Kinder Scout

Karen joined me for a walk on the Southern Edge of Kinder Scout. We left the car at the small car park at Upper Booth and then followed the road as far as Upper Booth Farm.
After walking through the farmyard, we followed the start of the Pennine Way back to Grindsbrook Booth (usually known as Edale village) and after buying some drinks in the shop, started following the well worn route following the lovely but busy valley of Grindsbrook Clough.
At the top of the valley where the river falls off the edge of the Kinder Scout plateau, rather then follow the popular route straight on over the small boulders to reach the plateau, we chose the much quieter and more enjoyable route which follows the northern branch of the river. This involves some short but enjoyable sections of very easy scrambling and with the low water conditions, we were able to stay in the river bed all the time.
At the top of the ravine where the edge path crossed the gap formed by the ravine, we sat on a flat shelf of rock in a well-sheltered spot away from the cool wind and ate lunch. While munching on our sandwiches, we must have seen well over fifty bumble bees flying past. Presumable they were making use of the same shelter from the strong wind as we were and were heading for the purple blooms of heather on the plateau.
We continued onwards along the edge path passing the main route at the top of Grindsbrook Clough, the path out to the top of Grindslow Knoll and then the top of Crowden Clough to pass through the large area of wind-sculptured boulders of gritstone known as The Woolpacks or alternatively, Whipsnade.
You could spend ages exploring around the boulders and the gaps between them.
Onwards along the edge path we went towards the large crag of Edale Rocks and the obvious hump known as Swine's Back until he flagstone-paved path curved down towards the steps folloing the ancient pack-horse trail down Jacobs Ladder.
We followed the route of the footpath on a long set of rocky steps as opposed to the alternative bridleway rout, which though longer, is easier on tried knees on descent.
Soon we were the the bottom of the steps at the old pack-horse bridge and all there was left to do was to follow the track passing another lovely farmhouse and then a narrow tarmaced section which brought as back to where we had entered the farmyard at Upper Booth Farm.

Soon we were back at the car park and that remained was an after-walk trip to the café at Outside in Hathersage.