Dark Peak 50 Mile Classic: Part 1

This is the first of a three part walk starting from Yorkshire bridge and ending up at the Robin Hood Inn near Baslow. In this first part our objective is to walk 18 miles to the snake pass. After leaving a at the Snake pass we arrived at Yorkshire Bridge to find that we had forgotten to bring a map! Fortunately this route proceeds along well known paths. This part of the route is 18.6 miles and climbs 2100 feet a detailed map is at MapMyRun.

The weather was bright and we arrived at the top of Win hill. There were crowds many of whom were walking for charities such as MacMillan. Descending Win hill we got a little confused as we were trying to make our way to the path up to Lose Hill.

The walk continued from Lose hill to Mam Tor we chatted to a walk marshall who told us about some of the charity walks which were taking place, the Jane Tomlinson Peak District Charity Walk.

Route finding on this walk is fairly straightforward  we followed the path along Rushup Edge, there was a tricky matter of following the path across Brown Knoll. The cloud cover was increasing but visibility still excellent, also, the path across was not difficult to find. The ground was fairly dry, although there hasn't been much rain over the last couple of weeks this is still surprising given the amount of rain/snow we've had over the last couple of months.

Edale Rocks

The river Kinder near the downfall.

The Kinder reservoir.

Arriving at the downfall we experienced the Kinder Upfall it was rather breezy and we felt a spray of water being blown up from the Downfall. The clouds had gathered the sky was dark and as we proceeded to the Snake path the rain started and the visibility became progressively worse. At Mill Hill we almost incorrectly turned off towards Glossop! After a brisk final couple of miles we arrived at the car on the Snake Path, rather soggy. It was excellent fun and the wild weather we experienced was confined to the highest parts of the Snake pass.

We are now looking forward to the second stage of our walk which will take us via Bleaklow and the Derwent edges to Stanage End.

Spring Time on Hellvelyn

We had a wonderful week over the easter holidays staying in a holiday cottage over the old bakery in Grasmere. A cold spell had continued but we enjoyed bright clear weather for most of the week. On the final day of our holiday the weather clouded over, my chance to get out for an adventure! It is such a while since I've been in the hills in winter conditions the mountains look so beautiful adorned with their crowns of snow. I was excited by the prospect of visiting the tops. I was dropped off at the car park near the top of Dunmail raise (NY326137) and started walking up the eastern flanks of Helvellyn, shown by the dotted lines on the maps below.

The initial walk up Birk Side was an initiation into winter walking I realised there was an appreciable consolidation of snow and ice time to remember those long gone winter skills! What fun!

I continued the steady walk across the western flank of Nethermost pike visibility worsened, the wind speed increased and it felt as though my face was starting to solidify in this freezer. I met a couple of two jovial Scotsmen on the summit of Helvellyn taking everything in their stride, they descended to Dunmail raise, I continued a journey to Fairfield.

The walk from Helvellyn to Nethermost Pike.

View down striding edge

A view of striding edge from the north ridge of Nethermost Pike.

Dollywagon Pike with Fairfield in the distance

Grisedale tarn

For once I enjoyed the massive loss in height on the descent to Grisedale tarn the weather changed appreciably. Grisedale tarn was an excellent spot to break for a sandwich.

Climbing up to the summit of Fairfield via its west ridge was interesting it was quite icy I took advantage of the pick of my ice axe.

Castle Rigg with Ambleside and Windermere in the background.

Helm crag with Easedale tarn in the middle of the picture.

The descent to Stone Arthur and Grasmere.

The Lion and the Lamb on Helm crag are evident in this picture.

It was good to complete this walk in spring like conditions. I'd had a wonderful day in the hills which has inspired me to get out in the winter! Sounds crazy when were're desperate for all this winter weather to go away!

The Helm Crag Adventure

I am Keisha aged 7 ive been on lots of walks there are so many veiws to look at!I went out walking and these photos show what I did,all of it happened on holiday (it was great fun!)

This is the map that shows the route we did. The green dots on the map show the path we went on but ,you can only see the dots if you look closely.

                                            This is a beautiful picture of helm crag

                        We found a hut near the top with no door or windows

                               This is me walking at the start of the walk very exited.  

This is a lovely view of   most of the amazing and  wonderful  walk.

                          This is me in  the white,crystal and  crunchy snow.

                               This is a picture of the spiky rocks sticking out of the hills

                          I am in the beautiful distance, walking into the fluffy clouds.

This is a gaint rock and is known as the lion and the lamb.

This is a view of Grasmere, we stayed in Grasmere village.

This is me resting as lazy as a daisy at the top of helm crag it was 10 and a half miles. This year I would love to walk helvellyn!