Dark Peak Virtual Walk

Our guide for today’s walk will be Robert the Ranger, who is one of many National Park Rangers, whose job it is help and advise visitors to the Park.

We will shortly be leaving the Youth Hostel where we spent last night and setting off on our walk, which will leave the valley – where most Youth Hostels are found. Heading up into the hills and on to the moors, a plateau where we will be able to fully appreciate the environment of this special area.

The group all arrived by bus and there are 6 adults and 4 children – can you find out how much we paid to get here. (Hint: try our library site – ‘Travel by bus’)

Robert the Ranger is ready to leave now – so off we go.

“Why is it that whenever we leave a Youth Hostel we seem to have to walk uphill?” asks Jo, one of our group. “Well” says Robert. “I suppose because the Hostels are built in the valleys for shelter and easy access, but to see the best parts of the moorland we have to climb on to the tops”.

Well, it seems like a good answer, but it doesn’t help those of us who are not too fit or who had the full cooked English breakfast only half an hour ago!

Robert the Ranger tells us that today’s walk will be about 25 kms, from Crowden to Edale, and has given us the route, which we all settle down to study – before leaving the last of civilisation – as we know it!!

Something to view: Leave Crowden Hostel and walk around to the dam of Woodhead reservoir - where we cross by the footpath, walk down the B6015 we are almost opposite the Hostel. Walk under the bridge that used to carry the railway and start up a (Steep) hill between Rollick Stones and Fair Vage Clough. Work your way around to Wildboarclough and follow this all the way to the top and then on to Shining Clough Moss. Now you must head for Far Moss and the Wain Stones and on to Bleaklow Head. (You can stop here for sandwiches and a drink)! From Bleaklow Head pick up the Pennine Way footpath and follow this until you reach Alport Low. Cross the Snake Pass road then over Featherbed Moss as far as Mill Hill. From here the route turns to the southwest heading for Kinder Downfall. Then you must cross the highest point of this plateau - Kinder Scout, then head over Edale Moor and drop down Grindsbrook into Edale. There you will find another Youth Hostel to take off your boots and settle down for a good nights rest!

Something to do: Obviously we have been able to check out our route and plan which way to go... Why don't you get out the Ordnance Survey map for this area and see if you can work out our route from the description above.

Robert the Ranger is now leading us up a very steep hill alongside Wildboarclough, and at the top, by a small waterfall, we are going to stop for a few minutes while the slower ones catch up.

Something to do: If you still have your map handy – what is the Grid Reference of the spot where we have stopped?