 Yes, a decent write up on Kinder, though must say I prefer Crowden Brook as a route to the top, more interesting with possibility of occassional scramble and less popular.
The NW fringe's of Kinder above A57 also tend to see less people too.
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 Thanks Lloyd :)
It's always difficult writing the first of a series. There's no format, no layout to follow, no style to write in and so many routes to pick from. We decided that it may be best start with a series of "classics" - and given the relevance of the 50th Anniversary of the Pennine Way this seemed the ideal first route.
My personal favourite route on Kinder is probably from the Snake via Fairbrook Naze.
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 The format'll get a few tweaks over the next few routes. If anyone has any special requests, speak now, or don't feel you have any right to complain later :-)
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Dave
If you plan any classic more classic Dark Peak routes how about ?
1. Marsden to Edale (or vice versa) following the route of the fell race/pennine way
2. Bleaklow via the Black Cloughs
3. Margery hill from Langsett via Mickleden / Cut Gate.
4. Lads Leap from Crowden via Laddow Rocks
Etc.
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 Might be worth defining the grading system, grade 2 tells me nothing unless I know what the scale is.Obviously with a few more routes it would give a comparison system.
True classic route - everyone should do it or a variant.
I'd like:
Black Hill - everyone should have to do it once, preferably when it's raining.
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 yes, well done dave, well done.
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John,
We're going to start including a grading for several aspects of the routes (with a description of the various grades). At the moment we're thing of grading how strenuous a route is, along with navigation and how photogenic a route is.
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John,
Totally agree - everyone should have to do Black Hill in the rain with zero visibilty, having forgot thier gaiters lol
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 Chocolate fudge cake anyone?
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mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!
fudge cake
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Don't take it, that black stuff is peat not fudge cake!
I like teh idea of multiple ratings.
How about a technicality rating, differentiating routes based on technicality or ground, could be fairly crude, just to let someone know the difference between a long walk on bridleways, from a shorter route crossing broken ground, from scrambles.
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 I'm hoping to do this walk on Sunday, weather etc permitting. I can give my thoughts next week if any one is interested?
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The terrain rating will effectively be a technicality rating too, there'll also be some sort of walk summary" 'a masssively strenuous moorland walk covering paved bridleway, soggypeak and squishy meringues' and so on.
The idea is that the scrambles - alternate weeks - will have a grading system of their own (which we haven't devised yet) but should include an exposure or 'bottle' rating, some sort of indication of technicality etc. Obviously we'll include scramble grades as well where appropriate.
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Oh, and yeah, let us know how you get on with the walk.
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Thanks Jon,
Thought I'd gone invisible there for a minute!! Certainly will do. :-)
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OM, If you should stumble across a black pair of Julbo Cat4 sunglasses between the Downfall and Crowden Head please let me know :) Obviously I'd be interested in how you get on with it too:))
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And if you find role of used twentys somewhere in the middle of the plateau...
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I'll spend the twentys whilst wearing the glasses as a disguise!
:-)
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Well, 'did' the walk yesterday in all that glorious sunshine! Coo, what a hot day!
So here goes:
Kit list-
Hat - Tilley
Sunglasses - Decathlon
Shirt - TNF
Trousers - Keela Paraguay
Undies - Next Active Ultra
Socks - Decathlon
Boots - Montrail Stratos XCR
Gaiters - P***** (Yes I know!!)
Having parked in the nice big car park it was just a short stroll up the road to the path leading up Grindsbrook Clough. Hadn't been up here for a few years but it was every bit as I remembered it, including that nasty scrambling bit at the top! Having got that bit over with I thought things should be OK now, 'Done the hard bit'! Wrong! Skipped along the nice footpath towards Crowden Tower and found the start of the route across to Kinder Gates and the Downfall. Lost the path shortly thereafter and found all that lovely claggy peat stuff! Turned this way and that to find a way through and after almost going in past my boots decided it was 'gaiter time'. Still faffed about after that but more confident of not going nose deep now. Eventually tagged behind a group heading towards Kinder Gates, they seemed to be finding a better route on more 'solid' ground. Got to the Gates and then followed the stream bed to Kinder Downfall, just in time for lunch. Mistake no 2. DO NOT eat your lunch here! Unless you wish to share it with the sheep, who constantly creep round getting closer and closer executing the best pincer moves I've seen! Gave up after about 10 mins and only a drink and 1 roll! On to Kinder Low, via a very nice path. Missed the ford (dried up??) and so made a small nav error and did a little (?) extra walking down to Jacob's Ladder. (by the scenic route!) Down the Ladder to the bridge at the bottom and along the gentle path to Upper Booth. Bought a refreshing pint of Lemon Juice there. Had just emptied my 'bladder' (2 litres) Picked up the path to Edale but due to a combination of tiredness and poor signposting (?) took the lower route to Barber Booth (memo: must refresh nav skills!!!) and thence by the next path from Barber Booth back to Edale and a well deserved pint in the Nags Head..
Verdict: A very interesting walk but it took me longer than I thought. I would have done better not doing it on my own; certainly wouldn't do it in bad weather alone.
Thanks Dave
PS - Didn't find the glasses or the Twentys (Honest!!)
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 Never mind OM you certainly won't be the first or last person to become navigationally challanged crossing the top of Kinder Scout. It is worth setting a compass bearing from the top of Grindsbrook, even in clear weather.
I note your use of P****o, during this walk, having read about how warm this can be in all but the coldest weather, I would be pleased to hear who you faired with the P****o on such a warm day. 28C in Castleton, just up the road.
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