The Route and Walking Information |
GENERAL
All Team Members should read the information in the Walkers Information handbook and understand the rules governing this event.
It should be appreciated that this walk passes through "Potentially Hazardous Country" and should be undertaken only by those who are physically and mentally prepared.
Any walker who has had any acute illness (e.g. Tonsillitis, Influenza, Chest Infection, etc.) in the four weeks prior to the event should consult a doctor before competing.
- ROUTE INFORMATION
- STARTING ARRANGEMENTS
- WALKING INSTRUCTIONS
- NOTES
- RESCUE SERVICES
- INSPECTION TEAMS
- BAD WEATHER
- DOCTOR'S GATE CHECKPOINT
- SNAKE PASS INN, CAT & FIDDLE AND WHITEHALL CHECKPOINTS
- LOST PROPERTY
- CLOSING CEREMONY
- LITTER
SNAKE PASS INN, CAT AND FIDDLE AND WHITEHALL CHECKPOINTS
There is a layout of the route here. The route is covered by OS 1:25000 maps, Explorer ref OL 1 and OL 24.
Checkpoint Locations
| Checkpoint | Location | Grid Ref | Refreshments |
| START | Holmbridge Parish Hall | 121068 | Breakfast |
| ISLE OF SKYE INN | Car parked opp. junction | 077073 | - |
| HEY MOSS | Tent near Trig. Point | 080005 | - |
| CROWDEN | The Youth Hostel | 069996 | Food + H&C drinks |
| TORSIDE | Car on site of old railway crossing | 058980 | - |
| DOCTOR'S GATE | Caravan in lay-by next to bridge | 096929 | Food + H&C drinks |
| SNAKE PASS INN | Outbuilding left hand side of Inn | 112906 | Cold drinks |
| EDALE | Community Centre | 124853 | Food + H&C drinks |
| CHAPEL | 1st Chapel Scout HQ, Thornbrook Road | 059807 | Food + H&C drinks |
| WHITE HALL | Caravan at the top of the track approaching White Hall | 032765 | Food + H&C drinks |
| CAT & FIDDLE INN | Garage at rear of Inn | 001719 | Food + H&C drinks |
| FINISH | High Peak College of Further Education, Harpur Hill, Buxton | 067710 | Evening meal |
A Team Entry Form giving start and inspection times will be sent along with the booking confirmation. No allowance for late starting will be made, unless through circumstances beyond your control, and then only at the discretion of the Organising Committee. Please note that teams must book in on arrival at Holmbridge. Teams not staying the night in Holmbridge MUST arrive at the Parish Hall at least ONE HOUR AND A HALF before their starting time to allow for booking in and equipment inspection to be carried out. All teams will be inspected before starting.
The start will be controlled by a "Starting Committee" which will consist of a representative of Derbyshire Scout Council, a representative of the Four Inns Committee and a representative of the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation. In the event that the Start Committee considers the weather conditions unsuitable for competitive walking over open country, the event will be cancelled.
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All Team members should read the information in this handbook and understand the rules governing the event. (Further information regarding the organisation of the event is available on the website) It should be appreciated that this walk passes through “Potentially Hazardous Country” and should only be undertaken by those who are physically and mentally prepared. Any walker who has had any acute illness (e.g. tonsillitis, influenza, chest infection etc) in the four weeks prior to the event should consult a doctor before competing.
ALL SECTIONS OF THE ROUTE PRINTED IN BLOCK CAPITALS ARE COMPULSORY
On leaving the Start, TURN RIGHT, CROSS THE ROAD, TURN LEFT UP THE STEPS, TURN LEFT AND FOLLOW THE ROAD FOR 500 METRES. TURN RIGHT UP ROODS LANE TO THE ‘T’ JUNCTION AT FLUSH HOUSE. TURN LEFT ONTO FLUSH HOUSE LANE, OVER THE CROSSROADS ONTO ACRES LANE. TAKE THE TRACK AT GR111075 (WHITE WALLS LANE) UP TO GREAVES HEAD AND ONTO NETHER LANE. FOLLOW PATH UP TO CHECKPOINT AT GR 077073 ON THE A635 ROAD.
