Oak Cottage - Loweswater

Retreat to the quiet of the Western Lakes

The Cottage, and  the view up the Buttermere Valley

 

 

 

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Time and place : East ridge of Kinder Scout (Edale Moor) 15th Nov. 2003.

Occasion : A walk with Elizabeth and John (Harvey), Ann and the dogs.

Walk details : 6.9 miles 1420 ft of ascent.

Weather : Cloudy with sunny intervals and a few sharp showers.

Route : The blue route is the Gps track, the shorter green circle our planned route, with the extended green one an option depending on time and weather.

Nether Moor - The High Peak - Kinder Scout

This walk was an edge walk, overlooking the Vale of Edale on the southern edge of Kinder.

We parked a mile or east from the main village, and this gave us easy access to the eastern end of the Kinder plateau known as Nether Moor..

The weather was cloudy as can be seen, but became much more variable with showers and some sunny intervals, which changed the light levels and consequently the quality of the views changed during the extended afternoon walk.

 

Cool with a hint of dampness, but not in any way unpleasant. No need for a Gortex coat till we hit the ridge.

Walking east along the hillside we gradually gained height. Behind us and to our right is the Mam Tor ridge.

The vegetation types changed as we gradually climbed. Low down there was farmland grass, here rough grass and bracken, trees and some planted forestry, and finally open moorland with tufted grass and mature heather, more or less captured in this one photo!!

Towards the top of Nether Moor.

In the distance Dovestone Tor on Derwent Edge, and to the right, Stanage Edge with High Nab.

 

The heather moorland has been managed over the years for the breeding Grouse.

Despite being the wrong side of Sept. 12th there were plenty of birds about. Presumably being Trust land they are a more protected species now.

A "noisy" bird and therefore easy to spot, the Red Grouse was a delight to see.

 

The last bit of the climb onto Crookstone Knoll.

Mam Tor is the peak in the distance.

Time for coats to keep out the cool breeze.

Below is the Edale valley, and on the left Ladybower reservoir, separated by Whin Hill..

Fellwalking in the Peaks (or should it be peakwalking ??) - Ann and Elizabeth on Crookstone Knoll.

 

The Alport Dale and the mountains of Bleaklow to the north, from the same point.

Alport is a delightful valley in spring and summer, though public footpaths are a bit scarce apparently.

A slight diversion for myself and Holly up to the rocks known as "Mad Woman's Stones"

Beyond was the start of the flat and peaty Kinder plateau with the eastern trig point just in view.

Back now onto the southern edge giving excellent views across the valley.

 

Here is "the excellent view across the valley" - highlighted by sunlight and with an impending rain cloud above.

Left to right, the fells are Lose Hill, Back Crag, Mam Tor and Lord's Seat (Edale).

Lunch with a view.

 

A rainbow over the moorland as we walked further west.

 

The rocks here are weather beaten grit stone, hence the name the Dark Peak. The rock here is more like Dartmoor than Cumbria. Further south the White Peak gets its name from its underlying limestone rather than this darker grit stone rock.

 

Another shower approaches . . . the rocks at Ringing Roger.

Click here or on the photo for a bigger version.

 

Path renovations Peak District style
Our route off the ridge complete with raindrops.

 

Our descent took us back down into Edale itself,

here with beautiful evening light in Otter Brook valley.

As the moors were all traditionally privately owned, there were more restrictions, and more battles for access in times past, than in the Lake District.

A different National Park and alternative signs.

 

 

Cups of tea tasted the same however, courtesy of the Edale Cottage Cafe, next to the station. Excellent teas and home made cakes, and full marks for an interesting collection of "thou shalt not" signs.

Music by Cliff Richards - his "Auld Lang Syne" tune (on repeat and repeat and repeat ) . . . Won't stay for a second cup thanks.

On the way back we diverted via Mam Tor, the back of which has an impressive shale cliff.

Unfortunately it was the soft nature of this rock that caused the old road to continually collapse, to be finally abandoned in 1979 in favour of the original Winnats Valley road. This area is home to the famous Blue John Mines and the Speedwell Caverns.

Edale is the start of the Pennine Way long distance footpath from here to Scotland.

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with a Canon IXUS 400 Digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed . . . with a Peak District map.

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