Any keen walkers out there - advice needed

Are there any keen walkers that would be able to give me some advice on a walk I'm organising through the Peak District. I'm trying to work out the best route for walking between Sheffield and Manchester looking on google it suggests walking along snakes pass as the fastest route however I wouldn't imagine this to be the most practical route, would anyone be able to give me any advice on the best route

TIA
Dan

 

How far...how many....how long time wise....how fit....how experienced!

 

Yeah, sit on your left hand until it goes numb and then it feels like someone else if tossing you off! Works every time.

 

We're walking from one of my companies offices in Sheffield to another one in Manchester, according to google maps is roughly 40 miles, aiming to do it in one day, start about 7 and keep going till we are done. Somewhere between 7-10 people taking part. All young 21-30 year olds. One or two keen walkers amongst the pack

 

I do not do endurance events, I'm too old for that, but I have a lot of experience in designing long distance routes.

You should walk on roads as little as possible if you hope to finish with anything like the number you start with. The ideal route between Sheffield and Manchester for this type of event is the Trans Pennine Trail (see http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/walkers/map-for-walkers/ ). It is more a biking route than a walking route, but at least it will keep you safe. The best starting point in Sheffield would be Meadowhall. It does not pass through central Manchester, so you would have to design your own suitable route from the trail to your designated finishing point. Make no mistake though. This would be a tough walk and there will be few finishers unless the participants have prepared well, in advance. You will have to make arrangements to support the participants with food and drink and pick up those who fall by the wayside. Your route takes you over the top of the Pennines, so appropriate clothing and footwear will be required.

The Lyke Wake Walk, is a similar endurance event. It runs from Osmotherley to Ravenscar along the northern scarp slope of the North Yorkshire Moors for 42 miles is usually completed within the day. Walkers usually begin at midnight around the date of the longest day in order to give the maximum period of daylight hours. They expect to take at least 14 hours and it is usual to provide support teams at road junctions. I have not done this either.

If you decide to take up the challenge, you will need lots of luck and plenty of advance planning.

Good Luck

 

Thanks for the pointers Red Rain. Can I ask, probably showing my inexperience here, is the reason for staying away from the roads because or the steepness, or is it just from a safety aspect? My main problem with the Trans Pennine trail is that in order to get the event to appeal to the company and donation gives we ideally wanted to start at our office (which is Sheffield city centre) so would add a fair bit to the walk if we had to begin by making our way back out towards Meadowhall

 

I believe it's the danger aspect.

I once walked 5 miles along the A57 Snake Pass Road just west of Ladybower. There are no footbaths and high vegetation which you have to push through. Every time a car goes past you have to step back and wait, which would be a complete nightmare for a group of walkers.

Like others have said I would use the Trans-Pennine trail and avoid roads like the plague.

 

Agreed

 

If you want a really challenging high level route (which you probably don't) leave Sheffield centre and follow the Rivelin Valley upwards out towards the moors until you get to Moscar Lodge. From there climb up onto Derwent Edge, follow that north and continue along Howden Edge to Bleaklow. Wallow west along the Bleaklow ridge up to your knees in filthy black ooze, then follow the Pennine Way down to Torside where you can get on the trans Pennine trail.

If you can do that in a day you're both very fit and extremely daft.

 

Up by the Lakes are some good walks and spectacular views.

 

Agreed but the Lakes are slightly off-route for a 1 day walk from Sheffield to Manchester.

 

Safety is the chief reason, yes. I try to stay away from the busiest of roads and both the A57 and the A628 fall into that category.

As you will see from the maps, the Trans Pennine Trail from Meadowhall passes through Ecclesfield. If you can get yourselves from Central Sheffield to Ecclesfield safely, then you could pick up the TPT there. I have walked a route to the TPT from Ponds Forge area in Sheffield that follows the River Don very closely, and which does not use too many busy roads, but it is complicated. I am happy to give the directions if you need them.

 

Proper laughing..

 

Roy
Murray
Des
Paul