| Along Kinder Scout |
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This walk followed go4awalk's route D186, with a slight and accidental diversion at its southern end. 1. Up William Clough We walked out of the CCC camp site at Hayfield and turned right past the the Bowden Bridge Car Park and along Kinder Road. I wasn't sure what the go4awalk guide means at this point. When we reached a metal gate we are diverted to the right and then followed a path along the eastern bank of the River Kinder. The path reached a T junction where we turned left to cross the river. We walked north eastwards along the broad path until we reached a path descending from the south west, which we turned up this path to reach the right of way marked on the OS map. However it appears that we could have gone straight onwards on the lower path (not marked on the map) and avoided a steepish climb. Ho hum. Anyway, we climbed and then descended into the Clough, much to Lenore's disgust, before continuing to climb. At one point a second stream descends from the north west...we kept to the right. It was a pleasant climb — there were fish in the stream, the trickle of water over rocks, a little waterfall, and only one other walker. Finally we emerged on the peat moorland, and a T junction where the path met the Pennine Way, marked by flagstones and dozens of hikers ranging from the deadly serious to those just lounging along deep in conversation. 2.To Kinder Downfall and Kinder Low Soon after we turned south-eastwards there was a hefty climb before the path more or less levelled off. At Kinder Downfall there were people everywhere, having their lunch, climbing, messing about or just resting. So we stopped for our lunch too... The walk was now amongst millstone crags and across peat, with constant fine views to the west. 3.Back down to Hayfield After Kinder Low the path divides, with the Pennine way bearing leftwards. We however took the right fork, a paved path leading towards a barrow on the horizon. This is not marked as a right of way on my OS map and is not the route described by go4awalk!. Anyway, the path plunges over the edge af the scarp and descends steeply into Oaken Clough, where we rejoined the "official" route at another junction of paths. We followed the path from stile to stile across fields, through a herd of cows (plus bull) to emerge at Tunstead House Farm. Here it isn't really clear where to go...we headed diagonally across the farmyard to a gate immediately in front of some cottages, and then descended through a steep and narrow field to a second gate at the bottom. Then we followed a lane round a sharp bend before clambering up the bank to a stile that led to a path. |