How to climb Kinder Scout via Grindsbrook Clough

At 636 metres, Kinder Scout is the tallest point in the Peak District. The top of Kinder Scout is a massive moorland plateau extending to the horizon and scattered with huge boulders, making it feel almost like you're walking on a different planet. 

Hiking up its steep slopes, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Dark Peaks, the beautiful valley below, waterfalls, and the Kinder Reservoir.

 

How to get there?

You can either take a train from Manchester or Sheffield to the village of Edale or drive and park there. The Old Nags Pub in Edale  is where the trail up the Kinder begins.

What's the weather like?

We took this trip in mid-April, and it was a very sunny and calm weather, even at the top. We had taken our winter jackets, anticipating cold and windy conditions on the wide open Kinder Plateau, but a jacket turned out not to be necessary at all. It was over 15 degrees Celsius, so drinking water and sunscreen turned out to be much more valuable assets than jackets.

Needless to say, in winter the conditions would likely be quite cold and unstable, and the ascent would be a more difficult undertaking. The Kinder Plateau can be difficult to navigate in foggy conditions, due to the lack of landmarks on its flat surface, so make sure you know how to read a map and compass in case the weather turns foggy. Check the weather forecast to avoid surprises.

How long does it take?

There are many routs up and down Kinder Scout. We spent 5 hours on the route shown in the map below (with ample time for photos and picnic), which ascends along Grindsbrook Clough, tours the scenic Southern edge of the Kinder Plateau to the high point of Kinder Low and returns to Edale via Jacob's Ladder and the Pennine Way (or you could equally well traverse it in the opposite direction).

Click here for a detailed version. 

 What to wear?

Hiking boots are a good choice, as the hike up Grindsbrook Clough is a rocky one and somewhat steep, and the top of Kinder Scout can be boggy. However, when we climbed the mountain, it was very dry, and therefore it was neither slippery along the way nor boggy at the top. Therefore, we saw many people hiking in trainers. As already said, it's good to check the weather just before your trip and prepare accordingly.

Other interesting things?

Aside from the mountain itself, there are a couple of picturesque bridges (one on the River Noe and another one on Grinds Brook) crossing streams along the trail.

The serpentine trail along Grinds Brook is fun to follow and there's a pretty view of the brook flowing several dozen meters below.

The autumn coloured moorland on top of Kinder Scout is a gorgeous sight, and it extends as far as the eye can see. That combined with the remoteness of the place kind of makes you feel like you're walking on Mars. 

Grinds Brook

The route

The route we took starts from the Old Nags Head pub and heads North, crossing Grinds Brook just a hundred meters later. The path continues North along Grinds Brook and is very easy to follow. You'll have to cross the brook at one point some 500 metres from the edge of Kinder plateau, but by that point it becomes quite a small brook with plenty of stepping stones for crossing. For the last 500 metres of Grindsbrook Clough, the path becomes steeper and rocky. No scrambling is required, but you are basically walking on rocks here. 

Grindsbrook Clough

After Crindsbrook Clough, you reach the Kinder plateau and magnificent views open. Now head West (that is, straight ahead) along a clear cobblestone path.  The trail follows the Southern edge of Kinder Scout, and on the first kilometre you'll pass by some boulders and then cross a brook (Crowden Brook).

Kinder plateau

Then head Southwest, and you'll soon see an area dotted with tall and interesting looking boulders (the Wool Packs). It basically looks like a labyrinth of stones that you have to navigate through. You may spend some time here climbing on the boulders, eating lunch, and enjoying the great views from their tops. Or you can take cover from the wind between the rocks if it's a windy day. 

Woolpacks

Noe stool

 

You'll then continue West along the edge of the mountain for about a kilometre, passing a couple of lonely but magnificent rocks (Pym Chair and Noe Stool).  Then, to reach Kinder Low (which is actually almost the highest point on Kinder!) you can either take a shortcut after Noe's stool, heading West through the moor (if it looks dry) or take a proper but longer path that first goes Southwest a few hundred meters and then North the same distance.

Pym chair

 

Kinder Low

On Kinder Low, there's a Cairn to mark what is essentially the summit at 633 metres. The real summit is only three meters higher, but not marked and not really a particularly visible place, so Kinder Low is much more satisfactory as the summit. From Kinder Low you have amazing views: you can see Kinder Reservoir below, and all the way to Manchester if the weather is clear. It's possible to continue from here North along the Pennine Way that traces the Western edge of Kinder and passes the stunning Kinder Downfall waterfall, but at this point the route we chose heads back to Edale.

Views from the top of Kinder scout towards Kinder reservoir

From Kinder Low, the way back starts by going South to Edale Rocks. These rocks are really massive and a spectacular sight, yet they are not very difficult to climb on.  After Edale Rocks, you'll start your descent from the Kinder Plateau. A few hundred meters later, you'll reach the upper end of Jacob's Ladder, a proper stone staircase that takes you down from the mountain. 

Edale rocks

While walking along the Pennine Way you will see the beautiful Mam Tor and Edale Ridges on the other side of the valley, see my other post. Jacob's Ladder ends near a beautiful bridge crossing a river, and after this the rest of the path (which follows the Pennine Way) is relatively flat, but there is still some 4-5 kilometres to Edale. The trail passes some farms and pastures, and a bit before Edale rises a bit over a hill. It's all downhill after that, and after crossing some meadows with sheep grazing you'll end up back to Edale from where you started.

Jacob's ladder