This is part 2 of a 4 part series looking at Family Adventures including Walking, Climbing, Scrambling and Mountain Biking
Scrambling, the middle ground between walking and climbing, definitely more adventurous and requiring more confidence and experience to complete safely but a real favourite with slightly older children (and adults!). These full day suggestions only include easy sections of scrambling which should be feasible for most people who are used to rough, moorland walking or have ever done any rock climbing. They do require a reasonable level of navigational skill as you won't always be on paths and finding your way can be difficult in poor weather.
There is already a lot of very good, thoughtful guidance available online for how to engage children in the great outdoors so I will only lightly touch on that here. Instead this article will mostly focus on specific suggestions for locations and activities that experience has shown work well.
Generally these ideas are aimed at children between toddler and young teen; any younger than that and you can pop then in a carrier and take them anywhere you want (providing you are suitably equipped and motivated!), any older and they are capable of doing everything you can (often better than you as well, one of the joys of getting older!).
Firstly though a word or warning, as a parent (particularly an adventurous one) one of the hardest things to do can be to manage your own sense of expectation. Expect to do less than you expect, often you won't get to the top of the hill or the end of the route you had planned. Be prepared to explore whatever engages your child's curiosity and stop regularly for snack breaks.
The Peak District has many aircraft crash sites, most of which date from the war, and they can be truly memorable places to visit.
Hopefully this article has given you a few ideas to get you started on your next family adventure. There really are countless possibilities, particularly when you start to combine different activities into a single day.
Before setting off remember that everything will take longer than you expect and make sure you are prepared for that. If you are in any doubt about your own ability to keep everyone safe on a particular trip then wait until you have gained more skill, experience and confidence.
But, no matter what level you are starting from, there is an adventure that is suitable for you, so get out there and have some fun!
Firstly though a word or warning, as a parent (particularly an adventurous one) one of the hardest things to do can be to manage your own sense of expectation. Expect to do less than you expect, often you won't get to the top of the hill or the end of the route you had planned. Be prepared to explore whatever engages your child's curiosity and stop regularly for snack breaks.
Scrambling in the Peak District
Kinder Crash Sites
This route takes in two of quite different character that are both close to the summit of the Snake Pass road. Start by walking north along the Pennine way from where it leaves the road (SK 08802 92904) for about 400m until you come to the junction with the Doctors Gate track. Follow this westwards for just over a kilometre until you can make your way into the bottom of Ashton Clough (however you do this will involve some rough walking). Follow the clough up to the edge of the moor above. Along the way you will have to do some easy scrambling and will encounter various parts of a crashed Dakota.
When I completed this walk with my son (who was around 8years old at the time) I hadn't told him what we were going to find and asked him to guess what the various parts were, it wasn't until the first large section of fuselage that he realised what he was looking at. Once you reach the edge of the moor pick up one of the paths that will take you east towards the Trig point (SK 08896 94778), from here it is a short distance to the next crash site at (SK 09063 94874).
The remains of the B29 Superfortress are quite extensive and have a small memorial in place. All that remains is to pick up one of the tracks that lead back east to the Pennine Way and then follow it to your car.
Total distance approx. 7km
When I completed this walk with my son (who was around 8years old at the time) I hadn't told him what we were going to find and asked him to guess what the various parts were, it wasn't until the first large section of fuselage that he realised what he was looking at. Once you reach the edge of the moor pick up one of the paths that will take you east towards the Trig point (SK 08896 94778), from here it is a short distance to the next crash site at (SK 09063 94874).
The remains of the B29 Superfortress are quite extensive and have a small memorial in place. All that remains is to pick up one of the tracks that lead back east to the Pennine Way and then follow it to your car.
Total distance approx. 7km
Crowden Clough
The scrambling in Crowden Clough is a little bit tougher (a grade 1 scramble) but the navigation is definitely easier.Start at the car park on the road to Upper Booth (SK 10772 84721) and initially follow the road to Upper Booth itself. From here pick up the path that heads north following Crowden Brook, the path sticks fairly close to the brook until everything starts to get steeper. Now the path heads up the hillside away from the stream and it is time to make a decision. If you would rather not scramble then keep following the path and complete the rest of the walk (still a very enjoyable day out).
