Autumn Camping: Edale

Three thirty in the morning and the combination of freezing cold temperatures and needing the loo had woken us both up. We had escaped to the Peak District for some early autumn camping, both missing the wilds of our Scottish trip just a couple of weeks before.

Unzipping the tent, we were stunned, there above us in the inky black night, were millions and millions of stars glittering away. With our campsite in darkness, meaning less light pollution, this was the most stars we had ever seen, it was truly a special moment. Early morning, no one else awake and this spectacular view above us. Perfect!

Since living in a tent for two weeks back in Scotland, I have been craving escape and adventure, so with this is mind, we headed to a small campsite in Edale which is nestled between the lush green hills of Mam Tor and the Great Ridge and the dark, atmospheric Kinder Scout. Both two old friends we had been keen to revisit for a while.

Arriving early evening on the Friday, we pitched up before enjoying bacon and sausage cobs cooked over our stove, excitedly talking over the adventures ahead of us that weekend. The night was cold, but snuggling down in our sleeping bags, the pup nestled between us, we were soon cosy and warm.

The morning arrived all too soon but we enjoyed zipping open our tent and letting the late September sunshine warm us up. The morning was slow and relaxed, enjoying hot, steaming mugs of coffee and more local bacon and sausage. We were planning on hiking up to Kinder Scout via a scramble up Grindsbrook Clough, a place which had been on our to-do list for a while.

It was a crisp, cold, sunny day as we made our way to Grindsbrook Clough. I love a clough scramble; I love the hopping over streams and finding a route up and this did not disappoint. I had been feeling a bit down after a back injury but found the more I walked, the more it loosened up. Scrambling takes me back to being a child, its so much fun having a bit of a varied walk up rather than just a straight, boring path. We made sure we took a couple of stops to look back on the view below us, it was truly spectacular.

Once at the top, the ever-changing weather came in and we were battered by bitter winds and cold rain as we rambled along to Grindsbrook Knoll for some epic views of the ridge and beyond. I have made no secret of my love of Kinder; it is a vast, peaty moorland which can be bathed in either beautiful golden light or unforgiving cloud and rain. We were treated to both as we headed along the plateau passing some of the iconic rock formations, including the Woolpacks. There was some more scrambling involved in places but were having so much fun and just appreciative of being out on an adventure after a tough couple of weeks.

There is nothing better than a hot brew halfway through a good hike and as we started down Jacobs Ladder, we decided to take a break. With a view of the Cloughs and the Pennine Way, we sipped steaming coffee which warmed us against the cold wind. It was quiet at this point, so felt like we had the place to ourselves. Jacobs Ladder is always fun and its always nicer going down, so we made fast time and soon found ourselves back on the Pennine Way.

It was a fantastic ten-mile hike where we tackled some scrambling, a lot of inclines and gave us some amazing views. Camping in Autumn was new to us both, but we loved it, it felt so good to get out on an adventure and forget the worries of everyday life.

Now, where to adventure next?