km, but at least we did something :) Up on the moorland we passed a section that is filled with rock formations called 'Wool Packs' which I have blogged about earlier. They do start your imagination, and this time we found one that looks a bit like a elephant with its trunk and a another one like an old mans face :) The plan was that we would go all the way to Kinder downfall which is the Peak District highest waterfall at its 30m but we changed our mind due the wind and that the mist was covering the area, so we took a short cut back via Jakobs ladder.

See you All soon!
                                                                          

The elephant

Wool packs

The old mans face

Wool packs

Jakob's ladder

Hope valley

Hike in High Peak District

Yesterday, me and my wife, took the train to Edale which is located in the middle of the Peak district NP.
Edale is a very popular area for hikers, mountain bike riders, hang gliders, runners and more.
Kinder plateau which is reached after a relatively short walk is quite unspoiled because it is a large flat moorland and many people would not go there because it is very wet, boggy and difficult to walk.

Here is also the highest peak in the Peak District 636 meters above sea level.
We have tried to walk on the moorland once, and even though we had a map and compass it is easy to get lost there, for there is nothing that you can not orient after.
We just went up to the ridge and followed it for about 6km, we had intended to go all the way to Kinder Downfall which is Peak District's highest waterfall (30m) but the weather changed to rain o bad weather so we skipped it this time.
It also a bit of fun  to walk after the ridges because there is all the cool rock formations to found here and there.
We passed in our opinion, the coolest of them all (Wool Packs) there are all sorts of strange rock formations. Well worth a visit.
From here we went to Jakob's Ladder, it is long man maid rock staircase and back to Edale.
A nice walk of 13km.

Hiking in Edale, Part 2

Then it was time for the three remaining days. Third day's adventures, we would visit a village called Castleton and there eat some lunch. And after that go to winnats pass, which looks pretty nice with the high cliffs and the green grass.The weather did not seem so promising, it was pretty much fog on the peaks. We started walking at 10  from the hostel towards Mam Tor and then over the ridge, from here we had a view of Castleton which was only a few kilometers away now. We continued walking down the valley and crossed a few mines and caves that you could visit, but that is for another time. In castleton we ate lunch and drank a beer / ale to it. After that it was time for winnats pass and it did probably not disappoint  anyone. from there we went an another route to the hostel,  the fog was now close at higher elevations where we went but it was easy walking on big paths so it was no problems. That day, we went for about 2o km we would just go 14 km :)Fourth day: we would take a little bit easier walking towards Lady Bower reservoir, round it, and then back. Although it was 20 km to go,  this trek was the easiest so far, because it was pretty flat and easy to walk especially around the lake. And now it was even sunny and warm. This hike went through a lot of different woods ranging from pine, spruce, beech, larch, birch which I like.Fifth day: So would my wife's colleagues be picked up by a taxi at 16  so we took the opportunity to go a little less round to Edale direction but on the mountain, the plan was that we would just  take it easy up on some rocky edge. But while we sat there on the cliff and sunbathing for a while,  a few of us started a plan to continue walking around some more. :) Said and done 5 people wanted to go a little more so they went and the others stayed behind to sunbathe. We would then meet down in Edale for a last beer and further travel to the hostel. It was pleasant five days with great company, and we were lucky with the weather also, they had promised much rain and wind a few days before, but luckily it turned for the better.

Ångra ändringarna

Edale and kinder plateau

Mam Tor

Kinder Plateau

Kinder Plateau,  Grindslow knoll

The beginnig at Winnats pass

In the middle of Winnats pass

Foggy

The sun warming up the moor

Green moss

Flower field

Lady Bower

Beech forest at Lady Bower

Nice colours on the tree trunk

Foggy Back Tor

 

Hiking in Edale, part 1 (Kinder Scout route)

Last Thursday, 17/5, we met some of my wifes workmates from Stockholm at Edales hostel for a four day hike. They come with taxi from Manchester while we were to take the train from Sheffield. On our way from the Edale rail station we met a happy and hungry bunch on their way towards the pubs :))
That day there was not plan on hiking as we arrived around 11, and everybody was hungry and longed for their first ale/beer of this weekend. However, we ate some lunch at The Ramblers Inn then took the train back to Hathersage for some outdoor shopping. One other big thing to visit in Hathersage, not to be missed, is the Little Johns grave. After some walking, shopping and sightseeing it was time for the dinner and more ales/beers. We were back to the hostel around 21, did some planning around the next day hike, food and pubs of course. We decided that we would take the long walk, around the Kinder Scout Moors, although the weather did not seem to be the best.
On Friday morning we were wake by 8 eager to start. We had the English version of breakfast at the hostel, made the lunch (pasta sallad) and then at 10 we were on our way.
The first part was a bit steep, probably about 200m ascent in a relatively short distance, but after that it was almost flat for the remaining 22km.
It was quite windy on the plateau, around 9-10m / s, but we had planned the route so that we would have the tailwind most of the time. The couple of km that we had headwind was not fun at all!! Plan your routes!! 
The views were amazing, as well the rock and stone formations, but probably we would have enjoyed it even more if the wind was not pushing us on.
More to come on the remaining days..

On the train to Hathersage

On the way up to Kinder Plateau

Lunch time

The moorland

Kinder plateau

Weird rocks

Some scrambling

Nice wood bridge

Kinder Downfall without water