Help close at hand from experienced rescuers

And yesterday, members of the Edale Mountain Rescue Team were on hand to lend their expertise to the Peaks Walk for All.

As well as helping out on the day, the team, based in Hope, was also benefiting from the event as one of the named charities.

Team leader Ian Bunting, 41, said: “Nationally, we get a single grant from the Government which equates to £2,500 per annum. But it costs us about £60,000 to £70,000 a year just in day-to-day costs, and that’s just to keep going before we even think about buying a new Land Rover, or things like that.

“Mountain rescue is the biggest charity in the country that doesn’t have any paid employees – there’s nobody on the books.”

Mr Bunting added that the mountain rescue team’s job would almost certainly be made much harder by the rain and cold.

“The toughest thing about today is definitely the weather. Rain that’s coming straight down in the valley is horizontal on the tops. My car said it was 4C this morning, so up there it is almost freezing.

“In terms of uphills, going up Win Hill is about the toughest climb and, in the 12-miler, there’s another steep ascent coming out of Edale.

“As the majority is on well-marked trails and paths, though, there shouldn’t be issues with getting lost – the main challenge is the weather, as it’s more like a February day today than an April one.”

Mr Bunting added the majority of those taking part in the Walk for All had come prepared.