FROM THE ISLE OF SKYE, FOLLOW THE FOOTPATH OVER BLACK HILL, PASSING TO THE WEST OF WHITE LOW (GR087023) EAST OF BLACK HILL END (GR081018) NOTING THE FENCE RUNNING EAST TO WEST (USE THE STILES) OVER HEY MOSS TO THE CHECKPOINT AT HEY EDGE (GR079005) – A TENT NEAR THE CHECKPOINT AT 424M. PROCEED TO CROWDEN VIA THE WEST OF THE QUARRY (GR077998) THE CHECKPOINT IS LOCATED AT THE NEW CROWDEN YOUTH HOSTEL/OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CENTRE (GR069995)
ON LEAVING THE CHECKPOINT, RETRACE YOUR STEPS BACK TO THE GATE, TURN RIGHT TO JOIN THE TRACK AND ON TO THE PENNINE WAY TO WHERE IT MEETS THE A628. CROSS THE ROAD AND TAKE THE FOOTPATH OPPOSITE (MARKED CONCESSIONARY FOOTPATH) CROSS THE DAM BETWEEN TORSIDE AND RHODESWOOD RESERVOIRS, WALK UP THE TRACK TO THE ROAD, TO THE CHECKPOINT IN A VEHICLE ON THE ROAD SIDE.
Follow the track towards "Reaps", then follow Torside Clough to Torside Castle. Then to Bleaklow Head and via Doctor’s Gate footpath to the Checkpoint near the culvert on the Snake Pass road. Walk down the A57 to the next Checkpoint at the Snake Pass Inn. From there, crosss Kinder Scout (Edale Moor) to the next Checkpoint at Edale.
RETRACE YOUR STEPS APPROXIMATELY 150 METRES TO GR123856. FOLLOW FOOTPATH TO BARBER BOOTH (GR114848) AND THEN UP THE CHAPEL GATE TRACK TO THE TOP, FOLLOW THE PATH TO THE SUNKEN TRACK (DO NOT CUT DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE FIELDS) AND ON TO THE A625 ROAD. CONTINUE ALONG THE ROAD TOWARDS CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH FOR APPROX. 600 METRES, TAKE THE FOOTPATH (GR089823) ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTINUE ONTO THE TRACK WHICH RUNS PARALLEL TO THE A625 UNTIL IT MEETS A MINOR ROAD. TURN NORTH ALONG THIS ROAD UNTIL YOU REJOIN THE A625 AT SLACKHALL (THE CHESTNUT CENTRE) Walk along the A625 into Chapel using the pavement provided. The Checkpoint is situated at the 1st Chapel Scout Group HQ in Thornbrook Road just after the Medical Centre – turn left off Market Street.
The next Checkpoint is situated at White Hall in a mess tent at the top of the track. Continue via the Goyt Valley (after dark there will be a “Four Inns” vehicle parked at the car park at the bottom of Shooters Clough –GR012748- where assistance will be available)and up to the Cat & Fiddle Inn on the A537 road.
FROM THE “CAT”, PROCEED DOWN THE A537 TURNING LEFT DOWN THE GOYT VALLEY ROAD UNTIL IT TURNS APPROXIMATELY NORTHWARDS NEAR THE INFORMATION CENTRE. CONTINUE STRAIGHT ALONG THE UNMETALLED TRACK TOWARDS BURBAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 Km. LEAVE THE TRACK AT THE FOOTPATH FINGER POST (MARKED) AND GO ACROSS THE TOP OF THE DAM TO THE EXIT GATE ONTO THE A54 (GR038721)
The suggested route is then along the A54 to its junction with the A53, turn right up this road for approximately 200 metres, then turn left and walk along Grinlow Road and on to the Finish at University of Derby –High Peak College Sports Centre, College Way, Harpur Hill.
(a) All sections of the route printed in BLOCK CAPITALS are compulsory. Any competitors found off the route will be disqualified.
(b) After dark, an "official" vehicle will be positioned at the Car Park at the bottom of Shooters Clough (GR 012748). Although this location is not a checkpoint, teams may obtain assistance there.
(c) IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT EACH COMPETITOR HANDS IN THEIR OWN ROUTE CARD AT CHECKPOINTS. IF A COMPETITOR RETIRES, THE ROUTE CARD WILL BE RETAINED BY THE CHECKPOINT STAFF. THE TALLY MUST BE TAKEN TO THE FINISH AND HANDED IN PERSONALLY.
(d) Teams MUST KEEP TOGETHER AS A UNIT and when on a road without a pavement keep to the right in single file.
(e) LED lights will be issued at checkpoints after 1630 hours. These are to be affixed and displayed on the rear of the rucsac.
