The Kinder Trog recce

 It’s not been a great year racing wise. There are lots of reasons for this but I shan’t go in to them here. Suffice to say my plans for big things like George Fisher’s tea rounds have fallen by the wayside. 

But I do have the club series in my diary and the biggie for the year is the Kinder Trog. Currently, only two of us are showing any inclination so I thought I would bob out and check out the course and see if (given all the health and life issues) I was being ridiculous trying to get round. 

We’d had a heat wave over bank holiday weekend, which had scuppered a lot of my plans especially with dog care. But the Wednesday finally saw a dip in the heat, and doggie day care was open to take the double coated Labrador (ie heat stroke central) on my random Wednesday off. So I jumped in the car to head to Hayfield . 

The event will start at the scout hut but I parked in the Derbyshire council car park at the start of the Sett Valley trail. I think the race actually finishes this way, and you follow the residential road to a footpath that follows down to the river, over a bridge turn left and in to the start and finish field. Having not recce’d starts and finishes before I have been caught out, so it was good to see this bit. 

The route starts with a road section so I suspect will be fast. It was early but warm so I took it nice and steady, through the flat residential section, then forking left out the village, round the bend and starting to climb the road. It’s steep then settles then goes up again past farms and cottages to a terrace and then the route swings right on to a less well made track. Blacksheep will recognize this from previous Sycamore Inn route to Lantern pike. I was a bit bored of climbing now, and by the time I hit where the track actually gets more interesting I was almost settling in for a hike! 

Eventually I reached the gate with its national trust sign, and automatically turned left and climbed the rocky path adjacent to the wall as I would on a club night. I did then get my phone out and realise the GPX sent you up a grassier trod further along. Its probably all a much of a muchness over the full course, but the direct line is possibly quicker. Sorry, I can't tell you where to find it. Fail. Anyway, checkpoint 1 is the top of Lantern Pike, presumably at the little monument on top. 

Lantern Pike 

Running off the top of Latern Pike is always a nice run- a rutted path with a few rocks amongst the heather leads you down to the main track which drops down towards a gate and a field which on the day I recce'd was occupied by some incredibly chilled longhorn cattle. I ran right through the middle of these handsome beasts and they stayed lying down and barely acknowledged me. There are two tracks across the field but you are essentially aiming for the bottom left corner where there is a gate out on to the Pennine Bridleway. 

The Pennine Bridleway goes on round (ignore the Blackshaw farm track straight ahead, stay in the hedged lane) and is fast running, being well made. At Matley Moor farm, cut left across in front of the farmhouse on to their road acess track and then take the first footpath off to the left across a field, roughly hugging the field boundary but the going is slightly better to the left. But you are aiming for the corner straight ahead, to a slightly boggy crossing with horseflies (hopefully they have moved), and along a further bumpy path to meet the track which then is a nice straight run to a rather fast road which you follow right to the Hayfield road. 

Cross the road carefully- its bloody fast. 

Across the road cross stile/gate (I forget) to the path heading up the moor. This section is a long steady climb. Its almost certainly runnable, a mixture of decent path and slabs. It goes up steadily with a few sections of flattening and then rising again. And there was a hefty head wind when I went up; I gave up on my podcast as the wind was too loud. And relentless. It was quiet and the skylarks were singing so I was content to walk. There are the remains of a plane crash, as well as a mountain rescue memorial paqrt way up to break up the slog. Over on the right you begin to see Ashop head and the wider bulk of Kinder what seems like a long way away. Its definitely a mental battle and quite leg sapping if you let be. 

Two or three kilometers later the top cairn of Mill Hill (Checkpoint 2) eventually appeared. I'd seen one runner over in the distance heading for Bleaklow but no one else. But as I crested the hill, I saw a few people around Ashop head. This section to Brown Knoll could be busy on a June Sunday. I stopped to chat to some walkers ascening the steep steps of Ashop Head; they assumed I was local which was flattering. 

