Wednesday August 27th

Edale, Win Hill and The Great Ridge

A solo walk for David today. 

The Great Ridge (Win Hill in far background)
Book on Rachel's shelf the next day

The forecast was decidedly iffy but I decided that I'd like to do a walk that I'd outlined with Jacinta (who had more common sense today... as ever). This would be starting in Edale, crossing the road bridge west of Hope, going up Lose Hill and descending from Hollins Cross. However...

As I was on my own, I wanted to take a scenic route so I went up Ringing Roger, with its view of the walk to come from the south edge of the Kinder plateau..

Lose Hill and Back Tor
(Win Hill just about discernible)

A line of beaters was out on the edge of Crookstone Out Moor and, as I passed the first of them, a radio command came through for them to advance towards Madwoman's Stones and a few shots were heard. I passed the Lonely Trees (the weather and visibility were both still good).

The Lonely Trees
Crook Hill (twin humps), Derwent Edge in the distance

I stopped for lunch at Hope Cross. I had a quick look at the Met Office weather forecast, which said that there was a 95% chance of rain before 13:00. I checked the time- it was 12:50 and, sure enough, the rain fell. By the time that I reached the top of Win Hill, the weather was definitely very grey with only token views.

Win Hill trig point and Lose Hill looming

It was teeming when I reached Twitchill Farm and I took advantage of their "Honesty Shop" for a tea and a very nice flapjack.

Twitchill Farm Honesty Shop

I hadn't expected anything other, but it was still raining enthusiastically when I had finished my tea. It was onward and (eventually) upward and, as the weather had brightened a little, I felt that I might as well do the entire Great Ridge walk. The weather at the top of Mam Tor was definitely sunny.

Mam Tor panorama

Way, way in the distance Win Hill was still in the shade, though.

Win Hill from Mam Tor

I took the direct path down from Mam Tor to Greenlands and Hardenclough Farm. A little rain (not much) was falling which produced a beautiful rainbow.

Actually, a double rainbow just about visible

I was back in Edale after a great walk of 14 miles with 140m ascent, taking a shade under 7 hours.

The great thing was that the next day, when we visited Rachel, there was a picture of most of the walk on the front of one of her books!



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