[Closed] Peaks this weekend - its going to be hell isn't it?

Yeah it will be miserable. Get there early. Like before 8. I would aim for the Yorkshire bridge pub. As you drive from ladybower to bamford on the right. Take the right turn after the pub. Drop down the hill and park at the bottom. Try to park facing back up the hill as when you get back you won’t be able to turn round and the road to thornhill will have cars parked all along one side if 2 weeks ago is anything to go by.

Where are you coming from?

Yeah it will be miserable. Get there early. Like before 8.

I'd go earlier than that this weekend tbh.

Though I'd also just not go to that area at all and head somewhere quieter... and I only live just over the hill. There's plenty of places away from the main honeypots that will be quiet(er).

it's pretty busy already, rode form home last night in the quieter western side of the peak (chinley churn / south head / kinder flanks) a it was as busy a a normal weekend with good weather on a Tuesday night. bank holiday weekend with predicted good weather and lock down easing, will be crazy busy. as above, getting a parking space past early morning could be challenging - id' try Castleton though and see if the overflow fields are open, get there before the crowd who potter around the village (10am?) and you could be ok

Agree it will be hellishly busy, probably with loads of people people who call it the Peak[b]s[/b] 😉 .

I love the peak, but havent been able to travel the relatively short distance to go there within the rules.... (ish, lets not start an argument here...)

With a perfect storm of BH weekend, nice weather, clocks changing, people allowed to be seen outside with others, but not being able to go away proper, it'll be rammed.

I expect no parking, the countryside littered with discarded rubbish and little space and distancing between people.... it'll be like the apocalypse or a zombie scene from walking dead heading over wyn hill 😉

I'll be thinking about what more obscure corner with no obvious attractions I can go to.
That or hoping for it to rain all BH, then I can go, and lots of the normals wont 🙂

The weather says it’s getting cold with winters showers so should ok.

It will be horrendous, and Ladybower is probably one of the worst areas to go that I can think of. Go sonewhere else. Anywhere else. The moors around Abney are usually not too bad in that area maybe?

I was out yesterday briefly and it was so busy. The moor above Gardoms was set alight, but sounds like fire brigade managed to put it out.

Urban DH through Meadowhall anyone 😉

The saving grace is that

1) Pretty much everyone has already been ignoring the restrictions and heading there anyway. How many more people can there be in the country?

2) The weather is not actually supposed to be that good.

Nevertheless I'll be steering clear.

1) Pretty much everyone has already been ignoring the restrictions and heading there anyway. How many more people can there be in the country?

I'd say that was a classic case of tempting fate.

A better option might be to go on a litter picking hike on Monday evening once all the hoardes have gone home...

Where are you coming from? We used to head out Bradfield and Dale Dike way on bank holidays and silly Saturdays. Some ace walks, up onto the moors and into the Peak without having to do battle with Ladybower (my old commute, I used to dread it...)

The weather says it’s getting cold with winters showers so should ok.

The Peak District doesn't work that way (I used to live on the edge of it). The days after a sunny spell are the worst. It's as if sat at home/work in the sunshine gets people who wouldn't normally do so planning to head out into the countryside, they don't actually look at the weather forecast after that... they just crack on with the plan.

Urgh. Its doing my head in. Well im tied to at least driving past ladybower area as thats where his friends are meeting, but i might just slow down to 5mph and push him out of the car. We can then keep going and find somewhere a bit quieter....

I would imagine anywhere with any green space will be absolutely chocker.

The local council round here in East Lancs have been putting social media ads out requesting the population of Greater Manchester not to descend on us, en masse.

I expect it'll be ignored. And to be honest, I totally get why. I can't imagine what its been like to have spent the last 12 months in a built-up area with no access to green space. I really appreciate how lucky we are having miles of moorland to go walking and riding in. A lot of people are less fortunate and are gagging to get out.

I'm not even contemplating taking the mountain bike out this weekend as the trails will be heaving with large groups of walkers. As it is I've been doing it early morning and at weekends I've resorted to the road bike only, or taking the mountain bike to really out of the way trails

2 of us turned on to one of the main bridleways last Saturday afternoon and it literally looked like Market Street in Manchester City Centre on a Saturday, pre-covid. We turned around and ended up taking a detour on the road. It was absolutely rammed! And thats before restrictions were officially lifted

The area around Abney is a good shout IMO. However, the road through Abney is currently closed.

Could park on the old road from Grindleford to Eyam and go from there. Or maybe somewhere near the top of Sir William Hill road.

