Crowden Clough and Brown Knoll
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The original plan was to go up Crowden Clough and over to Black Ashop Edge from the Downfall , returning by Grindslow Knoll . Things however did not go to plan........
It's funny how even when you know the weather is exactly as expected , you still half-hope cloud base will defy reality . It didn't ,so despite my dawdling walk up , the top of the clough was shrouded in mist . Quite a lot of water was coming down , to be expected after a thaw really . And it was mizzling ,quietly , but persistently.Enough to give the gritstone a greasy polish .
I went up as far as felt comfortable , but the amount of water coming down and restricted routes as a result were too much for me . Quite apart from walking solo .
So back down and up the path . No problem , except that it's now midday , and the original route is a bit ambitious for the daylight left , even if the cloud lifts by 2pm , as forecast . I walked through Whipsnade , and wonder of wonders , there were gaps in the cloud . A pleasant wander around the plateau edge to my lunch spot , and with great views over Mount Famine , I thought about the rest of the walk .
I wish I'd thought a bit more before deciding that a walk over Brown Knoll would be a good idea . The idea was fine ,and the views are excellent , if a little restricted by the broad flatness of the top . What I'd forgotten is why I haven't been near it for over twenty years .
Don't be fooled by the new (to me) flagstone path going off from the Edale/Hayfield byway. It bends towards Mount Famine ; the Brown Knoll path is still the same glutinous sucking mess of peat bog it always was unless frozen solid .
So it was quite a relief to squelch down a much drier Chapel Gate at the end of the day .
Actually , this would be an excellent walk on the right day , especially if extended along Rushup Edge .
It's funny how even when you know the weather is exactly as expected , you still half-hope cloud base will defy reality . It didn't ,so despite my dawdling walk up , the top of the clough was shrouded in mist . Quite a lot of water was coming down , to be expected after a thaw really . And it was mizzling ,quietly , but persistently.Enough to give the gritstone a greasy polish .
I went up as far as felt comfortable , but the amount of water coming down and restricted routes as a result were too much for me . Quite apart from walking solo .
So back down and up the path . No problem , except that it's now midday , and the original route is a bit ambitious for the daylight left , even if the cloud lifts by 2pm , as forecast . I walked through Whipsnade , and wonder of wonders , there were gaps in the cloud . A pleasant wander around the plateau edge to my lunch spot , and with great views over Mount Famine , I thought about the rest of the walk .
I wish I'd thought a bit more before deciding that a walk over Brown Knoll would be a good idea . The idea was fine ,and the views are excellent , if a little restricted by the broad flatness of the top . What I'd forgotten is why I haven't been near it for over twenty years .
Don't be fooled by the new (to me) flagstone path going off from the Edale/Hayfield byway. It bends towards Mount Famine ; the Brown Knoll path is still the same glutinous sucking mess of peat bog it always was unless frozen solid .
So it was quite a relief to squelch down a much drier Chapel Gate at the end of the day .
Actually , this would be an excellent walk on the right day , especially if extended along Rushup Edge .