A glorious day in the Peak District to celebrate losing an hour sleep and the start of British Summer Time…

Midway up Jacobs Ladder looking back into Edale

I have had a brilliant day.  I started my walk from the Barber Booth car park and, having thought about the ascent up Crowden Clough but decided not to (still not entirely sure why), in favour of the Jacobs Ladder track.

However, I was flying along and a brief exchange with another walker on Swines Back had me musing.  For obvious reasons, I have a slightly unusual walk.  In most towns, people ignore it, while out in the hills I am often greeted with a mix of confusion and incredulity.  It makes me smile.  But also in the hills people stop and chat, and often ask me for advice. This particular walker asked me for directional help.

It got me musing to myself about why he’d stopped and asked me.  I settled on the combination of me looking like I might have some expertise, but also, there is something about being in the hills that liberates people from their preconceptions we are constrained by in other environments.  Dave’s latest theory…

On I went, still moving at a good pace reaching the trig point at Kinder Low (still baffles me why high points are often called ‘Low’) just an hour and 20mins into my walk… A few quick pictures, then on my way again.

Kinder ‘Low’…

Towards Brown Knoll from Edale Rocks

I retraced my steps, back passed Kinder Rocks and down Swines Back again, before continuing towards Brown Knoll.  Last time I was here the moor was very wet and very boggy, so today I had my excellent Berghaus Yeti gaiters on, but as it turned out they were not entirely necessary.

A new path has been laid all the way across the moor, and must have taken a huge amount of effort but it leaves me feeling a little conflicted.  Naturally I want more people to have the opportunity to enjoy our hills safely, but I worry about the over sanitisation of our wild  places…

The patio area at Brown Knoll just needs a picnic bench and a barbecue

All that remained was my final top of the day, Rushup Edge and a wander back down to Barber Booth, my car and a brew.

On Rushup Edge

Approximate Total Ascent: 520m / 1,706 feet

Cumulative total: 1218m / 3998ft