HIKING PATHS

There is no doubt that the main activity here is first and foremost the march. And it's still on foot that the park is best discovered. Always think of a compass and, above all, a card. The 1 «The Peak District» is particularly well done. It covers the entire area and shows you both roads and footpaths and other ultra-precise details (walls, houses, vegetation, relief, etc). A small investment that can allow you to take advantage of the region for several days. Check the weather well because if the orientation is simple enough weather, it is extremely easy to get lost in the fog or with low clouds. Especially if the soil is muddy. Ideally, prevent someone from your itinerary before leaving. Your hosts can even advise you. www.walkingenglishman.com, www.walkingbritain.co.uk and www.peakroutes.com offer a detailed hiking foultitude, already performed by passionate walkers in the Peak District and the rest of the country. Here are two picturesque routes to follow with the Ordnance Survey map. They are fairly accessible and feasible in a small day by taking their time, less for the most experienced (subject to weather and physical conditions):

Kinder Scout (633 m): You can leave from Edale or from the car park between Barber Booth and Upper Booth along the railway line. Direction Jacob's Ladder by the Pennine Way, the only real ascent of the course. Once on the plateau, several trails leave everywhere. Stay on the Pennine Way towards Kinder Scout (small blue triangle on the map, physically marked by a concrete point). You'll find yourself on a totally lunaire near-moon rocky plateau. The valley panorama is breathtaking. If you continue on the Pennine Way, you will arrive at Kinder Downfall, a beautiful waterfall that turns on itself when the wind blows out: the view on Manchester and the Kinder Reservoir is stunning. To return to Edale, follow the ridge line from Kinder scout to Grindslow Knoll. This is the easiest and most pleasant way to go down. The rocks that surround it are splendid and appear to come from another world. Avoid cutting through the tray that is sometimes very wet. From Kinder Downfall, it is best to return to Kinder Scout.

Mam Tor (517 m) and Corinne Hill (476 m): Start where you want and in whichever order you want. The interest is to walk along the trail linking these two summits to enjoy the panoramic view of Edale, Hope, Kinder Scout and the hills of the Ladybower Reservoir. If you start with Mam Tor, you can start your walk from Edale or Castleton (you will see several car parks and paths on the map). Some even get parked on the Arlberg track, at the entrance to the trail, but places are limited. To gain access to Lost Hill, the simplest path is the one that starts in the south, on the route between Hope and Edale, at Town Head Bridge. It can also be accessed from its northern face, but the climb is steeper. Once at the top, the contrast between the huge cement factory of Hope and the quiet heights surrounding it is striking. The abandoned road that can be seen on the Mam Tor flanks collapsed several times in the 1970 s. It now serves mountain biking enthusiasts.

With the OS card, you can find other paths as you wish, in this place which houses a multitude of beautiful places. The hills around the Ladybower Reservoir are particularly appreciated, including Win Hill, whose most physical ascent was made by Parkin Clough. The High Peak area offers wild expanses of sight, such as Howden Edge and Lost Tobacco. How, finally, do not mention Alport Casltes, a splendid rock outcrop emerging from cliffs falling down in one of the most beautiful valleys of the Peak District.