Alternatively head down into the stream itself and start to pick your way between the boulders and rocks. The stream slowly gets steeper and steeper until you arrive at a short waterfall and some real scrambling.
Now you have no choice but to put your hands on the rock to make further progress (if that all seems a bit too much just turn around, enjoy the view and then pick your way back down to the path!). The hard section is short lived and leads to a bit more simple rock hopping before crossing the path that rings the top of Kinder. Follow the path (at first almost southerly but soon turning to the west) past the boulder field of the Woolpacks (a great spot for a picnic or a game of hide and seek) and the Noe Stool until you arrive at a crossroads (SK 08074 86121). From here you can follow the main track eastwards, down Jacobs Ladder and on to Upper Booth before backtracking along the road to return to your car.
Other routes you might like to try could include the trip up to the Downfall by following Red Brook from Kinder reservoir or a loop of Chrome Hill from Hollinsclough.
Other routes you might like to try could include the trip up to the Downfall by following Red Brook from Kinder reservoir or a loop of Chrome Hill from Hollinsclough.
Chrome Hill
For something a bit different try the loop over Chrome Hill from Hollinsclough. Chrome Hill is a
real dragons back of a hill; narrow, spiky and with a character that feels more like a Welsh mountain
than a Peak District Hill.
The path that runs along the ridge is easy to follow and doesn't have to
involve any scrambling at all but can be made more adventurous by picking your way over the
various rocky lumps you will encounter on your way to the summit. You'll also pass small caves,
limestone arches and, if you are prepared to look, fossil remains from its time as a reef on an
ancient sea floor.
Start in the village of Hollinsclough where there is limited parking at SK 06530
66503. Head North along the road for a short distance until you can pick up the path that goes past
Fough and then on to Booths farm. Continuing following the path on to Stoop farm shortly after
which a concessionary path leads up and over Chrome Hill itself. The path is clear and suitable for
anyone with some hill walking fitness but can be slippery after heavy rain.
Take the time to play on
the rocks and enjoy the fantastic views as you make your way up and over the hill. As you drop
down on the far side of the hill you will be facing Parkhouse Hill, Chrome Hills smaller sibling,
which can be used as a fun extension to this route if you still have the time and energy. Otherwise
head south on the minor road for a couple of hundred meters until you can turn right onto the byway
that leads back to Hollinsclough.
Total distance approx. 6.5km.
Final Words
Whatever you are planning it's worth taking along a few additional supplies to add interest to the day, particularly with younger children. Give you child a rucksack of their own (there are sizes suitable for every age group) and load it with a few useful items making sure to leave room for the sticks, stones and leaves that they pick up and absolutely have to bring home with them.
Depending on the age of your child items to take could include: a kite (think small and light, my son had a “kite in a bag” which was perfect), a few sheets of paper and some crayons (for drawing, playing noughts and crosses, taking rubbings of ancient stone signposts, making paper planes, paper boats to race on streams,....), small binoculars, magnifying glass, tennis ball, etc...
Add lots of snacks, drinks, plenty of warm clothes and waterproofs and you're ready to go so lets start thinking about where with the most straightforward of activities...
Depending on the age of your child items to take could include: a kite (think small and light, my son had a “kite in a bag” which was perfect), a few sheets of paper and some crayons (for drawing, playing noughts and crosses, taking rubbings of ancient stone signposts, making paper planes, paper boats to race on streams,....), small binoculars, magnifying glass, tennis ball, etc...
Add lots of snacks, drinks, plenty of warm clothes and waterproofs and you're ready to go so lets start thinking about where with the most straightforward of activities...
Before setting off remember that everything will take longer than you expect and make sure you are prepared for that. If you are in any doubt about your own ability to keep everyone safe on a particular trip then wait until you have gained more skill, experience and confidence.
But, no matter what level you are starting from, there is an adventure that is suitable for you, so get out there and have some fun!
Written by Gavin Moy - Pure Outdoor Senior Instructor
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