Kinder Scout via Grindsbrook Clough

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Route: Edale, Grindsbrook Booth, Heardman's Plantation, Grindsbrook Clough, Crowden Brook, Crowden Tower, The Woolpacks, Edale Head, Noe Stool, Swine's Back, Jacob's Ladder, Lee House, Upper Booth, Barber Booth, Edale

Date: 21/05/2024
From: Edale

Parking: Car park in Edale
Start Point: Edale
Region: Peak District Dark Peak

Route length: 12.6 km
Time taken: 05:11
Average speed: 3.7km/h
Ascent: 467m
Descent: 468m

Summits: None

Other points of interest: Grindsbrook Clough, Crowden Tower, Jacob's Ladder

It is estimated that 20 million people live within an hour's drive of the Peak District, and we're lucky that our hour takes us to the wild and woolly Dark Peak with its famous open moors and gritstone edges. The crowning glory of this area is Kinder Scout. The huge moorland plateau rises to a height of over 2,000ft - the highest point in the Peak District but its charms lie away from this fact.

The Kinder edges are the highlight and the southern edge is the most popular but arguably the best. I've walked the various edges several times from multiple starting points including Hayfield, Edale and Snake Pass, culminating in the classic Kinder Circuit. Today we'd be visiting the southern edge by climbing Grindsbrook Clough - a popular boulder-strewn valley.

We began in Edale, as many heading for Kinder Scout invariably do, making our way past the station and along the lane leading past the church to Grindsbrook Booth, a hamlet consisting of a few cottages, a farm, a school and the all-important pub. As the lane reaches the gates of Grindslow House, a shady path leaves to the right, crossing Grinds Brook and entering the open fields below The Nab.

Edale

Edale Parish Church

The Nab

The steep slopes below Ringing Roger

Grindsbrook Clough and Kinder Scout

Paving slabs lead the way into Grindsbrook Clough ending to become a substantial track at Golden Clough that climbs at an easy gradient above the tumbling stream. At a bend in the stream between a rock outcrop, take the opportunity to leave the track and make the rest of the climb along the stream itself. If it has been particularly wet, you may want to consider waterproof boots for this bit.

Grindsbrook Clough

Grindsbrook Clough 

The path follows the edge of the stream to begin with

Grindsbrook Clough

The tumbling waters of Grinds Brook

The path continues directly ahead climbing more steeply up the rock-strewn valley. Some mild scrambling is involved in climbing towards the ridgeline, but nothing is too difficult. You'll shortly emerge on the southern edge of Kinder Scout.

Grindsbrook Clough below Edale Moor

Grindsbrook Clough

Looking back down along Grindsbrook Clough

Kinder Scout

A path runs the entire length of Kinder Scout's perimeter, which is undoubtedly a relic of ancient travellers combined with modern tourists. The most popular part runs between Nether Tor and Kinder Low, passing many more interesting sights that Kinder offers. It's both easy to follow and (once you've made the climb to reach it) relatively flat.

The view from Edale Moor

The southern escarpment path

The path crosses the bottom of Grindslow Knoll and then follows the edge of the deep Crpwden Clough. Below you are Upper Booth's fields and the Pennine Way's early section from Edale. The head of Crowden Clough is dominated by Crowden Tower, appearing like a dark grey apartment building perched on the side of the hill.

Crowden Tower

Crowden Tower

The head of Crowden Brook

Crowden Brook

From Crowden Tower, the landscape changes, becoming much barer as the path winds course through the Wool Packs, a series of enormous gritstone blocks, tossed about the landscape like discarded children's toys. This really is an amazing place. Some very boggy bits litter the main walking path making the going slightly more treacherous.

The are some peculiarly shaped rocks along the way

The Wool Packs

The Wool Packs

The Wool Packs

Boggy sections may persist year-round

The Wool Packs

We'd made it through the Wool Packs to Pym Chair which is thought to be the chosen location for a local preacher to deliver sermons. However, there are tales that it was the location where a highwayman preyed on unwitting travellers on the lonely moor. I'll let you choose your favourite.

A view to Brown Knoll with the Pennine Way at Jacob's Ladder below

Edale Head

Edale Head

Despite having already witnessed some fascinating sights, there was still more to come as we plotted our route off the plateau via the Edale Cross and Jacob's Ladder. The Pennine Way would be our guide back to Edale, the famous route finishing (or starting) at the Rambler Inn in the village. As the path delves beneath Edale Rocks (another impressive rock tor), it meets the ancient packhorse route between Manchester and Sheffield where you can find the Edale cross hidden away, protected in an alcove of drystone walls. 

The Edale Head and a distant Wool Packs

Noe Stool

Heading towards Swine's Back

The Pennine Way

Beyond the cross, the path continues along the packhorse route towards Edale, slowly descending into the valley below some further impressive tors, including the delightful Pagoda Rock. Edale was a convenient stopping point on two significant packhorse routes and would have provided an overnight break for packhorse men and their horses. To descend the steep valley, the route heads down Jacob's Ladder.

At the top of Jacob's Ladder

In the late 18th century, Jacob Marshall occupied Edale Head Farm, the ruins of which are close to the packhorse bridge along a track heading west. He kept a small enclosure for packhorses to graze in and is credited with constructing the steep direct path up the hillside to give the packhorse men a respite while their horses took the longer zigzag route – hence the Jacob's Ladder name. We chose the shorter, steeper route down the slope, reaching the pleasant packhorse bridge at the bottom.

At the top of Jacob's Ladder is a large cairn

The unmistakable Peak District footpath signs

Jacob's Ladder

The pack horse bridge over the infant River Noe

River Noe

The Pennine Way makes its way from the bottom of Jacob's Ladder back towards Edale, snaking through Lee Farm and the hamlet of Upper Booth. From Upper Booth, we opted to follow the footpath to Barber Booth then along the railway line back to Edale, avoiding a final hurdle where the Pennine Way crosses the slopes of Broadlee Bank Tor. The path crosses the railway a couple of times before it emerges back in Edale.

Edale

Lee Farm

Lord's Seat

Broadlee-Bank Tor

Edales famous Great Ridge