Kinder Scout scrambling May 2020

Emerging from the Covid-19 lock-down and with a missed weekend scrambling around Tryfan (firstly the accommodation blew down, then Covid-19 hit) there was a severe itch to scratch. The Black Peaks are a mere two and half hours away with some scrambling options available, and given this can be done socially distanced, unlike trad climbing, James and I decided to go for it. It was up early to get there before all the parking was gone, then take it as it comes although we had all the scrambles around Kinder Scout marked out.

We parked near the now closed Snake Inn on the A57 and headed onto Kinder Scout via Nether Red Brook and the Alt finish 1, up the chimney. An enjoyable climb but Snowdonia it aint. We headed across Kinder Scout and its strange other worldly landscape, fortunately we are in the midst of a very dry and hot period, I get the feeling you wouldn't try this route in even slightly wet weather!

We found Kinder Down Fall very easily with a little navigation from the sun (luck more than judgement I'm sure) and immediately felt a little more excitement at the prospect of clambering around here, in fact from some angles it looks like a terrifying prospect without any gear.

From the bottom looking up Arpeggio Gully

We stopped for a bite to eat and a rest admiring the view across the amphitheatre looking straight at Arpeggio Gully, it look pretty threatening! Assessing our choices of access we didn't fancy the long walk to Red Brook, scrambling down, far down, only to trek a long way back up to the base. So we decided just to head straight into the amphitheatre from near the top of Square Chimney Exit. The was an easy scramble down over heather, I had expected some sort of seasonal restriction in the area but there were no signs.

At the bottom we could see straight up Kinder Downfall Climb, I have never seen the waterfall flowing but can imagine the dramatic view seeing the dry rock. We could also just about guess where Square Chimney Exit finished. With hesitation we set off for Arpeggio Gully, there are two difficult sections of shear but short rock, no real challenge but a little exposed. I wouldn't fancy it in the wet, but then the grit stone might not be so bad wet, it is incredibly grippy today.

The view from above of Kinder Downfall Climb

The view down Arpeggio Gully

From this side of the Amphitheatre you feel more exposed with what feel like bigger steeper edges in a more stoney landscape. The view of Square Chimney Exit was clear from here, and the view of Kinder Downfall Climb was menacing, I have to admit looking down on it I wasn't sure I was going to try it. All you can do in this instance is take a closer look, and given we had to get back to the bottom and didn't fancy the long route, we headed down towards the exit of Kinder Downfall Climb which evolved into climbing down it. Up close the ledges are massive and not nearly as sloping as they looked from above. I really enjoyed climbing down it, plenty of foot and hand holds and cracks for secure grips.

Jim at the top of Square Chimney Exit

From here however we traversed over the rock to the start of the crux of Square Chimney Exit (the chimney) this cut out all of the lower sections but we were here for the scramble climbs not the slog. A fun little exit to the ridge edge and some fantastic views. We headed back down the way we came to the Kinder Downfall Climb and hit the rock for the last time. It was as good going up as it was coming down.

From here we followed the paths back to the cars, neither of us paying full attention to what we were doing fell into the trap of following instinct. That cost us a few kilometres when our feet were hurting and we were running low on water on an extremely hot day. Every cloud has its silver lining and the walk was pretty quiet and isolated - perfect for some quiet reflection when your life for two months has been either working or occupying children.

James did all the research on-line but all the routes and accesses were described in the Cicerone book Scrambles in the Dark Peak.