Sheffield was absolutely rammed everywhere yesterday. We had to go to a hospital appointment and it took 40 minutes to drive 3.5 miles. All the parks and open spaces were packed.

We've just been out and about and it's ramping up already. It's gonna be a hectic weekend.

Sadly we haven't bothered with the Peak in ages. The whole place is a car park.

i live in north sheffield, 3 miles from the peak national park and haven't been there since before christmas. Combination of covid restrictions and how busy it has been. Now i am allowed to head over there, i dont want to. I think i've become institutionalised to riding in wharncliffe.

Also, the amount of rubbish left in Endcliffe park is disgusting. Just what has happened to people. Have normal decent people lost their minds?

And all of this is going to provide a convenient excuse for lockdown 3(?) 4(?)....

Have normal decent people lost their minds?

The normal decent people are all being cautious and staying at home. Its the nobheads that are out and about chucking litter about. Iwas out on Holcombe Hill early the other morning on the bike and the tower was strewn with the detritus from the evening before. Cans, bottles and disposable barbies.

I won't be going anywhere near the place this weekend. I know full-well what it'll be like

It's like the population are hell bent on destroying anywhere even remotely pleasant to be. My whole facebook feed has been images of parks left under a sea of rubbish. I shall be staying home for a bit longer I think.

i live in north sheffield, 3 miles from the peak national park and haven’t been there since before christmas. Combination of covid restrictions and how busy it has been. Now i am allowed to head over there, i dont want to

Yep similar here ... Live close to the edge of the Peak District and tbh Hope Valley and surrounding area is that last place I would think of going at the moment - never mind on an Easter BH weekend:

- It will be Sooo Busy
- The locals already hate you ... they really do!
- There will be loads of litter
- Increased numbers will lead to confrontation between different user groups about who has the more right to be there and who impacts the trails etc the most (although precious few will see the irony in chewing up the soft-grass verges as everyone fights for the limited parking spaces)
- Social Distancing will be non-existant
- The countryside will be covered in soiled tissues as people take toilet breaks 'au naturel' to avoid queuing for the already limited facilities

Abney is almost certainly the best shout. But don’t tell too many people. The walk down Bretton Clough is normally pretty quiet even on really busy days, people just don’t seem to know it’s there.

– The locals already hate you … they really do!

If I still lived in Hathersage this would be me. A good friend still lives in Bamford and is losing his mind over people abandoning cars, having BBQ’s and shitting in plain sight of their front door.

I'm feart of going to the lakes also, it's only a few miles down the road but I suspect it will be hideous for the foreseeable.

If I still lived in Hathersage this would be me

Had a bit of an argument with a old friend recently who moved from Grindleford to Castleton a few years ago and now has an absolute pathological hatred of cyclists because 'there are so many of them riding around' ...

I did point out that if he had moved to Castleton for some peace and quiet in a remote rural village then he's moved to completely the wrong place ... there are other places that tick that box.

However the complete lack of thought and consideration that many people have shown recently for many 'public spaces' is really sad (it's not just limited to the Peak District). The littering, shitting, burning and cavalier* parking is not acceptable ...

*other Vauxhall models are available

Completely agree @Digby, Hathersage was wonderful place to live but you had to be prepared for what comes with it. Weekends and Bank Holidays, don’t go out in your car and expect to find your space free until after 6pm (I had to park on the road where I lived). It was actually really nice having the village busy in the day but then come evening it be really (really) quiet so could happily for for a late run or bike and see no one.

I sense the difference this time round, as much quoted, is both the volume of people is greater than ever before but also visitors who would never have previously considered going out there. Don’t take that as some kind of snobbishness as it’s not, everyone has equal right to our open spaces and countryside, it is the pressure it brings and the education that should come with it which is often absent.

I’ve just been for a a walk along what is normally a quiet costal path, it was busy very busy. I wish you the best of luck in hot spots like that, maybe the crap weather will keep a few away.

If you must go just remember to be suitably attired

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Rivington was busier than usual yesterday eve, with everyone in a good mood and not too much litter.

Some groups had clearly not been up there before or for ages, and it was really nice to see them enjoying the sunshine and outdoors.

I think I'm getting more pissed off with the internet negativity about the general public going for a walk than I am with the crowds and inevitable litter.

I plan on doing some outdoors stuff this weekend, but will be sticking to the less obvious parking spots and avoiding driving through honey-pot towns. So Glenridding is probably out.

The normal decent people are all being cautious and staying at home. Its the nobheads that are out and about chucking litter about

Very much this. Theres a lot of nobheads, but they are a minority.

