Kinder Scout Walk from Edale

4.0 out of 5 stars (based on 2 reviews)

You’ll need your bog trotting skills as you take on this popular Peak District circular walk starting from Edale and incorporating the Pennine Way, Kinder Scout and notorious Kinder peat bogs! Sweeping views of the Edale valley and Great Ridge provide endless photo opportunities on this half day adventure in the heart of the National Park.

Walking Route – Kinder Scout from Edale via Pennine Way

Distance: 15.8km (9.8mi) / Elev Gain: 535m
High Point: Kinder Low - 633m
Map: OS Explorer OL1
GPS Download: Kinder Scout from Edale
Starting Point: Edale Car Park

Walk highlights include Edale village, Pennine Way, Jacobs Ladder, Edale Rocks, Kinder Low, Kinder Downfall, Kinder peat bogs and Grindsbrook Clough.

This walk begins at the official starting point of the Pennine Way long distance walking path in the village of Edale. A plaque on the outside of The Old Nags Head pub marks the spot, making it a good first photo opportunity of the day! From here the trail is way-marked and further signage confirms you are indeed about to start walking on the Pennine Way – which you’ll be following for approx 5.5 miles.

The loose stone path is well defined and soon leads to open farmland. Stone slabs dissect the undulating fields, the navigation takes care of itself allowing you to focus on the epic vistas all around. On a clear day its easy to get carried away taking photos here! 

Jacobs Ladder in the Peak District.
The path at the bottom of Jacob’s Ladder, its steeper than it looks !

The trail descends for a period, passing by Upper Booth Farm Campsite, before eventually joining a narrow tarmac access road. The next landmark is Jacobs Ladder, you’ll cross a small stone bridge and be presented with two signed paths. The rough stone slabbed path to the right is the official Pennine Way route, and is the steeper and most direct to the top of Jacobs Ladder. Both meet at the top.

There is little respite as you continue the ascent up to the Kinder plateau. Here you are greeted by Edale Rocks, a distinctive rocky outcrop whose boulders invite you to scramble the short distance to the high point. Its quite exposed on the rocks and care should be taken on wet or windy days!

A short distance further on is the Kinder Low trig pillar, which at 633 metres is the high point of the day, and is regarded by many as the summit of Kinder Scout – though technically its not, albeit only by a mere 3 metres!

Path leading up to Kinder Low in the Peak District.
There’s no rest as the paths ramps up towards Edale Rocks.

From Kinder Low the route traverses the edge of the Kinder plateau for almost 2 miles, the path is on the whole easy under foot although you’ll need to pick your way over and around small boulders in places. There are once again some good photo opportunities here including views of Kinder Reservoir.

View from the Kinder Scout trig point.
The Kinder Low trig point – the unofficial summit of Kinder Scout.

Kinder Downfall is your next landmark, the waterfall can be a mere trickle or gushing torrent depending upon the volume of water flowing from the River Kinder. Although its actually difficult to visualise from the path as the plateau is effectively the top of the waterfall. A strong westerly can blow water back up and onto the plateau – an entertaining phenomenon should you experience it! The downfall is a popular lunch stop when walking from Edale and Hayfield, you’ll rarely be alone here.

From Kinder Downfall you say goodbye to the Pennine Way and hello to your bog trotting skills! A GPS and map/compass are highly recommended for the Kinder peat-land traverse, as the footpath marked on the map has long since eroded in parts.

You’ll follow the River Kinder upstream for approx 0.5 miles (staying to the right of the river bed seems to be the path of least resistance and where the majority of footprints lead), carefully navigating the unstable terrain – which in wet weather can and does become very boggy and somewhat hazardous.

This area is almost featureless and one can become easily disorientated, hence allow plenty of daylight for your crossing and be sure of your navigation skills. In winter conditions or during periods of prolonged wet weather the conditions underfoot can be hazardous due to the nature of the terrain.

Where the path forks on the map, you need to take the left-hand fork which heads in a SE direction (no longer following the River Kinder). On the ground I found the path to be non-existent here and needed a GPS to be confident I was where I wanted to be.

Navigation is once again challenging and some precarious looking peat-land features need to be passed, jumped over or avoided. The undulating terrain becomes increasingly heather-clad, and much to my relief I eventually found the ‘path’ once more!

Looking out towards Kinder Reservoir from the Kinder Plateau
Looking out towards Kinder Reservoir from the Plateau

With the path becoming more defined and the appearance of boulders its evident you’ve reached the ‘other side’. You’ll arrive at a rocky intersection of paths and another waterfall (Crowden Brook), similar to Kinder Downfall but on a smaller scale. Looming above and to your right is the impressive rock tower known as Crowden Tower. However you’ll head in the opposite direction, initially dropping before the wide rocky path levels out for approx 0.5 miles.