Mountain Rescue Teams will be in the area throughout the period of the event. If any competitor is unable to continue when in open country, the remaining members of the team should bivouac and advise the rescue organisation through any checkpoint; there will always be a checkpoint open in front of and behind each team. It is essential that at least ONE person stays with the casualty. Any team finding another in distress MUST help by assisting to erect an emergency shelter or tent and by seeing that those in distress are comfortably installed. They should ascertain the correct location and advise the nearest checkpoint. The action will be additional to any information already passed by the members of the team in distress. Suitable time allowance for such action will be made at the discretion of the Organising Committee.
Rescue Signals: Teams should note the following signals that will be used by teams in difficulties:
| Message | Lamp or Whistle |
| Help wanted | 6 flashes/blasts in quick succession followed by one minutes silence |
| Acknowledgement | 3 flashes/blasts in succession followed by one minutes silence. |
Teams bivouacking should use these procedures and all competitors should keep a sharp lookout for such signals from other teams. Reports of any incidents should be made to checkpoints on arrival. Mountain Rescue Teams can be called from any checkpoint.
Inspection Teams will be operating throughout the event. Their terms of reference are broadly noted as follows:
(a) Inspection of personal and team equipment of every participant prior to starting.
(b) Random spot checks of some or all of the personal and/or team equipment at or between checkpoints throughout the whole event. (NOTE: Time taken for inspections will be credited and a team may be stopped more than once).
(c) Observation of teams for any infringement of the Rules, especially the use of"support" cars and pace-making by non-competing walkers.
(d) Thin, lightweight, outer garments will not be acceptable - a good guide is to ensure the garment has sealed seams.
(e) If there is any possibility of your trousers being considered to be of "thin" material, we advise you to have "long johns" available at the kit check prior to starting the walk.
(f) The sleeping bag referred to in Rule 5a is to be suitable for a team member - not a child.
(g) Emergency Shelter
An emergency shelter, which can also be known as a KISU or Blokka bag or
emergency bothy, consists of proofed ripstop nylon, or other suitable material,
sewn into shape. All team members sit inside it to shelter from the wind
and/or rain. The shelter is held up by the occupants' heads and retained by the
simple technique of sitting on part of it. Within the context of suitability for the Four Inns, they must be made
of appropriate robust material and large enough to cover all team members. As an alternative a tent without poles
or pegs may be used instead.
Again, this must be large enough to cover all team members with sufficient
material to sit on. The Inspection Teams will have discretion to reject any unsuitable
offerings; their decision is final!
Competitors will be aware of developments in clothing and equipment technology in recent years and the Organisers recognise the need to respond accordingly in respect of the requirements of the rules. However your safety whilst walking is still our biggest concern. The rules take account of your needs in an emergency situation on the hills which we realise many of you have never experienced. It is vital that everyone retains body heat in an emergency, not just the casualty.
Any infringement of the Rules can lead to disqualification of the individual or the team on the spot at the Inspectors' discretion. All incidents will be reported to the Organising Committee.
Although over the years we have been pretty lucky with the weather, if conditions cause the closure of the snake pass road, thus delaying the checkpoint staff, the following action would be required if the checkpoint was not manned.
HEYMOSS CHECKPOINT Proceed to Crowden youth hostel checkpoint and wait there for further instructions.
DOCTOR'S GATE CHECKPOINT Proceed down the road to the Snake Pass Inn checkpoint and await further instructions.
At both Crowden youth hostel and the Snake Pass Inn teams will be able to get shelter warmth and food in the event of
really bad weather.
Please ensure supporters cars are not parked in the vicinity of the checkpoint. The road in the area can be very dangerous if cars are parked indiscriminately.
Problems have arisen in the past with supporters vehicles blocking the car parks of these inns. As we do rely on the generosity of the landlords in the use of their buildings to operate the checkpoints, please ensure that supporters are made aware of the problem and do not obstruct the legitimate users of the car parks. At the Cat & Fiddle particularly, it would be helpful if supporters parked their cars on the opposite side of the road to the pub. Supporters please note that there is no access from the A5004 road to the pub. Supporters please also note that there is no access from the A5004 to Whitehall.
Any items of lost property should be handed in to the lost property table situated adjacent to the souvenir sales at the finish. All enquiries to the competitors secretary.
The closing ceremony will be held at 09:30 hrs on sunday. It is hoped as many as possible will stay to take part.
Both walkers and supporters should keep the Country Code and ensure that no litter is dropped on the Walk or around the checkpoints.
Last updated: 09:23, 26 April 2008
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