Kinder Scout Route 3
Reaching the highest point in the Peak District is notoriously challenging for proving a stern test of your navigational skills,
Can you navigate the Kinder plateau?
Kinder Scout, at 636m, is the highest point in the Peak District. This plateau is also one of the most significant navigational challenges in Britain, especially if you do not want wet feet! Recent years have seen a major transformation in the landscape of the plateau, with many of the groughs – deep channels in the peat – blocked to retain water and regenerate the peat bog. There are few landmarks to act as reference points when traversing the area, so navigational skills, the use of map, compass and pacing need to be of a high standard. As such, this walk is a worthy test.
The sense of isolation that Kinder Scout can bring to a walk is one of its defining characteristics. In summer the quiet and solitude is enticing. In a winter storm it is a different matter.
Before embarking on the walk ensure you have the gear and skills to enable you to complete the traverse. If in any doubt, do not attempt the walk. There is a reason why Kinder Scout has its own Mountain Rescue plan! If you are confident in your ability then enjoy a fantastic day in this amazing landscape.
NB: Bearings noted in copy below are all grid bearings. 1 SK122859 Starting from Grindsbrook Booth village school, walk north out of the village and just before the road ends at a private driveway take the right-hand public footpath down to the footbridge across Grinds Brook, then through the gate and up the steps onto a slab footpath. Follow this path until it forks, then take the right-hand concessionary grass path uphill to a gate at the corner of a tree plantation.
2 SK122865 Go right and follow the well-made zig zag path up over The Nab and on to the top of Ringing Roger. At the top head along the slab path aiming for a wire fence and turn north-east following the path along the southern edge of the Kinder Scout plateau ticking off along the way the Druid Stone on the left. Shortly after take the right-hand path then go north past gritstone boulders on the left of the path and then keeping left at the next two path forks until arriving at the junction of four paths at the head of the remains of a dry stone wall running north-east. This is the beginning of the interior traverse that follows the boundary line marked on the 1:25,000 OS map with black dots.
3 SK139883 Walk west-south-west for 1125m passing Madwoman’s Stones on your left to arrive at Edale Moor triangulation pillar (which is also known as the Scout Trig).
4 SK129878 From the trig, head due west for 1375m to the Hartshorn, spot height 604m, at SK115877. From this point, if desired the southern edge path can be obtained by walking directly south for 25m. From there a return to Grindsbrook Booth can be secured.
5 SK115877 Set the compass to 306° and walk for 950m to a small boulder field at SK107883 then walk west for 1000m through a second boulder field, arriving at a third at SK097882. From here turn south-west to the cairn at Crowden Head 200m away.
6 SK095881 From Crowden Head walk in a west-south-west direction to arrive at the summit of Kinder Scout, spot height 636m, on a small peat knoll at SK084875. Walk north for 700m then west for 470m to reach the footpath that runs along the western edge of the plateau, then turn north to visit Kinder Downfall.
7 SK083889 From Kinder Downfall return south along the western edge path, passing Kinder Low triangulation pillar on your left, until you reach a cairn at the junction of two paths. Take the north-east path which eventually turns east along the southern edge of the plateau, negotiating your way through numerous gritstone formations and crossing Crowden Brook. Continue east along the clear path until you arrive at the slab path leading to the top of Grindsbrook Clough. Descend the clough following the well-defined path back down to Grindsbrook Booth.