Well it was cracking today and not too busy. But I agree, it will probably be extremely busy this weekend. And every weekend until pre pandemic normality is restored.

http://imgur.com/gallery/7ksu836

One of my all time fave photo spots that - looks smashing!

Well it was cracking today and not too busy. But I agree, it will probably be extremely busy this weekend. And every weekend until pre pandemic normality is restoredthe next lockdown.

FTFY

– Social Distancing will be non-existant

And yet last year the rates kept on falling when everyone was outside like now with nothing else to do and the same outcries of "whaaaa its too busy how can anyone social distance we're all doomed the infection will spread to everyone on those beaches" it wasn't till we all hunkered back inside that it went up, up and away.

Littering Aholes is a different issue.

Well I can confirm that it's quiet as anything here just now. Sat half way down Jagger's Clough tucking into my second ham, egg and runner bean sandwich ( yep, I have no idea why either. They were sat there in the fridge)

Can see one group on Whinhill who seem to be a bit stationary. Not sure if they're lost, got a mechanical or also tucking into some tasty legumes.

Int 4G great....

@thegeneralist you should really do a book of your eating exploits in the great outdoors!!

Runner?... Beans?...
In a sandwich?

Me and the missus are going for a walk Easter Monday, the forecast is saying not much above freezing. Should thin out the tesco bag for life picnicers somewhat.

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Woolpacks

Somewhere in here is here is a tent ( not Mine)

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@thegeneralist - Nice, i go walking up there a fair bit, never thought of taking my bike. Which way do you head across / around kinder?

Well apparently 7 tonnes of litter was collected from endcliffe park yesterday morning and probably same again today according to wife who drove past on way back from work last night. Police vans. Arrests. Reports of a rape. If that lot decide to head to “the peaks” at the weekend it won’t be good.
It’s been busy for weeks though whenever it’s warmish. Couple of weeks ago we walked from strines over derwent edge down to the water and back. Coming down the bridle way from wlt I held the gate for some riders coming up. Turned out to be a group of about 30 with one in fancy dress celebrating his birthday... when the “rules” were still meet one other person... but as above this isn’t the problem. Litter, fires and irresponsible parking is. I’m driving over the snake today to collect my son from uni in Manchester (lateral flow negative yesterday as we visiting my mum Easter Monday) let’s see if there’s double parking on the summit again...

And yet last year the rates kept on falling when everyone was outside like now with nothing else to do and the same outcries of “whaaaa its too busy how can anyone social distance we’re all doomed the infection will spread to everyone on those beaches” it wasn’t till we all hunkered back inside that it went up, up and away.

Littering Aholes is a different issue.

There's an element of truth in that.

I suspect that the great outdoors will get quieter when non essential shopping and beer gardens are opened. I hope that some of those who have discovered it during lockdown will keep enjoying it, if it goes back to pre pandemic levels that will be a shame.

Which way do you head across / around kinder?

At the top of Jacob's ladder I headed north onto the plateau/ summit and then headed east along the southern edge of Kinder past Grindsbrook Clough ( and the other scramble Clough)
Then down the far eastern edge, across Upper Jagger's Clough then down to Hope Cross. Then down the Jagger's bridleway.

TBH I wouldn't do it again, loads of portages, bogs, dead end paths, rock mazes, walking...

I suspect that the great outdoors will get quieter when non essential shopping and beer gardens are opened.

This (I sort of hope) Lots of folk have "discovered" that there are other things to do than social shopping, I suspect that many (if not most) will go back to wandering 'round the shops and drinking and eating at bars and restaurants. And it'll get much quieter again. (and I won't have to take a spare carrier bag with me for rubbish)

And when the great unwashed go back to their shopping centres, fast food and pubs, will we breathe a sigh of relief - then continue to wring our hands about the country's obesity crisis?

I don't think wandering about idly 5 mins from a car park and chucking your McDonalds bag in a hedge is solving the nation's obesity crisis either though.

then continue to wring our hands about the country’s obesity crisis?

Personally, no. As well as having all possible information at their fingertips, they've now had a year where they have been 'forced' to do a bit of exercise and go outdoors. If they still don't want to (and the miserable faces of some of those walking round my local wood indicate that this is the case for a significant minority), I'm going to say that it is entirely up to them, as are the consequences.

I don’t think wandering about idly 5 mins from a car park and chucking your McDonalds bag in a hedge is solving the nation’s obesity crisis either though.

Do you think that might be a bit reductive?

Yup! I was being slightly facetious but sadly it's not far from the truth for a significant number of people IME.

TBH I wouldn’t do it again, loads of portages, bogs, dead end paths, rock mazes, walking…

Yeah thats what i thought it might be. Cheers though. Makes for a nice picture!

