A Weekend in The Peak District

After weeks of failed planning, I finally managed to set aside a weekend and plan a trip to the Peak District in the van. Having never properly explored the Peak District before, it was the ideal opportunity to pack the van up and go on an adventure.

Knowing very little about the area, other than there are some top class bouldering problems and climbing routes, I checked the map and came up with a rough plan of where to visit.

The weather forecast for the weekend wasn’t promising, but it was February in England. What did I expect? I gave up on the idea of climbing and researched some hiking routes. After giving the van a quick wash and wax with Armor All to make sure it was looking at it’s best, I packed up with everything we would need (blankets, waterproofs and wine).

We stopped off at Chrome Hill near Buxton on the way up to Edale where we would spend the night. Parking close to the hill we climbed to the top of the lower, and more impressive Parkhouse Hill to enjoy sunset.

The following morning was typically damp and misty, but it almost felt right. Keeping cosy in the van with the tailgate open to the hills was the perfect start to the day.

As we climbed up from Edale, the sun came out and it turned in to a beautiful day! The peat bogs under foot couldn’t even weigh us down as we walked over the plateau to Kinder Scout, passing the gritstone formations along the way.

Stopping off on the way home on Sunday to explore Winnat’s Pass and the surrounding area in the rain and mist was well worth it. The winding road through the gorge is a firm favourite with motorcyclists, cyclists, motorists, hikers.. pretty much everyone. Waiting for the road to clear for a shot took longer than climbing to the top!