Wild camping near Kinder Low; The second test for Karrimor Elite Ridge 2.

Over looking Kinder Reservoir from the Karrimor Elite Ridge 2 tent.

Saturday the 1st of March, and it was back to the Peak District for another wild camp. This time I was again using my Karrimor Elite Ridge 2, and again Wayne Sanderson accompanied me along with his friend Dan. I forgot to bring my dslr for this trip, and so only have a couple of shots from my mobile phone...

Wild Camping (near to) The Woolpacks, Kinder Scout...

A very misty morning on the Kinder Plateau...

My first wild camp of 2014, and it just happened to be about a 30 second walk (when the weather is slightly clearer) away from the site of my first ever wild camp! It was an enjoyable primary outing of the year, and one that was more about the actual camping aspect of the weekend as opposed to the walk in and out. The other big theme, getting to know some new friends...

Rhinog write-off. Destination, Derwent (Moor).

View from Whinstone Lee Tor, towards Wheel Stones.

So, unfortunately; the planned trip to Rhinog range of Snowdonia had to be postponed due to an injury to the nether region of my good friend Simon. That said, I do respect his decision to call off the trip as he has another planned for this coming weekend. One that I will hopefully be able to be a part of (work depending). Ill not mention too much about it as yet, but it should be great if I can manage it. In the mean time - I decided to venture out anyway. Where? Derwent Moor. Well, almost...

So, I'd still never been to Kinder Downfall...

My day started at the bottom of Grindsbrook Clough.

So again, I've been busy recently. It's meant that I haven't really had the opportunity to acheive much in the way of walks, and certainly not wild camps. It's disappointing, but it makes my outings all the more savourable. These pictures are from a couple of weeks ago now, but such has been the intensity of my work timetable, that I am only now getting some free time to throw them up in this rather hurried entry...

Matlock to Matlock Bath - 02/03/13

Looking up the River Derwent towards High Tor.

So, today; Sophia and I decided to take the train to Matlock to have a nice walk together. I enjoyed it a lot, as its not often that we both go walking together. We ended up taking route through Matlock Dale, back to Matlock Bath. It was a lovely White Peak walk, in an area that I have been to before, albeit not with my walking head [or walking gear] on. It was a nice day weather-wise. A little cold when the wind picked up, but when the sun appeared it became pleasant until it retreated behind the clouds again.

Return to the Kinder Plateau...

Looking back on the way up to Crookstone Hill.

I had planned on going for a wild camp on this, Monday 18th March; but plans changed and I reverted to a days walking instead. Complete with my full 65ltr rucksack that was packed for camping. Despite narrowing my outing to just the one day instead of two, I still retained the plan of getting back to the Kinder Plateau and seeking out the trig point to the east of Edale Moor. The path to which is notoriously difficult to see and follow exactly, especially when coupled with the type of weather that I had to accompany me...

A rather bleak bimble on Bleaklow...Well, almost.

Towards a mist shrouded Bleaklow, over Hope Woodlands Moor.

So; an impromptu, spur of the moment walk isn't always the best idea. Maybe that's a little harsh. We did have a good day after all, and the views were great. We had arranged to go for the walk on Friday at the beginning of the week, but a cold for Matt and bad back for Phil meant that we decided to call it off on Thursday evening. Despite my disappointment, Phil got in touch on Friday morning; eager to get out...

Sunrise on Mam Tor followed by Win Hill and The Great Ridge.

Looking towards Edale Valley. The Great Ridge can be seen middle left of the photograph and Kinder Scout beyond.

After the sunrise on Mam Tor (as seen in the previous post), we had a days walking ahead of us. After my wild camp near Win Hill and walk across The Great Ridge a few months ago, I had said that I would revisit the same hills for a days walking with Phil and Matt, my regular day trip companions. Matt had suffered a bit of a knock at football the weekend before and so sat this walk out, but Phil and I enjoyed a great day nonetheless...

Sunrise on Mam Tor.

The 'Shivering Mountain.'

My friend Phil and I set off bright and early last Friday, 5.00am to be precise. We gave ourselves plenty of time for the drive from Derby to Edale for the 7.14am sunrise. Once we got there, it was very muggy. Thick, low hanging cloud was in abundance; and it seemed like it may not clear in time for us to see the sun come up. After twenty to thirty minutes, we were rewarded for our early start.

Bradford Dale, Arbor Low/Gib Hill, and Lathkill Dale walk.

Weir in Lathkill Dale.

