Thursday April 23rd

The Helicopter Walk via Oyster Clough

David was out for a walk on his own today, and wanted to do the full helicopter walk as it was a nice day. After parking up at Birchen Clough on the Snake Pass, the first section was up through the remains of the felled larches, which had a desolate feel. However, the treeline was soon cleared and there was a view of Fairbrook Naze and the edge of the Kinder plateau. 

Fairbrook Naze- the way down from the plateau

The way up to the Oyster Clough bothy used to be a long haul, but nowadays it feels much easier, but it's still lovely to see it in the distance.

Oyster Clough and the bothy

The bothy had recently been cleaned up and tidied (the log book suggested that it hadn't been left in a particularly good state, though) and someone had left a Monopoly set in case people staying the night got bored.

Monopoly set to while away the hours

Having found a straightforward way down from the "Hope Forest" higher level above Cowms Moor, I stayed high. Alas, the only remaining evidence of the forest is the occasional bleached root in the peat.

Forest remains

After dropping down to the Snake Pass and crossing at Alport Bridge, I took my customary break just after the ford and walked on below Upper Ashop, observed by a handsome sheep.

The Watcher

Up on Crookstone Hill, the Lonely Trees were just coming into leaf.

The Lonely Trees and Crookstone Knoll

I had lunch, as usual, at Crookstone Knoll and continued along the northern edge path with Blackden and Fairbrook Naze in the distance.

Blackden and Fairbrook Naze

Approaching The Helicopter Rock, slabs have been laid to reduce erosion of the peat. It's probably a good thing, but there are sections of the path to the east that are far more eroded.

Newly flagged path

I had another break at The Helicopter Rock. The visiting party had had a kettle boiling in one of the crevices in the sheltering rocks.

Just space for a stove and kettle!

The final descent from the Kinder plateau is from Fairbrook Naze with its precarious pedestal formation.

Fairbrook Naze Pedestal

From the foot of the naze, you contour for a few hundred metres and then follow the grouse butts down the the footbridge across the River Ashop, which is followed down to the (remains of) Snake Plantation and back to Birchen Clough.

The classic walk of  14.7 miles with 800m ascent.



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