Phil Waud Wild Camping

 Route Bolehill Quarry is a very short walk from Surprise View car park. There is a good mobile phone signal so you can use your phone to pay. When we returned the next morning, I paid for another two hours as we were going for a walk around Millstone Edge - good job because a very keen warden arrived and was sure he had caught me out! I would advise folk to use the app to pay for the mornings park as soon as they are able. We left the bags at the van and had a good walk around the quarry. We didn't spot any deer, but its such a stunning place and you could easily spend hours, days even, exploring. After picking up our bags, we found a spot on one of the quarry terraces and had a great nights camp. Weather The weather was glorious! No rain or wind and bright sunlight. The temperature did drop down to just above freezing overnight. Equipment I used the OEX Salamanda with a three season Coleman sleeping bag. I had plenty of layers but didnt take my down clothing - ample warm enough. ...

Route After parking at Upper Booth car park, I followed the Pennine Way along to Jacob's Ladder. After collecting water, I climbed the fence line right up onto the Kinder Plateau to an area just below Woolpacks. There are plenty of flat spots, either on top of the heather or on some of the exposed peat areas. The next morning, I followed a path northwards along the top of Crowden Clough before climbing the short distance onto Woolpacks. I followed the edge path past Pym's Chair and Noe Stool, meeting the Pennine Way, then climbing on to Swines Back. I found the site where Shane and I had camped and managed to find the 3FULgear carbon tent stake that I had lost on our camp. I was feeling quite good at this point and actually jogged down Jacob's Ladder and part of the way back to the car. Weather Temperatures in the low teens and hardly any wind on the way up, but I still had to layer up once I got to the camp site.  Some rain and wind gusts during the night dramatically stop...

 Route We parked at Upper Burbage bridge car park and walked up onto Higger Tor. Instead of following the path up onto the top and then down the "steps", we found a path slightly above Fiddlers Elbow which avoided some of the climb up and down. Shane and I had spotted a good camp spot on our last visit. After a quick tour round some of the features, we arrived on the western side of Carl Wark. You need a lot of space for two Lanshan's and we had to cross some of the two tents guylines. I found a spot actually underneath a rock for my bivvy. I tried a couple of tarp set ups but I was concerned about the tarp getting damaged on the gritstone so in the end I didnt use one. The route back in the morning was almost exactly the opposite, but we did actually all the way to the top of Higger Tor as its pretty easy from the Carl Wark side. Weather The forecast predicted quite ideal conditions, but the wind was relentless, if quite low. There was no rain at all. Temperatures got do...

Route We parked in Upper Booth Car Park which somehow manages to get a wifi signal so you can pay by phone using the RingGo app and location code 51703. You can also use a card on the machine. Its a quick walk along the Pennine Way and then you have a choice of walking up the stone steps of Jacobs Ladder, or following the Packhorse route which is a little less steep but slightly longer. The two routes come together at the beehive cairn and the climb upwards continues onto the Kinder Plateau. Follow the signs for Edale Cross and continue past it, dropping down to find a good, strong and clear source of water at Stony Ford on Oaken Clough. Heading back to the cross, this time turning northwards and up the steep but short ascent to Swines Back. The wind was baltic, and we had to find a camp spot quickly as we were running out of daylight. My preferred slots were too exposed but we managed to find a sheltered spot next to a peat hag. The Lanshan was double pegged and had one side set lower...

 Route The Upper Burbage Car Park does not have a signal, but you are allowed to pay for your parking afterwards (dont forget though - they may very well check). It is only a very short walk along Higger Tor and then across a small expanse of Burbage Moor onto Carl Wark. If you need to get water, the Burbage Brook is fast flowing, but does flow past a lot of farmland so will need to be filtered. Weather The forecast was pretty much perfect both for the time of year and also for bivvy camping. Overnight temperature dropped to 6 degrees and it stayed dry with little wind. Equipment I was using the Alpkit Bivvy for the first time, along with a DD Ultralight 3 x 3 tarp. I used a Fire Maple skillet to prepare the Mac and Cheese and also a full breakfast next morning. The Fire Maple Dandelion table was a good swap weightwise for a chair. Summary This was my first bivvy camp in the Alpkit Elan. Certainly, a lot to learn in terms of keeping things organi...

Route For the second day on Kinder, I hiked back down Grindslow to meet my daughter and partner at Edale car park. We walked along Grindsbrook and scrambled up the western fork after collecting water from the spring. Following the edge path along to the eastern fork, we then walked along the Grindsbrook stream path past Four Jacks Cabin. We then headed over the moor to the very top of the moor. Weather The sun was out for the whole day and the wind was below five miles an hour. It was a clear sky, so temperatures got down to three degrees Celsius. It was great to wake up to a second clag free sunrise. Equipment Nothing new today! Summary The second night of this camp was also incredible! Climbing back down Grindslow only to climb straight back up Grindsbrook was a very strenuous experience, but well worth it. Hannah and Danny had a great camp and it was a lovely family experience.