Travel Journal

Peak District (Jul 2009)

Our annual boys-only camping trips came to a shuddering halt in 2005. With Adam in France this summer, I had to draft in some new recruits to help restart the programme. Adrian and James were at the top of the list, but the invitation was extended to a number of other Exeter University alumni ... who came up with some pretty flimsy excuses to decline! ;-)

We decided to return to Upper Booth Farm near Edale in the Peak District, the site of our last trip. There's no getting away from the fact that the facilities are very basic, but the location is absolutely fabulous.

Upper Booth Farm

Mark and I met up with Adrian and James in Bakewell, on the Thursday, to pick up some essential provisions - Adrian had forgotten the frying pan, and I had my name down for a rather large tart! We arrived at Upper Booth Farm, late in the afternoon and set up camp in blustery conditions!

Kinder Scout via Crowden Clough

The weather promised to be 'changeable' on the Friday, but that didn't stop our intrepid team from setting off on our first ascent of Kinder Scout. We followed Crowden Brook alongside the campsite and up to the top. Mark stopped to paddle in the brook - having dropped the mouthpiece of his water bottle off a bridge. (Great spot by James!)

We had lunch at Crowden Tower, before heading west for the Woolpacks and introducing A & J to Geocaching. :-) The weather had been improving, but at this point it took a dramatic turn for the worse, and by the time we reached Noe Stool we were trudging through a hail storm. Thankfully it passed, and by the time we'd descended Jacob's ladder and followed the Pennine Way back to the farm, we'd almost dried out.

Kinder Scout via Grindsbrook Clough

Saturday was superb! We headed east from the campsite, along the Pennine Way back to its start point opposite The Old Nags Head in Edale. From there we followed the path up Grindsbrook Clough. Adrian and I 'paced ourselves', whilst Mark and James bounded ahead, leaping from rock to rock like mountain goats.

Again we lunched on the edge of Kinder Scout, but today the views over the Vale of Edale were even more stunning! From the top of Grindsbrook Clough we detoured to Grindslow Knoll for yet more stunning views, before heading west for the top of Crowden Brook and then back down to the campsite.

A & J had to head for home that evening, leaving Mark and I to decamp on Sunday morning ... in the rain! :-(