The early hours of Saturday 5th April 2014 will see 11 Buxton Team members heading for Holmbridge, West Yorkshire to take part in the annual Four Inns Walk.  This is a competitive event, testing stamina and navigational ability organised by the Derbyshire Scouts Council, covering some 65 kilometres of the roughest and toughest moorlands in the Peak District. The walk takes its name from the four pubs, the Isle of Skye (now demolished), Snake Inn, Snake Pass, Nags Head, Edale and the Cat and Fiddle near Buxton, finishing at Buxton Community School.

This event was established in 1957, in 1964 the walk was organised as before with 80 teams comprising three members each setting off. The weather quickly turned for the worse, becoming heavy snow and poor visibility. Crossing Bleaklow, two teams found themselves in difficulties, resulting in 3 scouts losing their lives.

There were few mountain rescue teams then, poorly coordinated and equipped. However as a result of this tragedy, various agency’s, including Derbyshire Police, Peak District National Park and Derbyshire County Councils Whitehall Centre were invited to a meeting to discuss how matters might be improved. Following the meetings the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation was established to coordinate mountain rescue operations and a number of teams were formed including the Buxton Team.

This year’s walk is the 50th anniversary of the tragedy in 1964 and the establishment of the Buxton Team. One of the three Buxton Teams  are all over 60 and call themselves the “Old F***s”, they have carried out a number of practise walks in recent weeks preparing for this ardous event. Team member Joe Rees said: “We are taking this event seriously, it will be strenuous and hard work, but we are doing this in memory of the scouts who perished and to mark Buxton Mountain Rescue Teams formation some 50 years ago”. Joe added: “If the public would like to support our Golden Anniversary appeal to replace our ageing control vehicle, “£50.000 – 50 years Service” that would be wonderful”.

The Buxton Team has three teams taking part, other rescue team members will be providing support along the way. You can follow their progress along the route via our website, as they are carrying GPS trackers.

To help sponsor our members, hit the “Support Us” button on the home page or, alternativeley, you can send a cheque made payable to Buxton Mountain Rescue Team to 8a, Hallsteads, Dove Holes, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8BJ