Kinder and the peat

I spent an afternoon on the summit of Kinder earlier in the year. The walk across from the Downfall to the Woolpacks was, er, 'interesting' and a tad wet.

Around the edge I had no problem pinpointing my exact position on the map. But out on the peat was a different story - I was never really 'lost' (in that I knew where I was on the map to within a couple of hundred hundred metres and was confident in my compass bearings) but, equally, I was never certain of my precise position. Nor could I find anything resembling a path, let alone the former main route of the Pennine Way. I'm not even sure I got to the mapped highest point even though one spot (marked by a pole) appeared higher than all the (visible) surroundings.

If any Kinder-fancying OM-ers fancy a day-walk across the peat, I'd really like to revisit the plateau in the company of people who know the plateau well. Either reply here or send me a PM. 

I once met a couple of girls collapsed beside the Pennine Way between Kinder and the Snake Road. Turned out they'd left Edale three days earlier. Day one involved climbing onto Kinder via the Pennine Way and getting lost. They camped for the night. Day two was spent wandering in circles round that peaty plateau. They camped for another night. Day three was when I met them, in the afternoon, and with a bit of encouragement I got them across the Snake Road, where they camped for their third night. Using bush telegraph I was able to keep tabs on their progress and it took them six weeks to reach Ponden!

So yeah... a bit of navigation goes a long way up there.

I'm game for a bit of "getting lost" inside the plateau..done it before a few times. I dont think you can really find your way other than by nav aid like compass or gps.

Moonlight Shadow wrote (see)

I'm game for a bit of "getting lost" inside the plateau..done it before a few times. I dont think you can really find your way other than by nav aid like compass or gps.

True.  I'd be willing some time soon...

Saying that, walking to the plateau edge and then circling it would probably work if visibility was OK.  I'm quite impressed by Paddy's story...

Jim Parkin wrote (see)

Moonlight Shadow wrote (see)

I'm game for a bit of "getting lost" inside the plateau..done it before a few times. I dont think you can really find your way other than by nav aid like compass or gps.

True.  I'd be willing some time soon..

Well, that's three of us. Looks like a day-walk mini-meet is in the offing

Jim Parkin wrote (see)

...walking to the plateau edge and then circling it would probably work

I'd be up for that too but as a separate day out.

I was impressed that they kept going, albeit at a snail's pace!

Chaps, it's a walk I can do with very little advance warning so organise yourselves and I'll be happy to join.

Righto MS but it aint going to be this side of September because I have work or trips throughout August.

Jim, how are you fixed in September and early October?

Paddy, do you fancy a spot of boghopping?

No probs chap. If your conversation is half as good as your trip reports, I'm looking forward to a day of very pleasant badinage indeed...

Shouldn't be a problem for me either.  Except for half term possibly

Hi there,

I had a similar experience as Paddy.

Me and a couple of mates headed up Grinds Brook from Edale. Then across to the Kinder Gates, and on the Downfall.

We then headed on to the trig point at 078893. Before turning towards Fair Brook. As we then headed back towards Grinds Brook we came a cross a husband and wife crying, when I asked what was wrong they said that they were lost, they pointed in the direction that we had come and asked if that was the way to Grinds Brook.

I said no! And pointed in the direction we were heading.

They then asked what time the helicopters came, I said what helicopters? And they replied the ones that come round to make sure everyone is of the hill before dark!

Any way it turns out that have had  been wondering a round for hours lost. They had a GPS, no fuxxxx idea how to work it, no map or compass.

So we walked them back to Grind Brook and there nice car. And as they pulled out of the car park the guy rolled down this window and asked which was the best was to Derby. I gave him dircetions to Shelfield and wished them good luck.

One of the best navigation point on Kinder is the Chimney of the Cement works in Castleton. If you can see it that is. But then if you can see it you wont need it!

Those Castleton cement works that are in Hope.

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

Ah, that explains why I keep getting lost.

Without Hope, All is lost!

....and I spent a day on the plateau and located at least 3 points that look, when stood on them, to be definitely the highest point.

The best guide I've found is the summary of the 2009 survey which can be found HERE.

And for the other end, the Holme Moss transmitter

Is that a Holming beacon?

Just got back from a circuit of the plateau north of Edale (Started in Chinley and went up craken edge, and ended up with a sneaky half in the Old Hall Inn in Chinley - A pub, I'd recommend BTW)

The West side was busy, but the East side had very few people.  It wasn't too peaty, either.  

I did walk across country from Seal Edge to Crowden  without looking at map or compas, so "slightly" wiggly