A very different walk to any other I have really done before, but no less enjoyable. We had decided to check out (in my opinion), one of the best monuments in the Peak District and take in some lovely woodland scenery this time around. It was a nice change of pace, and scenery; and was impressively full of signs of days gone by. In case you hadn't figured it out from my other blog entries - I do like a good bit of background/historical context.

Another wander in the White Peak.

"Consult the genius of the place in all That tells the waters or to rise or fall."

My friends and I went for a nice walk in the White Peak this time around. We had a couple of routes in mind, not all of which were in the White Peak, but we were definitely glad that we chose this area in particular. If you can guess where the walk was from the picture and quote above, then kudos to you.

Walk and wild camping (near to) Bamford Moor - 4/1/13.

Stood at the end of Bamford Edge overlooking Ladybower Reservoir.

So, It's been far too long since the time of my last post and I haven't even started my write-up of this trip yet. I've had a lot of thing going on, and I was without a computer for a bout a week which is the main reason for my lack of posting. I have decided to forget the write up and just post my favourite pictures from the trip instead! So, less of my long winded story telling and more good views to appreciate this time round...

Moors and more moors. Walks and wild camp from Hathersage.

Looking over Moscar Moor and to Bamford Moor, just under Stanage Edge. Win Hill and Lose Hill visible in the distance.

Back from my first trip out of 2013, and a great trip it was too. I tested myself on more than one score, and it wasn't all good either. Nothing too serious, but it put a bit of a dampener on part of the outing. My friend John accompanied me for a wild camp on/near Bamford Moor and a walk the next day up to and along Stanage edge.

Wild camping (near to) Win Hill - 10/12/12.

A frosty morning on Win Hill.

 Another wild camp, and another good experience attained. It's not surprising though, as I am coming to really enjoy being out and about. So much so, that I do feel a bit cooped up if I don't get out during the month. I now very much look forward to my next outing, so much so that I tend to be planning my next trip while on the train home from my last! I can't say I'm surprised with myself. Right from the start I have always taken great enjoyment from walking and the idea of camping, which I have now begun to delve into. Something else that intrigued me since my first outing, was the site of this most recent wild camp; Win Hill...

Wild Camp / walk. First time in; the woods, new tent and new boots.

Sunrise on 'Win Hill.'

So I've been out again. Newly equipped with a bigger, more comfortable tent and a more substantial pair of boots, venturing into the woods for the first time. I set off on Monday with a definite wild camp location and a plan in place for the next day. One that I did consider changing a couple of times once I had got to Bamford. After the day I had on Tuesday, however; I'm more than glad that I stuck to my first thoughts...

The Roaches & Lud's Church 23/11/12.

Trig point on 'The Roaches.'

I decided to venture out of the Hope valley this time, and indeed out of the Dark Peak area. After reading alot about Lud's Church online, it was a place I definitely wanted to see. With shorter days this late in the year, a walk on The Roaches including Lud's Church and the mysterious Doxey Pool was spot on...

Next walk; The Roaches and Lud's Church...

Picture taken from www.erewashvalleywildlife.org.uk.

This Friday, I shall be venturing into Staffordshire and to The Roaches. Just south of Buxton, north of Leek - it will be my first visit to the White Peak area of the Peak District. The plan is to walk an approximate 10mile route around The Roaches, stopping at Lud's Church for a look around, and a drive up to The Cat & Fiddle afterwards.

Wild camping (near to) Crookstone Out Moor - 9/11/12.

 

Wild camping and walking with John and James.

It's been a while since I last met up with my two best and oldest friends but we have been talking about a nice walk and a wild camp for years. So we decided to solve the two issues in one fell swoop. We originally planned to go to Snowdon and go along Crib Goch - but train fares proved too pricey, so we went to my favourite place at the minute; the Edale Valley and the Kinder Plateau.

Wild camping, Roman roads and scrambling Winnats Pass...

Our wild camp site.

Got back from my second wild camp yesterday. Had a great time again, different from last time but cracking nonetheless. Myself and a couple of friends had been arranging this for a while and we finally managed to get out, do a bit of camping, hobo stove cooking, Roman road walking and scrambling on Winnats Pass. I shall do a full write up later this evening, hopefully.

Kinder Mountain Rescue; incident report - 1/11/12.

Kinder Mountain Rescue cover the whole of the Kinder Plateau.

I decided to have a look around on the internet, to see if I could find any local news or reports on the events that I became semi-involved in on Thursday 1st November.