Snowdon as seen from Kinder Scout

Hello.

  Ever wondered just how far you can see from the Peak District on a clear day? Well, on most fine days can easily see Lincoln Cathedral from Fulwood Lane at Ringinglow (40 miles) or Pen-y-Gent from Bleaklow (around 50 miles). But what if conditions were really good? And I mean, really, really good. Well, on days of exceptionally clear visibility it is possible to make out the mountains of Snowdonia from Kinder Scout, a distance of over 90 miles.

  Now, on most days views west are limited to the Clwydian Hills 60 miles distant on the welsh border due to haze or moisture in the air. To see Snowdonia your best chances are early mornings in the autumn or winter under high-pressure inversion conditions with a thin layer of cloud trapped over the Cheshire Plain. Summer time can be unreliable due to heat haze obscuring even the nearby Winter Hill, although I have seen Carnedd Llewelyn once in July after a period of heavy rain cleared the air. Get the required conditions and go as high as possible- Kinder Low (633m) or Higher Shelf Stones (621m) and possibly Shining Tor are recommended for their height and uninterrupted views of the Cheshire Plain. With a bit of luck, you could be in for a treat.

  Anyway, back on Halloween last year I found myself sat on Kinder Low with Snowdonia very clearly rising above and beyond the Cheshire Plain. Having climbed Kinder over 150 times, it is only twice I've ever seen it, and on only this occasion as clear as the photos below will show. Snowdon was even in view from Lord's Seat- a distance of 96 miles and the furthest I believe it is possible to see from The Peak District.

  Looking at Snowdonia in visibility like this, it really makes you realise that somewhere that seems so distant from Peakland really is not that far at all...

  And here is a slightly zoomed-in version from the same spot on Kinder Low...

    The same view again, but with the Berwyn Mountains visible in the far left of the photo.

  Sometimes when out and about you just get lucky. I've only ever seen this view twice in 14 years of wandering. Keep getting out and wandering- you may find a very rare and nice surprise!