The People’s Mountain. We mark the 90th anniversary of the Kinder trespass.
Some quick thoughts from our co-founder Chris: I have a picture on my office wall of a stylised poster promoting the ‘Kinder Mass Trespass For The Right to Roam’ (from the excellent National Park Print Shop), an event that took place 90 years ago this week.
There’s debate about this, but many argue the trespass ignited the movement that led to the creation of the UK National Parks (The Peak District being our first, designated in 1951).
As the grandson of one of the estimated 15,000 working class ramblers who travelled to the Peak District from Manchester every weekend in the 1930s I’m glad the trespass happened. It was unfair that thousands of city workers were living cheek by jowl, whilst a select few enjoyed the mass expanse of Kinder for shooting parties, accessing it only an estimated 12 days a year.
Here are a few things we love about Kinder, and why you should go and explore The Plateau yourself:
1. It’s a mountain. Admittedly not the highest or the prettiest but it is only 40 minutes from both Manchester and Sheffield. Probably no more than 15 miles from each as the crow flies, but feels a world away when you’re up there. So much space, so much fresh air. So Arctic Tundra like in the winter.
2. The people. You see all the different outdoor tribes up there. The vest and shorts fell runners; the dyed-in-the-wool beardy ramblers (who look like they were there back in 1932); families; insta-walkers, devices in hand, just discovering the joy of the outdoors. Everyone welcome, and for me a nod and a wave to total strangers united by a shared experience is one of the joys of the outdoors.
3. The Downfall. No, not the Hitler meme. The spectacle of the uphill, backward flowing waterfall caught by high winds. Also an amazing sight in winter when it freezes.
4. The Woolpacks. Otherworldly, weather beaten gritstone rock formations.
5. The wildlife. Curlews? Check. Mountain Hares? Check. Common Lizards? Check. Tell me where else in the UK you could tick all those off in your I-Spy book on the same day.
More like this
