The Great Pennine Way Adventure – Day 1 – Sunday 2 August 2009 – Edale to Crowden – 16 miles

Bogs fallen into: 1
Car disasters: 1 – tyre blow out on A624

Bit of a tardy start today – a knight in shining armour I met in Edale offered to help out with my logistics today so that I could walk towards my car and not away from it. So, after getting up late, we drove his car and mine towards Crowden – it was a good job he was such a good Samaritan – as I had a tyre blow out en route and, while I know what to do in theory, I’ve never been very good at practical! So, after getting to Crowden and then back to Edale in my saviour’s car, I finally started walking at twelve o’clock after a quick breakfast at Edale. I am a past master at delaying tactics!

The walk starts at the Nags Head in Edale which coincidentally was right next to my campsite – I don’t just throw these things together. There were loads of walkers out today – not surprising as the weather’s been perfect. My guide book informs me that today is probably the toughest day of the whole walk and that an awful lot of Pennine Way-goers give up at the first hurdle. Not me though – I’m on a mission.

The views have been amazing – really stunning – not especially pretty in a conventional sense – but really interesting – lots of peat, lots of rock, almost moonscapes for some of the way. Jacob’s Ladder was the first tough climb – but so worth it for the views. The hills are covered in huge boulders and cairns to lead you onwards as they mark the route. From the trig point, the path was fantastic – quite rocky but pretty flat all the way to Kinder Downfall which had become a natural lunch stop for most walkers. I sat down for a snack and the most curious sheep ever came to pose for photos and to eat a banana skin!

Things got interesting as I reached Mill Hill – from here the path is laid out with stone slabs because of the peat bogs. This, however, did not stop me falling in one – my foot went down a crevice between two slabs and I was knee deep in poo! Much to the amusement of other walkers on the path. These slight chuckles soon turned into belly laughs as I then ended up putting my hand through the crevice too – God, I was a mess! I soon dried out though and took things pretty gingerly from then on.

I was looking forward to a tea van on the A57 to treat me for my “shock” – however, it was unforthcoming – blinking guide book getting my hopes up! Once past Snake Pass, the path became almost a culvert – along what seemed to be a dried up river bed – although not totally dry in places – easier to walk in the actual streams than in the boggy bits. Oh, I wish I was a mountain goat! I would certainly have felt more confident about my rock hopping.

At Bleaklow Head a huge cairn appeared – more lunar landscapes –and the path then kept to the ridge before descending quite steeply on rocky paths towards Torside Reservoir. Nearly there! From the reservoir, it was a short detour off the Pennine Way to the campsite at Crowden and my car. It was nearly eight o’clock by now, so a quick burger and chips and a pint of lager shandy in Glossop sufficed before I drove back to Edale. I was so tired that I didn’t even open all my lovely birthday cards and presents – sorry all. But I did manage a swift drink in the Nags Head before retiring for the night. An absolutely brilliant day – I loved it!