The Kinder Walk is organised on behalf of the Derbyshire County Scout Council and is open to all members of the Scout and Guide Associations, subject to the various trophy categories.

The Kinder Walk itself is approximately 29km and the Kinder Challenge is around 16km. The Walk is aimed at older Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Guides and members of Scout Network. It is a challenge of map reading and stamina in this exciting and rugged area of the Peak District.

The walk is a team event – for teams of between 2 and 5, see Categories and eligibility for details. Times vary between 3 and 8 hours, maybe this will be the year to break the record and yours could be the team to do it!!

The Next Event

The date for the 2009 event is now confirmed for Sunday 27th September.
The 2009 information book is now available by clicking here.

The 2008 Event

The New Kinder Challenge attracted an entry of 13 teams, 11 of which were from the Scout section. 27th Derby (Chaddesden) set off the record with a time of 3 hours 12 minutes – a time we believe will take some determination to beat. The Kinder Challenge Trophy awarded for the fastest Explorer Section team was won by 73rd Derby in a time of 3 hours 31 minutes.

For the Kinder Walk, the fastest time recorded was 3 hours 27 minutes by the Phoenix Fellowship.

It was most encouraging in both walks to see our young people , many of whom were taking part in such an activity for the first time, enjoying the challenge and gaining a sense of achievement. I hope they go on to even better their achievements next year – perhaps even the Four Inns Walk for the older ones.

My thanks are extended to all those who helped in the event and hope to see them back in 2009.

Dave MacAlister
Chairman

History

The first competition was held in October 1967 for the newly formed section of Venture Scouting. It was organised by the then Blagreaves Venture Scout Unit for Venture Unit teams from the Derby Area, there were a total of seven teams took part with the winning team being Derwent VSU in a time of 7 hours 56 minutes. The route was a circular one of 26 miles starting and finishing at Chapel en le Frith by way of Edale, Kinder, Hayfield, Buxworth and Combs. The weather for this first event was rain, rain and more rain!! The entry increased in 1968 to eleven teams with entries invited from beyond Derby, even one team from Huddersfield. Winners that year were Derwent 'B' team in a time of 9 hours 31.

In the early years the route was not disclosed until the day of the walk, a different route being used each year. After a lapse of two years the event was resurrected in 1993 using basically the same route we have today. Over the years the trophy categories and their eligibilities have changed, the current categories reflecting the changes in age ranges in the Scout Association.

In 2008 we introduced the Kinder Challenge in an effort to encourage the younger members both into walking in the Peak and to participate in competitive walking events.