We were up here on the Edale skyline in December but due to the possibilities of an unplanned benightment we had to curtail our explorations of the Kinder West circuit, so it was with a sense of pilgrimage that we returned to complete unfinished business.

The valley of Edale and Kinder have a seductive charm that keeps drawing you back again and again. I first got my love of walking here when I was not much younger than these lads, now I'm nearly as old as all their ages combined! While I still have the stamina, my knees are a curt reminder that I sometimes have to reign myself in a bit.

The Edale Squad left to right: Olivier Bull, Green Knight of the Outer Circle; Prince Luke of the Woode of Birch; Christiano Chief Bard of Weltonia; Troubador Tyler Shire Chief of Marlowe.Out of picture, Granpierre Markles- third Earl of San Giles.

As you can see from the map the Edale valley is bounded to the North by Kinder Scout and to the South by the Castleton ridge and Rushup edge. The high ground around the cirque of the valley was to be our orbit of exploration for the day. When you have been here a couple of times a sense of familiarity begins to unfold, you can soon identify the majority of the hills, a bit like spotting old friends in a crowd of faces.

There was definitely a crackle in the air as we prepared to bag the first peak of the day, Nethor Tor. Being the cheery platoon that we were Tyler's sense of humour left him with no other option but to have a race to the summit! I came last on purpose because I didn't want to lower the confidence of these young lads. I know it was a noble move on my part but I'm sure it was for the greater good.

Ringing Roger

Now we had mustered the height, the kernel of the expedition was about complete, however the skyline was a continual source of amazement, a melee of contorted rocky outcrops were scattered around like discarded children's toys. Some of them had curious names 'Ringing Roger', 'The Woolpacks', 'Crowdens Tower' and 'Pym's Chair' . Each one possessed the striking independence of Greek statuettes towering impassively over the tender undulations beneath, a scramblers paradise. Looking down from the end of the ridge it resembled a Valkyrian steeplechase!

       
                                                     Pyms Chair

Crowden's Tower

                  The Woolpacks
                                                   
It was at this juncture I informed the lads that I was going to blog our trip, the response was totally not what I expected, all four of them bounded around in sheer delight. They celebrated like they had scored the winning goal in a local derby!

Grindslow Knoll stretched itself out in lordly dominance as endless peeping hills bowed in sweet obeisance. All the way round, the valley of Edale was looking at us
as if with the cold eye of a reptile, we slipped out of sight of the valley as we surreptitiously curved round to Jacob's Ladder. The background of this is interesting, in the 1700's the owner of Edale Head farm, a certain Jacob Marshall, cut steps into the hillside to make the right of passage easier for his Pack Horses. Presumably these have been manicured by the National Trust as we see them today. As far as we were concerned gravity completely replaced effort as we wended our way down to valley level. The Pack Horse  bridge still stands and is a good contender for any Derbyshire calender. Notwithstanding ' Jacob's Ladder reminded me of the words of the words of Lyricist Neil Peart...

Jacob's Ladder

the clouds prepare for battle
in the dark and brooding silence
bruised and sullen storm clouds
have the light of day obscured
looming low and ominous
in twilight premature
thunder heads are rumbling
in a distant overture

all at once the clouds are parted
light streams down in unbroken beams

follow men's eyes as they look to the skies
the shifting shafts of shining
weave the fabric of their dreams.
             __________________________


We spun out the last moments of a great day by a stroll along the minor road back to the car. Tiny hamlets sprung up like toadstools, connected by hills as green as old  kilts!

Just as a parting shot, Christian pointed out from the vantage point of a bridge, a
luminous dark orange substance seeping out of the hillside, this is actually Iron Ore! I was in awe! Of course there is still an Iron Smelting works in Hope, the tall chimney can be seen on the horizon. Interestingly the mega talented, multi instrumental Tony Clark of the highly acclaimed Folk-Rock duo ' Petriberg' used to work there !

Oh well, small world aye...

KTDA, Markles.


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