Edale to Mam Tor and Brown Knoll return down PW - Peak District 5 Nov 2015

Edale to Mam Tor and Brown Knoll return down PW 
Peak District
Distance 21km Climb 740m
Thursday 5 November 2015

Mam Tor Number 10 on ITV's Britain's Favourite Walks shown January 2018. 
It was raining and misty as we drove across to Edale. The last time I walked here I went north, today I was going to look south.  Anne was going to have a look round the shops of Manchester. I parked the car at Edale Station 240m and walked up the road towards the church.

The footpath I was taking turned east next to the church yard. I hope the sign was not an indication of things to come.

The footpath took me south east across fields, I could not see any of the heights I would be walking on as they were covered by mist.

The footpath took me under the railway and across fields.

I crossed a road and the path dropped down to join a farm lane that once it crossed a stream started climbing south east towards Hollins Cross 390m.

Unfortunately there was no view from the top, I thought I was alone yet I could hear people below the ridge. A quick map check and I turned left easterly up the ridge.

On the way I passed another walker, I spent a few minutes talking to him, he was an interesting character. As I climbed the mist continued to obscure the views which was a shame but it was still good walking.

The path crossed Back Tor and climbed up to Lose Tor 476m. After a quick photo of the mist I turned round and returned back along the ridge to Hollins Cross.

As I walked back to Hollins Cross I passed a group of about 8 walkers on their way to Lose Hill they asked if the view was better up there, no unfortunately it was not.

I passed another group as I approached Hollins Cross, it was very busy up here.

Another quick check of the map, reset the compass and I moved along the ridge towards Mam Tor. The path was made of stone and led me straight up the climb to the trig point at Mam Tor 517m. There are a lot of little features cemented in the area around the trig point.

A quick sandwich and I continued heading south west to drop down to the road.

As it was a little clearer here I moved down the hill a little to take a look east along the valley towards the Blue John.

As I moved back up the road I caught a glimpse of a kestral.

I crossed the road and started up the footpath to Rushup Edge which climbed up to Lord's Seat 540m where there is an old Tumulus.

I continued along by the wall as it slopped down hill until it met a junction. Here I passed a group of four German walkers. I turned right in a northerly direction. After about 400m I turned from the main path and followed a bearing across open ground. There was a lot of bog in the area and I had to watch were I was walking. It was very wet. You could see where people had previously walked.

As I was approaching Brown Knoll 569m the mist was turning into rain, visability was low. After the trig point I checked my bearing and continued north east to the fence line.

I turned right and headed north east along a stone path which turned north, visibility was very low and the rain was getting heavier.

I walked up to Edale rocks where I had another sandwich in a little shelter. I had wanted to go around the tops back to Edale but with the weather and the time of day light left I decided to return by the lower route.

So after walking up to Kinder Low trig point 633m I turned round and headed down hill.

As I approached Jacobs Ladder the mist started to lift although it was still raining.

On my way back rather than follow the Pennine Way I followed the footpath to Barber Booth, the views across the valley opened up as the mist lifted showing me where I had walked.

The rain lifted for a few minutes before starting again, as I approached Edale Station. I had a few minutes to spare before Anne's train came in. A good day walking I had covered 21km with approx 740m climb.

More to follow


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in the Peak District or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to my Day 1 of the Pennine Way
Follow link to another walk across Kinder Scout.

Offa's Dyke Path Day 5 - Stone Circle to Clyro Brook 30 Oct 2015

Offa's Dyke Path, with Bourne Coffee Company - Day 5
Stone Circle to Clyro Brook
Distance 10km Climb 60m
Friday 30 October 2015

Today would be our last day walking we had decided to walk to the end of David's map which was a couple of km just passed Hay-on-Wye. We had a relaxed start to the day. From the campsite at the Baskerville Hall Hotel it did not take us long to reach our start.  It was cold and windy when we started.

We left Susan and started our walk down the road, it was very cold but at least the wind was behind us pushing us on.

After a km down the road the Offa's Dyke Path moves north across open country to the edge of Tack Wood.

The Path moves passed a farm onto a narrow track, still following the line of Tack Wood.

At the top of the wood it moves very steeply across country and twists and turns down hill, heading north.

We reached a lane and the guide says turn left and cross a stone stile. However we found a wooden stile straight across the lane and a path down between the fields.

At the bottom of the fields we were on the edge of Cusop.

Through another couple of fields and we could see Hay-on-Wye, the weather had warmed up a lot now as we moved lower down hill. The wind had also eased and we had to take our coats off again.

As we crossed the bottom field we could see Susan waiting for us at the carpark we had to cross as we entered the town. With the time we had we had a look around the town on our way through.

Walking through the town we passed the castle.

Looked in a few shops.

Passed the town clock.

From the clock we turned right and took the road to Clyro over the bridge. Where we left Susan.

Over the bridge we turned right by the river and about 1.5 km we followed the path north west from the river.

Our route now takes us along a country lane, where we could hear shoots being fired, hopefully not at us.

Along here the local farmers had tied yellow lids on the gates to show the route. There were only a couple of fields left to cross.

After passing a large farm complex the Path crosses one last field before a taking a small bridge over Cylro Brook and climbs a little under some trees up to the road. This was just off David's map and the first road we reached where Susan could get to pick us up.

This was it for now, we had covered 10 km with approx 60m climb.

Over the five days we had covered 86 km. The idea behind this years walk had not been the distance we would cover but to enjoy the walk. We will come back to do the rest another time, for now we would go back to Baskerville Hall Hotel campsite and relax.

Walking at this time of year we knew we would have restrictions due to the nights cutting in but as I say the distance does not matter. The guide and information on the internet show that The Offa's Dyke Path is a wonderful pleasant and beautiful walk and so it is. So I hope Anne and David enjoyed the walk, I know I did. As always we could not do this without Susan, thank you Susan.

More to follow.


Boz North

Details correct at time of walking.

If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The Offa's Dyke Path or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to next days walk on the Offa's Dyke Path (it is still to be walked.)
Follow link to previous day, Day 4 Pandy to Stone Circle.