There’s an element of truth in that.

There's no element, it's all true.

Lack of social distancing outside isn't an issue. The big experiment last year proved that with packed beaches and so on. Some people get so hooked up on the 2m rule that they think there's a bubble around them that anyone inside their 2m bubble is going to kill them.

I don’t think wandering about idly 5 mins from a car park and chucking your McDonalds bag in a hedge is solving the nation’s obesity crisis either though.

Round here there's plenty who don't even bother getting out of the car. They briefly look at the view before returning to their phones, rubbish goes straight out of the window.

I’m going to say that it is entirely up to them, as are the consequences.

Well, the latter part is simply untrue. I thought we all knew by now that the consequences are borne by society at large in lost productivity, greater disability and in increased health and social care costs. You accept all that when you give up on people.

Well, the latter part is simply untrue. I thought we all knew by now that the consequences are borne by society at large in lost productivity, greater disability and in increased health and social care costs. You accept all that when you give up on people.

Although, we all die of something eventually, however fit and healthy you are. Dropping dead the day you retire is the socially responsible thing to do.

The coastal footpaths around my way (Plymouth) have taken a hammering over the winter. But it’s great to see such huge numbers out and about. The downside is firstly the number of dog poo bags dumped all over the place - I can only assume that the owners genuinely think it’s ok if they are prepared to pick it up in the first place. Equally depressing is the amount of rubbish and litter dumped on the beaches next to already overflowing bins - Bovisands last night was the worst I’ve seen it.

So, is it?

No idea. Been working all day.
Fed up.
Planning on family ride tomorrow, will see how it goes.

Nope. It was rather nice. Did Redmires, Stanage, Burbage and Totley Moor. No busier than a usual weekend. Top of Burbage car park was full as was Redmires but very few people venturing that far.

So, is it?

I went out early on the road bike (7am) and it was mostly deserted on the early parts. Got up to Bamford about 9am and the parking on the road around Ladybower was just beginning to fill up. On the summit of Snake Pass, it was already double parking all along - I guess to walk out to the plane wreck.

On the plus side, most of the traffic was heading east out to Ladybower so for me heading west, the road was actually quite quiet.

Glad I got the ride in early, by the time I got home the crap driving was really beginning to show.

Wonderfully deserted in the part of the peak district where we walked today. Weather was great too, not at all what we expected.

@ebygomm - where was that?

Bakewell area

Amazed how quiet it is. 3/4 round the Hathersage circuit and only passed 2 bike on our route.
Big group sessioning Whinhill, but apart from that completely empty.

Weird.

PS, Brough Lane or Bradwell Edge FTW from the mast?

You have eight minutes....

Our local trails are also quieter than a couple of weeks ago, less people, fewer cars at the honeypots. Mrs foo suggested as rules now allow socialising in gardens that's what is happening this weekend.

PS, Brough Lane or Bradwell Edge FTW from the mast?

You have eight minutes….

Which did you pick @thegeneralist? Bradwell Edge on the mountain bike, Brough Lane on the gravel bike would be my choice.

Which did you pick

Bradwell Edge in the end. Glad I did, it was lovely.

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Missus was getting a bit tired by this point, but managed to make it to Hope Cross and then do the Beast no dabs, which was good.

Brilliant day out. So nice to do a fun chilled relaxed ride instead of the usual challenging ride nonsense I do when I go on my own

We met three people on our route, which was crazy. The car parks on Snake were utterly mobbed, but nobody on our route...

Sounds like a great day out! 👍

It was remarkably quiet. We've just got back from a ride. Did Thornhill, Winstone lee tour, Fairhomes, Hagg farm Win Hill and back. Yes it was busy at fairholmes car park but Ive seen it a lot busier than it was today. And the sun shone making for a great day out.

Just back from a 45 miler round Mam Tor Shatton Lockerbrook Win Hill
Most of the Mtb places were fairly quiet BUT parking round Ladybower was shocking verges kerbs double yellows . . the same in Castleton dogs chasing sheep on Winnets and a moorland fire off the Chapel rd , clearly a picnic gone wrong

Dropping dead the day you retire is the socially responsible thing to do.

That’s why I’m a socially irresponsible bastard, 67 years old, and still working. ‘Cos I can and the state pension plus whatever private pensions I’ve accumulated still won’t pay as well as my current employer. Also, my new rôle is a fixed 8-5.30 shift, with little stress, the sort of thing a semi-retired bloke might choose to do, and as I’m all on my own now, I might as well work and get payed instead of moping at home.