Stress relief:

Edale 19th September 2009.  Photos.

Mike on the phone had mentioned he has had a stressful time of late.  A walk was in order to wind down.  Edale was the last place we walked from. Why not on a nice day go there again, and have a different route and enjoy the high moors of the Peak District.

Wisps of mist still clung to the hills as we headed up Grindslow Knoll.  The weather promised much and the humidity of the morning meant we took a leisurely pace up.  The views up top are ones I have seen many times and still enjoy.  Today they were very good.

The morning soon got warm as we reached the summit and then walked the path along the edge to Crowden Tower and onto Edale Cross.  Mike and myself enjoyed walking over the large rocks and weathered stones found on this edge.

The weather was good and hills just looked fantastic.  The walk was a joy and I can’t think of any better way of de-stressing.  We headed round the valley head over by Brown Knoll.   The conditions under foot were dry and the boggy bits posed no difficulties.  I actually got to enjoy laying out on the hillside with the sun warming my face for a change.  That lasted about twenty minutes before dark clouds rolled in.  That brought new light conditions and the sun would shine through gaps in the cloud illuminating parts of hill, making for fantastic views.

Rushup Edge was soon reached and what seemed an endless procession of mountain bikers came along dressed in fancy dress?   We waited and waited for them to pass.

The path is wide and the walking is easy here. We went onto Mam Tor looking at the rampart remains of the Iron Age hill fort that was once there.  Mike recalled the last time we had walked there was one winter’s day in the snow out of Castleton many years ago.  Ice covered the path that day and we met no one.  Today large crowds sat on the summit and we did not linger.  We went down to Hollins Cross and from there, a path led back to Edale.   The obligatory visit to the cafe finished a good walk.