Lady Clough - Pennine Way - The Edges - Seal Stones

Eric Davies

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Kinder Scout is set within the Dark Peak area of the 555 square miles of the Peak District National Park - the first National Park in Britain. The Dark Peak is an area of dark tablelands, dominated by heather, bilberry and moor grass. Kinder Scout together with other high points such as Bleaklow and Black Hill, forms a part of the largest area of land in England over 610 metres (2,000ft). Lying equidistant between the major conurbations of Manchester and Sheffield, the dark gritstone massif of Kinder Scout rises sharply from the flat low ground of the Cheshire Plain to the west. Kinder is recognised as being of international importance for its landscape, recreational value and wildlife. The plateau forms a significant part of the Dark Peak Site of Special Scientific Interest. The rock formations which characterise the edges of the Kinder Plateau are formed from a type of sandstone called millstone grit. This was laid down in river deltas around 300 million years ago. The way these rocks have been eroded by water, ice and wind has given rise to several distinctive features.

The blanket of peat which covers much of the Kinder Plateau was formed as a result of extensive waterlogging, which began as a result of a change in the climate and tree clearance by early settlers about 6,000 years ago. Peat growth probably continued until around 300 years ago. The appearance of early man at this time probably also had a considerable impact on the landscape as a whole, as early settlers removed tree cover to increase the grazing available for the animals they hunted.

The walk starts at the car park at Birchin Clough on the A57 Snake Pass and follows one of the Lady Clough trails upriver, emerging onto open grassland and joining the A57. Here you will need to walk alongside the busy road, but it's not as bad as it seems, for about 100 yards.

Cross the road into Doctor's Gate - a distinct but very rocky path across open moorland - before joining the Pennine Way. After crossing the A57 again, the Pennine Way crosses Featherbed Moss, where common lizards can often be seen basking on the stone slabs of the path, before meeting the Snake Path at the foot of Kinder Scout. Climbing onto Kinder Scout, we now follow Kinder's Edges east, via Fairbrook Naze to the Seal Stones. Return to the valley via Gate Side Clough and to the bottom of Lady Clough before climbing back up to the car park.

If a two-day trip to the Peak District is planned, then Walk 1259 is an ideal companion, perhaps staying at the Snake Pass Inn.

England - Central England - Derbyshire - Peak District

Features

Birds, Flowers, Food Shop, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, Mountains, National Trust, Nature Trail, Pub, River, Wildlife, Woodland

9/13/2019 - Mark Ziprin

We did this 7th Sept 19. We started/finished the walk at the Snake Inn, a perfect place to relax for the night after a lovely day out. The directions were excellent and we enjoyed a hard few hours walking but with lovely views on a clear and rain-free day. We deviated at point 10, to try to make a longer walk. We followed the Pennine Way along the other edge, stopping for lunch on some rocks by a waterfall. Using the map and a compass, at some point we cut across back to join the path between 14 and 15, then following the route back to the pub. I found it very tiring towards the end but my younger and fitter companions had no problems. A great route. Thank you.

7/14/2014 - Norman Brannick

Completed this walk 14th July 2014. This was a most exhilarating, strenuous and enjoyable walk. Directions were clear apart from WM 15, the obvious junction of paths mentioned is easy to miss, needless to say I missed it, however after turning back I eventually found it, the steep decent is just that "steep" and care needs to be taken. At WM 17 after crossing the footbridge go left along the obvious path through the forest eventually you will see a sign for the Snake Inn, follow the path to a stile opposite the Inn. My thanks to Eric Davies and Walking World for this walk.

3/22/2009 - Judy Brua

21/03/09 - This is a fantastic walk, but not for the faint hearted. Waymark 4 - there is quite a long walk on the road (several hundred yards) so there is no need to scramble up the hill too soon - it is very steep and the beginning but gets a bit easier as you go further along. Between waymarks 11 and 15, there is no obvious path. There are numerous areas where people have walked, the area is very boggy, and it is hard to find your way other than by keeping not too far from the edge. Waymark 15 is not obvious for this reason- if you don't happen to be on the right one of many paths, you won't see it. And even if you do find it, the downwards path is difficult. Not meaning to be negative, but it needs to be approached with some caution. Judy Brua

9/10/2007 - Sam Roebuck

Just to return the compliment, Eric. Walked this yesterday . . very enjoyable. All paths were open and walkable.