The Peak District

Looking along the great ridge

We haven't been to the peak district in an awfully long time. It was one of the first national parks we visited when arriving in the UK, and it was probably time to return. Last time we tried for a walk around Edale, which ended early when I upended myself into a freezing stream. That wasn't going to happen this time.

I was keen to do some good walks here, it was too early for the Lake district, so I was hoping the Peaks delivered. This time we were firmly in the dark peak district, the region around Kinder Scout, we had done a bit in the white peaks, which is more rolling hills and farmland, so I was hoping it was going to be a bit wilder. It certainly didn't disappoint, I had my first slightly nervous moments in England during this weekend.

Weird sinkholes in the dark peaks

Looking across to Kinder Scout

I had forgotten how easy it is to get to the peaks from London, a 2 hour train trip on Friday, up to Manchester, then an hours drive to get to Edale, the heart of the peaks. We started the weekend with a nice easy ridge walk. This has to be a classic peak district walk, it's along the great ridge, over Mam Tor, with a view over Kinder Scout rising up on the other side of Edale. This is a really easy walk too, with easy exit points, and a great path the whole way. Definitely one of the first to do I think. You can always extend and make a loop if you want as well, there are so many paths and ways around that you could walk for as long as you like really.

A great view at any angle

Looking towards Back Tor

There was still a surprising amount of snow around. I was thinking since we were much further south, that most of it would have melted. But even walking we still had hail storms to contend with, luckily the stones weren't too big. This walk had a lot of people that looked completely unprepared, I'm talking jeans and no rain gear. There were even people in t-shirts, and it was freezing. They sure breed them tough up north.

I took an awful lot of photos, but the view was pretty stunning. Kinder Scout was covered in snow, and there kept being these breaks in the wind.

Kinder Scout - covered in snow

Last one of this view