Ian Winterburn sends this report on a successful round:
I heard about the Dark Peak 4 County Tops of about 18 months ago and fancied having a go, Last year was too busy and I\’ve been waiting for a clear spell all winter, the last few days seemed perfect so Wednesday I went for it.
The route basically takes you to the Highest point in South Yorkshire-High Stones, West Yorkshire-Black Hill, Greater Manchester-Chew Head and Derbyshire-Kinder Scout, the four counties of the Peak National Park, for the most part the route is open as long as you take in all the summits, there were a few grey areas so I had a couple of chats with Al Yates and hatched a plan. I couldn\’t see any point in driving to Hayfield to the official start when I live so close to the route so I set off alone with what seemed like a huge sack full of food from the Strines Pub.
Starting at 7.00am Wednesday morning in the pale pre dawn light I went up through the plantation direct to Cartledge Bents and on up the Brook making the High Stones just after day break. I saw more mountain hares than I\’ve seen in a long while as there winter fur stood out against the low sun. I continued along the watershed taking in Margery Hill and Outer Edge, the ground was just frozen enough for most of the bogs to support my weight but as the sun came up it started to soften, just before I turned off to cross the Woodhead I went through and cut my shin on some ice. I could imagine club safety officer Mark Harvey tut tut-ing as I was wearing shorts. I dropped down to the Woodhead pass and up to Dead End Edge passed Holme Moss and up to Black Hill. Down the Pennine way and 20 minutes later and I was at Chew Head which was pretty nondescript top, a small cairn about 300 m off the PW, three down and only Kinder to go but I wasn\’t even half way yet and I still had Bleaklow to cross.
I took my Tankies route up Dowstone Clough until I could rejoined the PW and followed it to Mill Hill which is around 30 miles (6.30hours). It was here I met the first walkers of the day. Although it wasn\’t hot, the dry air and sunshine meant I was drinking more than I believed I would use but with Kinder in front I thought I\’d pick up some water from one of the streams. However once on a surprisingly dry Kinder I bonked big style. I was now out of water and all the streams were dry.
I eventually found some barely drinkable water high up Red Brook, that coupled with lots of food and I was off again although the crossing via Kinder Scout to Crowden Brook seemed to take for ever. The views over to MamTor were spectacular with the Skies above it full of Paracenders.
I knew thanks to Bob Berzins there was a spring at Crookstone Knoll so I was able to drink again. The sun was getting low by now and although the legs were getting heavy I was moving well. I had planned to take the long ridge to Win Hill and then up Derwent Edge but I couldn\’t face it so I changed my route to the shorter hillier route Via Hagg farm and Fairholmes. I figured that if there was any walking to do it might as well be Hilly!
At Fairholmes I reach civilisation of sorts and I mingled with the masses but it did have one benefit, TEA, I had a short break and a big mug of tea before setting off round Dewent Reservoir and up Walker\’s Clough, I was still running as I made the finger post near Back Tor, I threaded my way though all the burning heather as the temp plummeted, The sun had long gone but it was just light enough to run all the way back to the car from Derwent edge with out getting the head torch out.
It was a great day out, the route was just over 45 miles with 5,200ft by Memory map in 10.31 hours.
I can recommend this for a good day out but next time I would take more Water and less food. I used about 4 litres+ the tea.