Stone slabbed path close to
The path on the ‘other side’ of the Kinder bogs.

The views of the Edale valley and Great Ridge here are sublime, and if its a clear day its worth taking a few more photos before you begin the descent.

Grindsbrook Clough is a classic and popular grade 1 scramble, on this occasion down climbing the boulder strewn stream. The rocks are remarkedly grippy even in the wet. The steepest section is at the top, expect to use your hands and possibly a few bum slides may be required depending upon your choice of line! [If you don’t fancy Grindsbrook Clough you can continue along the plateau path and pick-up an alternate route, beyond Upper Tor.]

A defined path winds down through the beautiful and lush valley. A wooden foot bridge (which wouldn’t be out of place on a Hobbiton film set) leads to a small section of woodland.

Beyond the woodland you’ll pick-up a stone slabbed walkway which leads into Edale village at the back of the Old Nags Head pub. Finish up with a brew or perhaps something a little stronger before you head off home!   

Further Info

Starting Point – The walks starts from the village of Edale, either the train station or main village car park (cash required). From either location head North along the main road past the Rambler Inn (on your left) and on to The Old Nags Head – the start of this walk and official starting point of the Pennine Way.

Other Notes – Edale gets busy all year round so arrive early on the weekend or during school holidays if you need to park. The Penny Pot Cafe is located by the station, and Coopers Cafe is close to The Old Nags Head pub at the start / end of the walk. There is also a small shop (limited opening hours) next door to Coopers. Camping in Edale village is possible at Fieldhead campsite or Coopers campsite. Edale is a small rural village and accessibility can be impacted by snow and ice in the winter – always check the forecast in advance and plan accordingly !

Hazards

Per above navigation over the Kinder bogs can be tricky as can the conditions underfoot. The descent down Grindsbrook clough is classified as a grade 1 scramble, which for the majority of walkers should be easy..

Remember – we cannot highlight all potential hazards when out in the great outdoors. Safety is ultimately down to you. Educate yourself in safety, weather reports, navigation and equipment specific to the activity you intend to undertake and conditions/terrain you may encounter! Check out adventuresmart.uk for general outdoor safety considerations – and activity specific guidance for hill walking, paddle boarding, mountain biking and open water swimming.

What did you think of the route and were the summits cloudless? What was your highlight? Please leave a rating and review of the walk below! Whilst you’re here…. if you found this content useful please consider giving your support – just one coffee makes a big difference!

Please leave a review


March 1, 2023

I did this walk at the end of Feb (yesterday) in reverse to the above, and can say I throughly enjoyed it, even if there were some scary points.

Real care needs to be taken in the peat bog, everything looks the same, and tryingbto divert round the worst patches quickly makes you loose any sense of direction. A GPS is a must here.

I also had some walking poles, which doubled up as depth gauges, sometimes going over a foot deep. I couldn’t imagine what the peat has swallowed up from unsuspecting ramblers.

Beyond the bog, the walk was fairly straight forward, and enjoyable.

Michael
July 24, 2021

A good review of a popular circuit up onto Kinder and back.

However the section from the River Kinder over towards Crowden Clough is probably the trickiest area of the whole summit plateau in terms of the terrain. This route as shown on the OS map and others is the original route of the Pennine Way which was moved over to Jacob’s ladder and the western edge of the plateau, thus avoiding the mile of unrelenting bogs and crumbling gullies which must have put off more than a few setting out to complete the route along the Pennines to Scotland. This section is still the boggiest.

Since the peatland restoration project much of the plateau is now a largely dry heathland with just a few damp gullies remaining, the upland flora has re-established itself and is fascinating and beautiful.

If the route from Kinder downfall up the River Kinder is followed southwards towards the summit ridge, there are fairly clear paths leading up the shallowing feeder gullies onto the moor top. You know you’re on the summit ridge when you can see the rock formations girdling the southern edge with Grindslow Knoll to the south east, while still having Bleaklow and Fairbrook Naze in view behind. The Kinder Low trig point is also clearly seen to the south west from this airy viewpoint , along with most of the vast western Kinder plateau spread around you. Head for Pym Chair for the quickest way to the southern edge trails for a return to Edale, or alternativly try your luck down one of the feeder gullies (often full of snowy cottongrass in summer) and on into the deeper groughs. These days they are usually dry and sandy underfoot much of the way, and a surpisingly quick and entertaining way back to Crowden Clough and the rest of the route.

Happy explorations.

Mapref

Hot Topics

Related Articles