Memories of Kinder mass trespass recalled on walk
LYING equidistant between the major conurbations of Manchester and Sheffield, the dark gritstone massif of Kinder Scout rises sharply from the flat low ground of the Cheshire Plain to the west and is a favourite haunt of walkers.
No wonder – for Kinder is recognised as being of international importance for its landscape, recreational value and wildlife.
The plateau forms a significant part of the Dark Peak Site of Special Scientific Interest and was the high spot of a fairly strenuous nine-mile walk recently by eight East Cheshire Ramblers that started from the erstwhile Grouse Inn, now sadly closed, on the A624 between Glossop and Hayfield and was made particularly challenging because of strong easterly winds.
The rock formations which characterise the edges of the plateau are formed from a type of sandstone called millstone grit. This was laid down in river deltas around 300 million years ago and have been eroded by water, ice and wind into several distinctive features.
The route took us over Harry Hut, Mill Hill and Sandy Heys – scene of the famous mass trespass 84 years ago.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Benny Rothman, who helped to organise the mass trespass on April 24, 1932.
The event involved a violent confrontation between gamekeepers and trespassers and resulted in the imprisonment of five of the trespassers.
It is widely regarded as the most important single action in securing public access rights to open spaces and is a model of effective civil disobedience.
Continuing on over Kinder downfall, a fairly indistinct path then took the group in a westerly direction towards Kinder Reservoir where we were treated to the sight of a helicopter making frequent trips to off-load rocks for footpath improvements by Peak Park rangers.
The frequent cackle and urgent flutter of the red grouse reminded us of the purpose of the very well-preserved shooting cabin that we passed on our way back to the cars.
For further information go to ramblerseast cheshire.org.uk.