Weekly Route: Kinder Circuit
The first of a new OM weekly route series takes you from Edale in the Dark Peak, onto Kinder and back using both the original and updated Pennine Way paths - it's a cracker.
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Edale > Grindsbrook >
Kinder Downfall > Kinder Low > Jacob's ladder >
Edale
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Length: 9.85 miles (15.4
kim)
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Height Gain: 1911 feet (582
m)
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Overview: A circular route from Edale
combining the old and new course of the Pennine
Way.
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Maps: Ordnance Survey OL1 - Dark Peak
/ Landranger 90
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Grade: 2
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Start Point: SK 124 853 - Edale Car
Park
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Slap bang in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Edale and
Kinder Scout hold important places in British hillwalking culture,
thanks to the Kinder Trespass and the Pennine Way - but even
without the past, this is simply spectacular walking country.
 The
route takes you up from the village of Edale on the original Pennine
Way, then across the bleak open moorlands of the Kinder Plateau,
before turning south to take the modern Pennine Way's route down
Jacob's ladder and back into Edale.
Along the way you'll find paved paths, steep gorge climbing and
boggy peat moors - beware these can grab your legs and, more
expensively, your boots...
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Background Guff
Kinder Scout is a 2000ft plateau that marks the start of the
Pennines. The plateau consists of deep, dark, peat moorland on a base
of millstone grit. Here the water cuts deep 'groughs',up
to 30ft deep through the peat, before descending in V-shaped valleys
locally known as 'Cloughs' - to three sides. The fourth
side, the west, is famous for the spectacular Kinder Downfall, where
the fledgling River Kinder tumbles vertically off the plateau to feed
Kinder Reservoir.
The groughs make walking on Kinder a tiring process, though over
the years the National Park has laid slabbed paths across the plateau
on most of the major thoroughfares. This not only provides solid
ground in any weather, but had to be introduced to combat the impact
of millions of walkers' feet on the fragile surface. The Pennine Way
had to be diverted for the same reason from its original path up
Grindsbrook and across the plateau to today's alternative route via
Jacob's ladder.
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Route
Section 1 - Edale to Fox Holes
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Length: 1.95 miles (3.16
km)
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Height Gain: 1061 Ft ; (323
m)
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From the main car park walk, or the railway station, take the road
into the village past the Tourist Information Centre on the right
hand to The Nag's Head pub - the official start of the Pennine Way.
Shortly after the pub turn right at the "Grindsbrook" signpost to
a wooden bridge and a gate that allows access to the open moorland.
High up to your right the gritstone edges of Upper Tor give you an
idea of the climb ahead.
Follow the right hand side of Grinds Brook, on a well paved route
through open grazing. Where the path divides stick to the paved
route, which slowly climbs through trees before dropping slightly to
another gate and a small feeder stream.
From this point on the route climbs the ever narrowing Grindsbrook
as it curves round to the left. As you follow the curve of the brook
round to the left the edge of the plateau comes into view, and where
the route splits you stick to the left hand side for a final, rocky
climb to the top.
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Section 2 - Fox Holes to Kinder Downfall
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Length: 2.15 miles (3.54
km)
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Height Gain: 246 Ft (75
m)
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 The
edge of the plateau is marked by a collection of large boulders at
Fox Holes, and from here the path heads generally west towards
Crowden Tower. Although Kinder Downfall lies north west of Fox Holes,
the paved route heads west towards Crowden Tower then shortly after a
small waterfall the path turns right, then slightly left, before
settling on a map bearing of 342?. The next 3/4 of a mile
crosses the heather plateau as it drops into the bed of the River
Kinder.
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Kinder Gates, an obvious narrowing of the river's
route, signals the approach to Kinder Downfall and the path soon
turns sharply left.  Large boulders in the stream bed is how
you're getting near to the precipice that takes the River Kinder to
the valley below, tdon't panic though, it is safe enough to continue
along the river bed to the edge of the Downfall. From here, on a good
day, you can get extensive views to the Welsh hills.
If
the wind's blowing in the right direction, the water can change
direction in mid-air and blow back onto the plateau, an awesome if
damp sight...
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Section 3 - Kinder Downfall to Jacob's Ladder
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Length: 2.25miles (3.62
km)
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Height Gain: 244 Ft (74
m)
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From Kinder Downfall the route heads South-West along a well defined
path to the trig point on Kinder Low. This section is easy to
navigate, following the edge of the plateau to your right along well
a maintained path.
The route drops consistently for 200ft (64m) to a
ford across the stream, where a minor path heads off right, then
continues downhill to a junction. At the junction turn left (map GR SK 080860) to head for Jacob's Ladder.
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Section 4 - Jacob's ladder to Edale
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Length: 2.9 miles (4.6
km)
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Height Gain: 292 Ft (89
m)
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From the large cairn take the steep path down Jacob's Ladder and
cross the footbridge. From the bottom continue South West towards the
hamlet of Upper Booth, passing Grain Clough on your right and Lea
House on the left. Continue along an improving track to Upper Booth.
From Upper Booth cross a small stream and continue uphill on the
signposted path that skirts the edge of Broadlee- Bank Tor. As the
path moves away from the steeper ground of Broadlee-Bank Tor it
starts to drop down to Edale. The last short section of the path
brings you out once more into Edale village opposite the school. Turn
right and follow the road back downhill for a quarter of a mile to
the railway station and car park.
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Discuss this story
Yes, a decent write up on Kinder, though must say I prefer Crowden Brook as a route to the top, more interesting with possibility of occassional scramble and less popular. The NW fringe's of Kinder above A57 also tend to see less people too.
Posted: 05/07/2005 at 12:50
Thanks Lloyd :) It's always difficult writing the first of a series. There's no format, no layout to follow, no style to write in and so many routes to pick from. We decided that it may be best start with a series of "classics" - and given the relevance of the 50th Anniversary of the Pennine Way this seemed the ideal first route. My personal favourite route on Kinder is probably from the Snake via Fairbrook Naze.
Posted: 05/07/2005 at 12:56
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