Hayfield Camping

Got away from work at lunch time so we could beat the Friday rush. Arrived at the Caravan and Camping Club site early evening. The road from the village center to the site was pretty narrow, and there were lots of parked cars all good fun in the motorhome!

Kinder Downfall Walk

Hayfield is a great place for walkers. The mass trespass in 1932 started very near the camp site at Bowden Bridge, this was a well publicised example of ramblers confronting land owners who didn't want people on their land. Interesting how it took until 2000 to get legislation passed by parliament.


On Saturday we did an 8 mile circular walk, up William Clough and out onto high ground. We spent most of the afternoon 'up top' walking along the edge of the moor. Walking has always been a passion, but never in the Peak District. I think we're always drawn to the achievement of making it to the top of a mountain, but here it's different. Once we'd gained height it was an easy walk along the top and there isn't any lofty peaks that stand out.

On Mount Famine.

The views are great, Manchester is off to the North West, away from the Peak District everything looks low and flat. Looking further around the Pennines stretch northward and we could see the Holme Moss Transmitter, something I often point out to the kids when we are at home.




We stopped at several rocky outcrops and the kids climbed around and explored all the unusual shapes. The scenery becomes much more dramatic at Kinder Downfall and the kids were told to 'act right of your heads', we didin't want any accidents. Water was flowing over the edge of the cliff, Jack and Finlay found a sandy deposit that was like a beach and started making sand castles!!

The Kids in William Clough.

Strange Rocks.

On Top.

We continued along  the edge and made our way to Kinder Low, at this point we headed back into the valley and after walking through several fields filled with newly born lambs we headed back down the farm tracks back to the camp site.

The Kids above Kinder Downfall.

The kids did really well and still had plenty of energy to play with the other kids on the camp site before we set off into Hayfield for some tea. The food at The George Hotel was both reasonably prices and nice to eat, so much so we came back on Sunday!


When walking back to the camp site Finlay found a toad and wanted to keep it as a pet. He get upset when we had to release it back into the wild, it was like watching 'Born Free'!

Walk to South Head.

Sunday and the weather was good again so we headed off on a second walk, this time heading to Mount Famine and across to South Head. It's a five mile walk and again there are great views once you get up high. This time the kids did moan a bit but we kept them occupied by talking about toys and played word games. Jack and Finlay love to have our undivided attention so they happily walk along while babbling on about the latest video game.....


We had a good weekend and saw the Peak District from up high for the first time. All good!