Trip Report – Traverse of Kinder Plateau and Bleaklow – Part 2

Day 2 – Thursday 28^th October 2010

Start 8.15

Finish 18.00

27.9 Km (19 miles)

I was packed away by quarter past eight and on my way, walking along the plateau edge past the rocks of Plym Chair and climbing down Noe Stool and after a short distance turning North onto the Pennine Way at Edale Rocks.

Edale Rocks

I continued on to the moon like landscape around the trig point of Kinder Low.

Kinder Low trig point

I followed the Pennine Way, running along the plateau edge, with fine views over Kinder Reservoir and towards Glossop.  The walking was easy, as the climbing had been done the day before. Before I knew it I was at Kinder Downfall, where much of the water from this upland watershed tips off the edge of the plateau to make it’s way steeply down as the Kinder River, to the Reservoir.

Kinder Down Fall

With all the rain of the last few weeks , it was quite a torrent.  I have visited this waterfall a number of times, sometimes almost dry and one winter when the fall was completely frozen.

I crossed the river near to the falls and stopped for a quick snack and a drink of water.

Kinder River just before the falls

The Pennine Way then drops down off the plateau.  On the way down, I saw my first walkers of the day, which was pretty good considering how popular this area is. I was on top of a large slab of rock looking at the view and one of the group said that would make a good photo.  He used my camera to take a couple of photos of me.  They were decked out in Paramo, so we had a quick chat about the jackets and I was on my way.

I continued until turning off the Pennine Way on to the Snake Path.  Initially the path follows close to the River Ashop. In fact as the river had flooded the whole area, I was following the river !   About a third of the way along the path, I found out that my Hedgehogs had sprung a leak.  I had taken these on the trip, instead of my Terrocs 345’s which I cannot get on with, they are just not comfortable for me.  I really want these to work for me , but so far I have not been happy with them. My Hedgehogs on their last legs are much more comfortable.

As you walk further along the path the valley opens up and the river is left far below.

River Ashop

Eventually I reached the forest of Lady Clough .

Lady Clough forest

I entered the forest and followed the track heading east, the track then heads north following Lady Clough River. Here I stopped for lunch, sheltering under the dense canopy of trees from some light rain.  This is a pleasant walk, very different terrain from the rest of the walk.

Forest trail

The Forestry Commission maintain the paths in this area, but even so, in parts it was extremely muddy.  I am glad I wore my Rab eVent gaiters for this trip.  Towards the end of the forest, the path runs alongside the A57, I scrambled up the bank onto the busy road and proceeded towards Snake Pass.  What struck me, ( no not a car!) was not so much the amount of traffic, although it was heavy, but the unbelievable amount of rubbish that had been thrown from cars.  Simply a disgrace, particularly in a National Park.  As the traffic was heavy I walked fast as possible to clear this small road section and turned off at Doctor’s Gate.  Making my way along more slab pavement to reach Old Woman at the junction of the Pennine Way.  The rain now was pretty heavy, as I made way up towards Bleaklow Head through the twists and turns of the groughs.

After a relatively short climb, I reached Beaklow Head at 633 metres (2077 feet).

Bleaklow Head

I followed the Pennine Way northwards, heading down hill, alongside Wildboar Clough, as you go downhill from here, the river drops far away from the Pennine Way into the spectacular Torside Clough.  To my mind this is one of the best sections of the Peak District.

top of Torside Clough

Torside Clough looking down to Torside Reservoir

A steep descend follows down to a farm-house next to the B6105.  I crossed the road and made my way along the Trans Pennine Trail which follows the course of the now disused railway from Hadfield to Woodhead Tunnels – the only electrified section of railway in Britain that was closed.

It was starting to get dark, I had a train to catch from Hadfield at 18.20, so the last 3.5 miles of the trip was done at a fast pace, arriving in good time at 18.00 to catch the train to Manchester Piccadilly.  From Manchester over the Pennines back to Barnetby Le Wold railway Station in Lincolnshire.

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