I’m back in the Peak District for the first time in a couple of years. I’m working with a group of students on another rock climbing expedition and we’re staying below Kinder Scout near Edale. We’re based in a beautiful bunkhouse with this as the view outside.

We arrived on Monday and on Tuesday I woke to find some Barn Swallows sitting on the rail outside the window. Nice to see them so close up.

We’ve got plenty of cliffs and climbs to go at here and nice settled weather. First stop was Birchens Edge, where the views were as good as the routes.

To get used to the Gritstone rock type, we spent the morning bouldering on the ‘Three Ships’ boulders at the top of the cliff, before moving down to the main crags. They are named after Nelson’s battle of Trafalgar.

It was nice to be back at somewhere that felt both new, yet familiar, having been coming here on and off for the past 25 years or so!

After a late dinner at the hut, we walked a few miles through the fields to Edale while the moon came up over Mam Tor.

Birchen Edge Climbs:

• The Gangplank, Diff*
• Emma’s Dilemma, S (4a)*
• Porthole VS, (4c) – TR