Below Kinder Scout: A circular walk around Kinder reservoir
Follow the famous Snake Path through the sheltered tree lined avenues around Hayfield, before gently climbing up to the heather moors surrounding Kinder. Watch out for the surprise view of the reservoir and the dramatic crags of the High Peak. Please note: We’re finding that popular spots like Kinder and Edale are getting extremely busy, especially at weekends. We expect that many car parks will fill up very quickly by 9am on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, so we encourage people to plan ahead before leaving home. This will help us keep our places safe and enjoyable for everyone. We ask that all visitors please park safely and considerately in designated spaces and not on roads or grass verges, as this can block access for farm tenants, local residents and emergency services. We also remind people that BBQs/campfires are not permitted and ask everyone to help us look after our beautiful Peak District countryside by taking their litter home with them.
Map
Start:
Station Road, Hayfield, High Peak SK22 2ES
1
Access to Kinder walking out of the Hayfield Bus Station, first cross over Station Road, then use the crossing point to cross over Chapel Road. Walk straight on to reach Walk Mill Road, then walk along this road until you can turn left onto Church Street. Turn right onto Bank Street after crossing a bridge. At the end of Bank Street turn right onto Kinder Road, and stay left when the road forks. Continue along Kinder Road.
The Snake Path was opened in 1897 and was the first in a series of successes for the Peak and Northern Footpaths Society in their mission to win public access to the moors.
2
Follow this footpath round up the hill until you reach an iron kissing gate. Pass through this gate and then over the next stile.
3
Walk through the field and another kissing gate to reach a small copse known locally as Twenty Trees. From here you will have views of Hayfield and beyond. After passing Twenty Trees go through another kissing gate onto National Trust land on the Snake Path. Follow the tracks through the fields – you will go through another two kissing gates.
Twenty Trees?
If you count all the trees in this area you will find that there are only nineteen pine trees. There once were twenty trees, but rumour has it that a young boy from the village cut one down.
4
When you reach the National Trust sign on the heather moorland there should be a white shooting cabin to the left. Take the track to the right signposted Snake Inn and Edale. Where the path forks take the higher left hand track for elevated views as the reservoir comes into sight.
5
Follow the path to William Clough, where a wooden bridge should be visible. Cross the bridge and follow the path to the right going uphill. Go through two gates and after the second gate follow the track to the right. Cross over a stream, and follow the path alongside the wall. Cross a stile and follow the track through a field until you reach a stile in the wire fence. Go over this and then cross over the wooden bridge.
6
Take the track going straight ahead and uphill, which curves round to the right as it leads up towards the pine tree plantations.
7
After the finger post signpost bearing the National Trust logo continue along the same track which will turn left uphill, alongside a walled pine plantation. Follow this until you reach the gate.
8
Following the path downhill through the field towards the trees at the bottom of the valley, cross the stile. Then cross over the stream, taking care on slippery stones, then go over another stile to the right. Follow the track along the woodland edge.
9
The path will eventually start to go downhill leading to a gate. Go through this gate and turn left onto the road. Follow this road for about 1.3km back to the car park.
Booth Sheepwash
You will pass Booth Sheepwash as you walk back towards the car park. This was where sheep were once washed every May, and the sheepwash was built when another was lost during the construction of Kinder reservoir and the flooding of the valley in the early 1900s.
End:
Station Road, Hayfield, High Peak SK22 2ES
