No, not Christmas or even New Year, but it’s what we all been waiting for – the annual Marsden-Edale!
Last year, 10 of us (plus three dogs) completed the classic test piece in perfect weather and a great day was had by all. I’m hoping even more of you will join us on 4th January for what has been a Rucksack Club tradition for more than a hundred years.
Here are the details:
Start – 7:45 at the end of Wessenden Rd (GR SE048107 OS South Pennines OL 21 map) – finish at The Ramblers in Edale.
Carole Smithies will be doing her usual “counting them out and counting them all back in again” (many thanks Carole!). She will be at the Marsden end from about 7:30 so please make sure she gets your name on the day – and even more importantly crosses you off at the end of the day in Edale (she will be at The Ramblers). If, for any reason you do not make it to Edale, please make sure Carole knows about it so that we know you are safe – note there is no mobile reception at the Ramblers but, if necessary, you can phone the pub and pass on a message (01433 670268). If you are planning an earlier start, please let Carole know.
The route I’ll be taking is:
- From the start of the Wessenden track we’ll head up to the conduit path (flat for more than two miles) and up to Wessenden Head, then via Pennine Way to Black Hill.
- From the trig point down via Crowden Meadows to cross Crowden Little Brook at SE074023 then to pick up the shooting track to Crowden Great Quarry and round to the car park on the start of the old road to Glossop SK082993 for a lunch stop.
- South along the Trans Pennine Trail to the stile at SK071985. Up the Western Edge of Wildboar Clough following the fenceline. Pick up the main path higher up the stream and then follow to pick up the Pennine Way at SK092966 and on to Bleaklow Head.
- Pennine Way down Hern Clough and Devils Dike to the Snake summit.
- Following the quad tracks south over Featherbed Top and down to pick up the small path along the grouse butts at the side of Upper Gate Clough
- Cross Ashop Clough at the footbridge and then follow the shooting track up via the grouse butts to climb steeply up to Fairbrook Naze
- Follow the edge path round past Fair Brook to SK099891 then following the high ground south via point 623 to pick up the water course down to the top of Grindsbrook (a lovely bog-free crossing of Kinder).
- Over Grindslow Knoll and down to Edale.
According to OS-Maps it is 21.5 miles and 4160ft of ascent. Alternative routes via Tooleyshaw Moss, Lawrence Edge and/or Seal Edge are of similar length for those who prefer them.
Here is a pdf showing the route.
Also, the .gpx file can be downloaded from here
Trains: At the moment, Transpennine Express say that on 4th January trains from Manchester Piccadilly to Marsden will be replaced by a bus from Stalybridge. The train leaves Piccadilly at 6:00 to stalybridge where a replacement bus takes you to Marsden for 6:59. The next train leaves Piccadilly at 6:59 and the bus arrives at Marsden at 7:59. It will be worth checking this nearer the time…
Trains for the return from Edale to Manchester are at 16:47, 17:47, 18:47, 19:47. Trains towards Sheffield are at 16:32, 17:32, 18:32, 19:32.
I hope to see as many of you as possible on the day