For anyone who hasn't run Kinder, the path is relatively easy to follow but its not the easist to run. The rocks are large and irregular. If you are used to it, its in usual condition- few puddles, lots of grit. Its quite undulating. Make sure you hang slightly left as you approach Kinder Downfall (checkpoint 3) which wasn't too full when I crossed but we have had some rain since. Again, this will be busy. The view in to the valley on this beautiful day was stunning, looking down on the reservoir and cloughs. There were now mor epeople around on this Wednesday afternoon, including the odd big group. But another runner appeared and I suddenly realised it was Alice who used to run with Chorlton. We had a chat before heading off on our seperate adventures. 

The reservoir from Ashop Head

After a while the path goes up and to the left. Don't be tempted to go straight on or you will end up on Kinder Knoll. You are heading on the main path past the trig point, then again stick to the biggest looking path (about 11 o'clock as you pass the trig) to take you down towards Edale Roacks and Swine's back. This section is always heaving and I suspect making use of the erosion to the side of the main track is the best way, even if your ecological soul is crushed. Bare slightly right at the bottom, away from Jacob's ladder. I think the check point is going to be by the five bar gate at the top of the bridleway. 

The Trig at Kinder Lowe

Don't follow the bridleway but take the path that follows the fence line up from the gate. Again, its reasonably well made and at this  point rising but shortly flattens out then drops across the moorland on a mixture of steps, flags and path. Ignore the stiles that take you over and off to Brown Knoll. Carry on across the moor and as it flattens it gets bit squishier. Its nice running, even as it tilts slightly back up at the far end, as we approach the lump that is South Head. Bear left just before the path meets the bridleway to cut the corner and head for the trod up the great lump. 

There is a checkpoint on South Head, so you can't duck it. My IT band was starting to complain and the short sharp stomp to the top was actually less painful than the steep descent off the other side. Aim for the yellowish bridleway below, snaking away from you. Its steep but its quite easy to follow the trod. And its grassy, if not very even. The wind on top of South Head was pretty terrible again.

View from South Head to Bridleway 

There is now a nice long bridleway section that snakes across some sheep fields. It would be quick if my legs would let me. I had a sneaking suspicion the hill to the left was our next problem but for now enjoyed a limpy run down to a cross roads where a DofE group were resupplying, and then down a well make trakc, past a quarry to the road again (very fast still). 

Turning left on the road, I was pleased to see the grass verges had a trod to avoid running the short distance on the very fast road. And it is only short, there is a farm driveway on thr right and you go down that, past the honesty layby (good to know that exists) and look up the steep and unending drive ahead. Its well made and tarmac, and by now I was cooked and with a sore IT band, I knew I would have to cut the corner. Stay on the main track straight up the hill ignoring turns left and right. You go up past a barn on the left, and just before the drive proper to hill farm you would be turn left to handrail around the hill. The path looked well made, but with a few cows. Checkpoint 7 will mark where you pick up the path next to a wall (as far as I can tell from map and distant view) to the top of the ridge (I cut through Hill farm and cut off about a mile). At the top of the ridge join a lumpy bridleway which will snake cross the hill following the walls, and then as it leaves the wall, look for a well made newish looking gate to descend in Foxholes clough. 

Hill Farm Resident 

This is quite steep and a bit loose in places. To be honest, my IT band was playing up a lot at this point and I struggled with the descent to the farm. But it was rather pretty with brook appearing on the right. There is a ruined building and a farm at the bottom but you are swinging hard left in front of the house to a path across the fields. Despite the adverse camber I got a bit more of a jog on finally. Its quite obvious where thr right hand turn is to drop in to Hayfield; just turn right after the squeeze and head down the road, going straight straight straight to the car park, then following the road then footpath to the bridge to cross the stream to glory. 

Personally I was just glad to make the car park. My knee was killing me and I was pooped. But I had done 14 + miles, some running that felt good and seen some beautiful views on a sunny (if breezey) day. The race is probably my realistic fell running limit at the moment and injury allowing I intend to be on the start line. Lets hope for some nice weather for the day!