Diamond Network Four Inns Walk
The Scout Network is back with a bang in Clwyd with the newly started Diamond Network based in Llangollen. The Network has started strongly with it's own local events and also plans to attend national events.
One of their recent events was the Four Inns Walk - member Gavin Scott tells us all about it...
Four members from the newly formed Llangollen Diamond Network recently undertook the Four Inns Walk, an endurance challenge covering 40 miles of the Peak District's most rugged terrain. The walk is a great test of navigation and stamina. Starting in Holmbridge, in Last of the Summer Wine country, the route takes you in a generally southern direction following various footpaths over some of the highest points in the Peak District to Buxton.
There were about 500 entrants this year, in teams of about four, open to older explorers, network and leaders, as well as those non scouters who also think such challenges are a good way to spend a Saturday.
We arrived on Friday evening, and after a very quick, efficient check in, we were issued with our route cards and dog tags, then went off to our accommodation, which was all within scout huts or church halls in the area. An early night was beneficial as we were woken up at 0400 the next morning, and made our way to the start line where breakfast was provided and our kit was inspected.
Our start time was at 7.16, and right on time we were sent on our way, following the route card to the first checkpoint about 3 miles away, on the site of the Isle of Skye pub, one of 4 that we passed during the course of the day, from which the walk takes its name.
After leaving our first checkpoint, the groups were starting to spread out, the fell runners establishing their lead, and we were beginning to settle into our own pace. We followed the route over Black Hill and Bleaklow to the Snake Pass Inn, the second inn of the route, from here we climbed Kinder Scout, an ascent of more than 300 metres in 1 mile.
On descending from Kinder Scout, we entered the beautiful Hope Valley, and our next check point in Edale, near the third inn of the route, the Nags Head. By this point, we had covered about 25 miles, and our pace had slowed slightly as we begin to realise that no normal person usually walks that far in a day. It was getting late in the day and we were starting to work out how many hours were going to be spent walking in the dark.
We walked on into Chapel-en-le-Frith, and after a quick break at the checkpoint to establish our route over the final 10 miles from here, we walked out into the dark, we passed through numerous villages, walking predominantly on country lanes for the first time until we came across our next checkpoint, serving rice pudding, by this time it was 2230, we had been walking for 15 hours non-stop, it was dark and the temperature had dropped, it certainly tasted good!
From here we gradually ascended to the fourth inn, the famous Cat and Fiddle, the finish began to feel achievable and we were still maintaining an average speed similar to that we started with earlier that day. Reaching the Cat and Fiddle, the final checkpoint on the route, marked 3 miles to the finish, and also meant that all of the uphill sections had been completed. For the next hour we descended into Buxton, finally reaching the finish line at 0247 the next morning, having been walking for 19 hours and 31 minutes.
It was certainly a challenge, but the sense of achievement the next day (I was only bothered about getting into my sleeping bag once I'd crossed the line) made it all worthwhile, I'd recommend the event to anyone interested. The route takes you through some fantastic scenery, and the high standard of organisation made sure that all you had to think about was the walking.
Find out more about Diamond Network on their Facebook page
The Scout Network is back with a bang in Clwyd with the newly started Diamond Network based in Llangollen. The Network has started strongly with it's own local events and also plans to attend national events.
One of their recent events was the Four Inns Walk - member Gavin Scott tells us all about it...
Four members from the newly formed Llangollen Diamond Network recently undertook the Four Inns Walk, an endurance challenge covering 40 miles of the Peak District's most rugged terrain. The walk is a great test of navigation and stamina. Starting in Holmbridge, in Last of the Summer Wine country, the route takes you in a generally southern direction following various footpaths over some of the highest points in the Peak District to Buxton.
There were about 500 entrants this year, in teams of about four, open to older explorers, network and leaders, as well as those non scouters who also think such challenges are a good way to spend a Saturday.
We arrived on Friday evening, and after a very quick, efficient check in, we were issued with our route cards and dog tags, then went off to our accommodation, which was all within scout huts or church halls in the area. An early night was beneficial as we were woken up at 0400 the next morning, and made our way to the start line where breakfast was provided and our kit was inspected.
Our start time was at 7.16, and right on time we were sent on our way, following the route card to the first checkpoint about 3 miles away, on the site of the Isle of Skye pub, one of 4 that we passed during the course of the day, from which the walk takes its name.
After leaving our first checkpoint, the groups were starting to spread out, the fell runners establishing their lead, and we were beginning to settle into our own pace. We followed the route over Black Hill and Bleaklow to the Snake Pass Inn, the second inn of the route, from here we climbed Kinder Scout, an ascent of more than 300 metres in 1 mile.
On descending from Kinder Scout, we entered the beautiful Hope Valley, and our next check point in Edale, near the third inn of the route, the Nags Head. By this point, we had covered about 25 miles, and our pace had slowed slightly as we begin to realise that no normal person usually walks that far in a day. It was getting late in the day and we were starting to work out how many hours were going to be spent walking in the dark.
We walked on into Chapel-en-le-Frith, and after a quick break at the checkpoint to establish our route over the final 10 miles from here, we walked out into the dark, we passed through numerous villages, walking predominantly on country lanes for the first time until we came across our next checkpoint, serving rice pudding, by this time it was 2230, we had been walking for 15 hours non-stop, it was dark and the temperature had dropped, it certainly tasted good!
From here we gradually ascended to the fourth inn, the famous Cat and Fiddle, the finish began to feel achievable and we were still maintaining an average speed similar to that we started with earlier that day. Reaching the Cat and Fiddle, the final checkpoint on the route, marked 3 miles to the finish, and also meant that all of the uphill sections had been completed. For the next hour we descended into Buxton, finally reaching the finish line at 0247 the next morning, having been walking for 19 hours and 31 minutes.
It was certainly a challenge, but the sense of achievement the next day (I was only bothered about getting into my sleeping bag once I'd crossed the line) made it all worthwhile, I'd recommend the event to anyone interested. The route takes you through some fantastic scenery, and the high standard of organisation made sure that all you had to think about was the walking.
Find out more about Diamond Network on their Facebook page
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