Friday December 2nd

 Western Edale Circuit

The forecast was for low-level cloud/mist and possibly clear tops so we abandoned our original plan to do the "Frisky Cows" walk from Castleton. We'll definitely save that for another day. An obvious alternative was to walk from Mam Tor and over Rushup Edge, and then see where we went to from there. On further reflection, starting from the Mam Tor car park would mean that the final stretch of the walk would be uphill so we took the sensible option of starting from Edale and having a coffee in The Penny Pot. As with our walk last Friday, we walked up to Hollins Cross. Although the mist was blowing in and out, we still managed to have some typical views.

On the way up to Hollins Cross- Grindslow Knoll in the background
At Hollins Cross we turned right rather than left as we had last week. As we made our way up towards Mam Tor it became more and more misty.
Into the mist on Mam Tor
Having walked over Rushup Edge we stopped at the junction of the path up to Brown Knoll and the Chapel Gate track down to Barber Booth and back to Edale. We had a quick snack and looked at our options- either back down to Edale or a misty walk (on a clear and flagstoned path) up to Brown Knoll. As the walk down to Barber Booth would make for quite a short walk, we decided to go on to Brown Knoll and (probably) go down Jacob's Ladder. As we went down towards the top of Jacob's Ladder, the wind became a bit stronger and colder, and the clouds were blowing in and out very dynamically.
On the way down to Jacob's Ladder-
Swine's Back and Woolpacks on the skyline
We stopped for lunch at the gate above Jacob's Ladder and, as the mist seemed to be lifting a bit, decided to continue on to Noe Stool and stay high through The Woolpacks and go down Grindslow Knoll.
Lunch Spot- Noe Stool on skyline just to the right of the Pennine Way signpost

The Edale valley, Brown Knoll to right, Great Ridge in distance
The stretch that includes The Woolpacks and along to Grindslow Knoll is decorated with many gritstone sculptures.
Jacinta at the gates to The Woolpacks
(Some of) The Woolpacks. Swine's Back and South Head in the distance
The Hog's Head Rock with strategically placed teeth
As we reached Grindslow Knoll, we were enjoying the light of the setting sun on the south-eastern reaches of Kinder, including Ringing Roger.
Setting sun on Ringing Roger and Rowland Coote Moor. Great Ridge and Win Hill to right
We were very lucky with the weather, especially later on in the day; we'd had two great walks from Edale in just over a week.
11.2 miles,800m ascent.

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