The Peak District & Derbyshire

Kinder Scout circular walk

View from the top of Jacobs Ladder, Kinder Scout, Derbyshire | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

Follow this challenging circular moorland walk. Along the route you will discover how this landscape will be changing over the next 50 years as a result of the National Trust’s vision and plan for the High Peak moors.

Near to

Kinder, Edale and the High Peak

Start point

Edale train station, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire. Grid ref: SK124856

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 7.5 (km: 12)

Duration4 hours 30 mins to 5 hours 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Some challenging ascents and descents. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Blue badge parking available. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs allowed. No bins. BBQs/campfires/outdoor cooking equipment not allowed. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Stay safe

This is a moorland walk so, to stay safe, make sure someone knows when you are expected to finish.

Dogs
Dogs on leads at all times. Please take your dog mess home with you.
Car park
Mam Nick (/Tor) car park (SK1236783300) National Trust members park for free. Non-members can use Pay by Phone. (Details by machine in car park). We have limited spaces, so if the car park is full please come back another time. There are a range of non-National car parks in the area, including High Peak Borough Council at Edale and Castleton; Severn Trent at Fairholmes/Upper Derwent Valley and Heatherdene; Derbyshire County Council at Hayfield and National Park Authority at Barber Booth, Bowden Bridge, Derwent Overlook and Hurst Clough (Ladybower).
Toilet
There are no toilet/handwashing facilities at the Mam Nick car park, so please check that there are facilities in the area you plan to visit.
Café
In the area (Not National Trust).
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Edale train station, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire. Grid ref: SK124856
Stage 1
Set foot from Edale station and head up through the village, passing the Moorland Centre on your right.
Stage 2
Turn left on to the Pennine Way, opposite the Nag's Head pub.
Stage 3
Follow the Pennine Way to Upper Booth Farm, which has won awards for its habitat restoration.
A short-eared owl | © National Trust Images/Dougie Holden
Stage 4
As you walk along the River Noe, you pass some ancient clough woodland on your left.
Stage 5
Climb Jacob's Ladder. We aim to restore more native trees in this clough by planting and protecting young trees and seedlings from grazing animals. This old packhorse track crossed the moors and was a trade route for lead, coal, salt and wool from medieval times until the railway was built in 1894.
Living bog
Part of our vision for the High Peak moors is to make Kinder Scout and other areas of blanket bog in our care a healthier habitat for wildlife, by blocking eroded gullies to build up the peat soil and then planting a mix of vegetation into it. This route takes you around the bog on surfaced paths. You can see the results of restoration work where areas that were bare, brown peat only five years ago are now covered in a variety of moorland plants and pools of water. This vast expanse of living bog is also storing carbon in the peat soil and public drinking water supplies will improve as soil erosion is reduced.
Gully blocking on the High Peak moors | © National Trust
Stage 6
Come off the Pennine Way, taking a path to your right and skirt eastwards around Kinder Plateau. On the left around the giant anvil-shaped rock called Noe Stool, you will see the areas of eroded bare peat now beginning to recover as a result of gully blocking work higher up on the plateau, which has reduced the peat erosion into the gullies. Once the peat in the gullies is stable and wet, cotton grass, mosses and other moorland plants will grow.
Stage 7
The weathered gritstone rocks or tors along the Kinder Edges create an otherworldly atmosphere as you make your way past first the Pagoda and then the cluster of rocks called the Wool Packs. Continue past Crowden Tower then follow the footpath along and then down into Grindsbrook.
Stage 8
You will be treated to sweeping views of the Vale of Edale as you descend from the plateau. Notice the patterns of historic dry-stone walls and field boundaries. Follow the Grindsbrook footpath back to Edale village.
End point
Edale train station. Grid ref: SK124856
Trail map
Map route for Kinder Scout circular walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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