With a long weekend planned I had my heart set on a tour of the Coledale Horseshoe where if conditions permitted I would have also included an ascent of Eel Crag via Tower Ridge but not only did conditions not allow they worsened to the point I had to re-think the whole walk, a walk that certainly deserved a blue sky day.

Most of the UK has at some point been affected by low cloud this week with rain arriving by Saturday but there was a glimmer of hope when I checked the forecast for the Peak District National Park where sunshine during the morning and 80% cloud free summits had been forecast, it was Thursday morning and I had one day to come up with a route.

Walking in the Peak District is still new to me and I kinda felt thankful that I have the software which allows me to plan a walk anywhere in the UK. That night as I went through my options I kept referring back to the highest summit in the district, it had to be Kinder Scout.

Just 50 miles after leaving home I arrived at Edale car park encountering light traffic around Manchester Airport which now seemed a distant memory as I parked easily on the car park. Behind me a mother and her young daughter are kitting up and so too is a young lad who's military pack looked so heavy I wondered how he was going to shoulder it but shoulder it he did before passing me a hi...he had to be armed forces I thought. By the ticket machines one fellow listens to the news on BBC Radio 4 - I know this because I had only just switched it off my myself. There's no feeling of hustle & bustle which I soak up as I went over to buy my ticket and after gifting the ticket machine with six pound coins for the day I returned to my car and laced up, watched on by the chap who was still listening to the news.

Despite the mild temperature I left the car park wearing my new Alpkit soft shell jacket which after only a few minutes of wearing I started to regret although being the stubborn bugger that I am it'll be a mile or so until I take it off. I joined Mary's Lane and passed under the railway bridge and stopped to take a look back, it was at that moment did I hear the sound of the points changing followed by the signal change mounted on an old fashioned white post, wow chances of that I thought. Continuing up the Lane I then passed the Rambler Inn who's tables and chairs would be later filled with guests, The local milkman passes and stops just a few yards ahead to deliver milk to a nearby cottage, a scene which is repeated as I walk up the lane towards the Old Nags Head pub.

Prior to crossing Grinds Brook earlier I had caught up with two girls who as I passed said "we'll let you pass you're much quicker than us" or words to that affect, it may have been true, I smiled and replied thank you as sweat ran down my forehead. The path underfoot became more rugged after crossing Grinds Brook and I too found myself slowing down.

Hands on hips I stopped at the base of the boulders where a narrow but clear path ascended all the way onto the summit plateau. I'm not sure why but the ascent reminded me of the ascent of Raise Beck or maybe I was just comparing the two to try and keep my mind off how steep it was.

I continued to follow the path which at times became so vague I found myself surrounded by featureless moorland. Three walkers who had set off a few minutes after me were initially following me but veered right towards Low Kinder and at first I wondered if was I off path. After checking my GPS I did find myself off path but thankfully only by yards. With no feature to aim for I took a bearing southwards and soon spotted two people walking towards me.

They looked pleased to see me, their white long haired labrador was virtually black and only a smile was shared as we passed. After dropping down a steep bank of peat I located the path again before spotting a family of five over to my left "you on path they shouted" "sort of I replied" they wandered over, thanked me and continued across the moor. Soon the silhouette of Crowden Tower appeared as little dots of walkers crossed the main path oblivious to those on the open moorland.

I told myself that despite the moorland crossing lasting just 1.5 miles it was the first time I had to navigate in a while, Edale Moor certainly isn't a place for the less experienced or during bad weather.

With the summit of Grindslow Knoll behind I began the descent back to Edale passing a father and his two daughters during the process, they stopped as a solo woman walker passed but not to chat, more to stare as I later found despite wearing the best gear she was ascending barefoot!

Tidying her hair as she approached it was only after she had passed with a 'hi' did I realise she was walking barefoot by which time I was too gobsmaked to say owt!

The barefoot woman was still on my mind as my feet longed for the clipped grass of the Pennine Way, they soon got their wish. Walking the last few yards of the Pennine Way into Edale was my reality check, my photo doesn't show how busy the village was as I waited patiently until I had a clear shot of the Old Nags Head before joining the Mary's Lane back to the car park.

The quiet scenes of village life were just a memory now as tourists flooded the narrow lanes while traffic waited patiently to pass. I passed the church once more and its adjoining graveyard then the Rambler bar whose tables were packed with folk people watching or chatting. Dogs barked and for the second time I heard the points change on the railway track as I passed under the railway bridge. By now I'd left the crowds behind before entering the car park via its side entrance. The train sped through this time without stopping and that's where my day above the Edale valley ended, what a day.