The Entire Kinder Scout Plateau

Joe Jackson

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Edale is a stunning area to go to for a walking holiday. It is surrounded on three sides by higher ground and open moors, including the highest point in the Peak District, called Kinder Scout. Edale has good transport links thanks to the rail network linking Sheffield and Manchester and can accommodate a large amount of people thanks to several inns and campsites.

This is a mammoth walk of 32km but can be completed in a full day by fit walkers and most of the harder ascent is completed within the first hour or so. It starts off at the car park just next to the train station and follows the country lane north into the main village of Edale. After passing the church, inn and little shop the route follows a popular footpath that takes you up on the Kinder Plateau alongside Grinds Brook. Once up on the plateau the route hairpins right and follows the edge of the plateau past Hartshorn and Ringing Roger and round to Crookstone Out Moor. From there the route heads west along Blackden Edge, Seal Edge and The Edge to join the Pennine Way. The views north along this section are tremendous and possibly some of the best on the entire walk.

After another change of direction the route heads to Kinder Downfall, which is a spectacular waterfall coming off the Kinder Plateau which, during the winter period is a popular ice-climbing destination. The Pennine Way heads south over Kinder Low before making its way back down to the Vale of Edale.

This walk has been graded as a Mountain Challenge. The reason for this is because of the length and possible navigation issues in poor weather. An early start is necessary to complete the full walk in a day - I completed the round in a little over nine hours.

England - Central England - Derbyshire - Peak District