Summer Walk – 2024
Location: Edale Skyline, Peak District, UK
Date: July 12th - 14th, 2024
Jo Bradwell, Sarah Clarke, Tim Clarke, Luke Cutts, Taea Scott, Alex Wright, and Ben Talks.
By Dr Ben Talks
On Friday 12th July, the BMRES summer walk group slowly assembled in the pub of the Bike and Boot hotel in the Peak District’s Hope Valley. There had been the usual after work scramble to make it with trip members travelling the full length of the country between them to be there. Followed by the usual question, “has anyone planned a route?”. Barry tests the waters, “how do you feel about 20 miles?”, and so the Edale Skyline was set as Saturday’s objective. Of course, some of the better organised members of the group were already aware of the proposal, one had even managed to recce some of the route the weekend before!
The Edale Skyline is a natural walking challenge following the scenic horseshoe shaped ridge line that encircles Edale village and covers several named peaks: Wynn Hill, Brown Knoll, Mam Tor, and Loose Hill. It is also the site of a previous BMRES winter walk defeat, when deep snow stopped all but a couple of members from completing the circuit. However, on Saturday morning as the group gathered at Hope train station to start the route, the sun was shining – snow would not be a problem this time!
As is custom for a BMRES walk, the group set off with enthusiasm, soon stretching out on the side of Wynn Hill. This was not the end of the tussling for position though and the much to the surprise of the advance party, the Clarke’s and Luke managed to leapfrog them when they settled down for a lunch break among the weather sculpted rocks of Edale moor. Conversation and the miles rolled on and soon we were summiting Loose Hill, the final peak of the circuit, and looking back with awe across the clear valley at the starting point, which now seemed a very long way behind us. As we descended back towards Hope station, the group’s thoughts started to drift towards drinks, food and, boot-free feet (except for Jo – a long-term advocate of hiking trainers). Then we were done: 7 hours 44 minutes, 32.83km, 1164m ascent.
After a much-needed shower (at least on my end), the group reconvened at the bar for dinner. Unsurprisingly, the upcoming Everest Base Camp expedition dominated dinner time conversation, lubricated by red wine (I’ll let you guess the variety). If you want to hear more about the expedition plans, then come along to the next BMRES monthly meeting in August.