This is an epic tale of three old guys, Four Inns, 13hrs 23mins and 45 miles. No, it's not the story of the worlds longest pub crawl but a report of an attempt by Andy Heald and myself (Bob Howe) to help Alan Urwin to revisit an "old flame" to celebrate his 65th Birthday.

Alan first took part in the The Four Inns walk in the peak district 50 years ago as a helper at one of the checkpoints and in subsequent years went on to feature high up in the results. 2nd Mixed team was his best. The event is organised by the Derbyshire scouts and is basically a north to south traverse of the Peak District from Holmbridge in the north to Buxton in the south. I should have realised how far it was when they said you need both the Dark Peak and White Peak maps. Those of you familiar with the area will appreciate that this route includes crossing some of the most remote, desolate and grotty country in England. The full route is detailed on their website www.fourinnswalk.org.uk  but suffice to say it's not good running terrain.

The three of us left Holmbridge at 0630 in the clear, cold dawn light of Saturday morning as the teams of 3 or 4 were set off in pairs up the first hill. Similarities with Last of the Summer Wine, which was based there, did not go unnoticed by the starters. Our teams average age was just 60 on the day. The climb to the first of the Inns - the Skye went well through the lovely dawn. The pub actually became derelict years ago and is now a pile of stones. In an increasing north wind and blowing sleet we turned south along the flagged Pennine Way for the climb up the aptly named Black Hill. Oh yes, it had started to sleet now !

We legged it up to the summit at a good pace where we left the PW and set off on a bearing east of south towards Hey Moss as the sleet turned to snow and the visibility reduced. There were a number of teams close together at this point with slower ones being caught and the flyers who had later starts beginning to shoot past. Conditions underfoot now varied from tussocky grass to deep pat hags, the running & jogging became more a walk & stumble. We reached the intrepid band of helpers at the next check point, Hey Moss and started to descend to Crowden YHA were we took on the sandwiches and tea provided.

After crossing the reservoir dam to Reaps we set off up the climb to Bleacklow - another apt name. The snow was now being driven vertically upward parallel to the hillside, although the steep track was reasonably good underfoot. Alan at this point started to suffer and dropped back until Andy carried his bag for a while to the top. The weather at this point cleared and it was quite pleasant, which is more than could be said for the terrain which reverted to a mass of peat hags all the way to the control at Doctors Gate on the Snake Pass.

After more sarnies & tea we descended down the road to the second Inn - the Snake. Again we picked up the pace and quickly lost lots of hard earned altitude before crossing the stream and setting of up the next climb onto Kinder. All three of us went well up and over this muddy mass of the now familiar peat hags, although the very steep descent into the 3rd Inn the Nags Head in Edale did something destructive to my right knee and caused a problem which was to stay with me till the end of the day and beyond.

While demolishing more Tea, cake & sandwiches supplemented with energy gel packs in the community centre we assessed our position so far. Andy reckoned we'd done about half the distance and all the worst climbs in about six hours and now had just to toddle in over the equivalent of a rucked carpet for the next 6 hours or so to the finish. I wasn't confident of finishing at this point because of my knee problem. We all felt pretty knackered already and were only half way there. Another 6 hours was a daunting prospect no matter what the terrain.

The climb out of Edale restored my faith a bit as I discovered that the knee was less painful going up than down - I was perversely looking forward to up hills now ! The country changed now as we left the Gritstone of the north peak behind and moved over gentler limestone hills. (Andy's a geologist remember ) Less peat & more grass. We descended (ouch) into Chapel en le Frith. More food & drink in glorious hot sunshine which stayed with us up the next steep road climb to White Hall for more feeding and more snow as the weather changed again. The blizzard stayed with us into the Goyt Valley (another painful downhill for me) where the hot sun duly reappeared in time for the long climb up to the Cat & Fiddle. Even Andy was starting to wilt here. The fates conspired to give us sun on the climbs and snow on the tops most of the day. The Cat provided, shelter, hot soup, the inevitable sandwiches and warmth with our 12 hour target disappearing and the snow returning. We set off again into the blizzard for the last 5 miles to the finish at Buxton. The weather brightened as did our spirits and we finished with a flourish - a "sprint" into the Sports Centre for food, drink, hot showers and rest.

It had taken us 13 hrs 23 mins and we were all pretty ragged at the end, although our Pensioner Alan had recovered from his earlier problems to finish strongest of our team. The time was now getting on for 19 30 and there would be teams still arriving for the next seven hours or so.The event was won by Macclesfield Harriers in 7hrs 39mins so there's the target for you young bucks !

Looking back we'd had a great day, with a real sense of achievement to finish. We'd survived Blizzards, driving sleet, hailstones, knee deep peat, frozen feet and 45 miles of unforgiving terrain to reach the end. Praise must go to the organisers, Derbyshire Scouts, for their superb efforts.
They'd provided accommodation 80 teams for Friday & Sat nights, breakfast sat & sun, Dinner Saturday and food and drink at seven of the controls on route. Even the return bus to the start was provide on Sunday morning and a shuttle bus to and from the sports centre to the local rugby club for the food at Buxton. All this for £80 per team too.

I trust we'll see a NYMAC team or two in the finishing lists next year to complement Compo, Clegg & Foggy who've now got the 4 Inns habit !

Cheers Bob

www.fourinnswalk.org.uk/

©2008 Bob Howe