Climbing Kinder Scout: A Walk From Edale up Grindsbrook Clough

Author:
Liam Hallam
Updated:
Sep 26, 2023

Kinder Scout: The Highest Point in the Peak District

The English Peak District is a popular area for outdoor enthusiasts—particularly walkers. The highest point of the Peak District is Kinder Scout. A moorland plateau with the highest point at 636 metres. The peak has a dense history in the industrial North of England as it was the point of the Mass Trespass in 1932 which led to a governmental rethink on rights of access to the open countryside.

Walking From Edale

The Peak District village of Edale marks the start of the popular Pennine Way, which meanders across the Pennine Hills of England from Derbyshire and through the North of England. Edale is a favorite start place for walkers within the Peak District, with a choice of hills to climb or meander upwards as well as a number of great pubs, campsites, and guesthouses (bed and breakfasts).

Tips for Responsible Walking in the Peak District

As you may be aware, our countryside is an often sensitive environment, and to ensure that we can look keep our countryside for many other generations to enjoy, its important to follow a number of recommendations.

Stick to categorized trails, footpaths, and bridleways where possible.
Take any rubbish with you where possible or use any bins provided.
Keep dogs on leads.
Make sure people know where you're going- it can get bleak on the tops of the Moors.
Carry waterproof/warm clothes depending on the season, as the weather can often change quickly.

The start of the walk up Kinder Scout from Edale—The Old Nags Head, Edale Hikers Bar. Follow the public footpath up the lane to the left of the pub.
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Climbing Kinder Scout From Edale

From Edale, you have two options for climbing Kinder Scout.

Grindsbrook Clough
The Pennine Way

1. Climbing Kinder Scout Via Grindsbrook

Go West on the signposted Pennine Way, which is a moderately challenging climb. This route heads directly north from Edale up Grindsbrook Clough, which is a more difficult and challenging route that is not recommended for inexperienced walkers or those with young children.

The path up Grindsbrook heads north out of Edale up the lane aside from the Old Nags Head Public House and 'Hikers bar'. The lane carries on for a short while before taking a right turn to drop down and over Grindsbrook.

The footpath turns right on the way north out of Edale village

And drops down to a footbridge over Grinds Brook

The footpath follows the stones towards Kinder Scout along the edge of Grindsbrook Clough

Looking back down the valley towards Edale having already gained plenty of height.

The going starts to get a little more rugged heading up towards Kinder Scout and Grindsbrook Clough

The path starts to vanish to be replaced by a scramble across the rocks further up Grinds Brook as you hop side to side along the brook

Scrambling further up Grinds Brook with Kinder Ridge on the Horizon.

Even More of a scramble higher up the trail as you climb up between the haystacks towards Kinder Ridge

Looking back down Grinds Brook which shows the rugged scramble just achieved and Kinder Ridge in the distance

The View back down Grindsbrook Clough from Kinder Scout Plateau

The view of Upper Tor from the top of Grinds Brook after a momentus and challenging climb

Sheep on the top of Kinder Scout with a view up to Grindslow Knoll

More sheep heading towards Crowden Tower on the rock ridge path

Pym Chair. Have a seat and look down on Edale

The almost lunar landscape on the moorland top of Kinder Scout

The footpath turns right on the way north out of Edale village

2. The Pennine Way

After walking over the top of Kinder Scout, you can see the Pennine Way.

The Pennine Way is a long-distance path that starts in Edale, heading over to Barber Booth, and then travels over the Pennines. The Peak District forms the southernmost point of the Pennine, which make their way up to the North West of England. It can make a fantastic long-distance walking trip through the seemingly remote Pennine Hills despite the fact that you're never quite far away from civilization.

This walk heads back along the Pennine Way back to Edale via the amazing Jacobs Ladder

Looking down on the Pennine Way from Kinder Scout knowing that's where you're heading

Looking down the Pennine Way snaking it's way down to Barber Booth in Edale. Mam Tor is in the distance

The hoards of walkers making their way up the Pennine Way from Barber Booth on a Sunday morning

Edale Cross. Left goes down to Barber Booth along the Pennine Way. Right to Hayfield

Follow the steep Jacobs Ladder back down towards Edale- beware it's steep!

The rugged steep path down Jacobs Ladder

Jacobs Ladder in the Peak District National Park sign

Heading back down the Pennine Way towards Barber Booth with Mam Tor in the distance

A gloirous stool at Lee House Farm, Barber Booth

The Pennine Way takes a left turn at Upper Booth back twoards Edale Village

Key your eyes out for Pennine Way signs along the route back to Edale

Interesting tiles on the wall in Upper Booth

Looking out at Mam Tor and the Mam Nick road climb from Broadlee Tor on the Pennine Way

The final Pennine Way signpost before Edale which takes you back to the start and a well earned pint in the Old Nags Head- But only if you're not driving.

Looking down on the Pennine Way from Kinder Scout knowing that's where you're heading

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

jandee from Liverpool.U.K on August 12, 2012:

Hello cycling,

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is-medium-on-the-bubble-disturbing-bubblews-and-medium-parallels

the-real-reason-republicans-banned-tiktok

glad it turned up as I thought my comment had floated away.

Tonight is a big 'Happening' on Mam Tor---Meteorites are having a party........ best from jandee

Liam Hallam (author) from Nottingham UK on August 05, 2012:

Wow Jandee. Glad I could take you back to the Peaks. Theres too much to show than show just a few photos!

I hope this inspires you to finish your kinder poem. Please le me know once you have done it as I would love to read. CF

jandee on August 04, 2012:

This has to be the BEST hub I have had the pleasure of reading..........

Well I would have to say that wouldn't I !!

Wow! You have taken me back to many years ago to my wonderful pennines.

I was thinking,when reading it,why isn't he giving 'jacobs' a mention ? We used to go up Jacobs at the start and I can still feel the pain in my legs ! great times!!!

Then you did !! I can smell the place,I can feel the sheepswool caught on the barbed wire as we approached jacobs,I can feel the cooling water on my hot blistered feet as we dragged our boots off and plunged them into the soothing reservoir, Happy,happy days

A Year ago I wrote a poem about kinder and it is half published--lazy me !!

Thanks cycling. loved it ,

best from jandee,

Liam Hallam (author) from Nottingham UK on August 03, 2012:

Thats a little unfair on you Judy. There's such a beauty to the Mountains that your husband is definitely missing out on. Wouldn't you do it without your husband?

Judi Brown from UK on August 03, 2012:

Very beautiful photos - would love to walk in the Peak District but my husband won't go anywhere where there isn't surf, so I'll have to make do with your photos!