Get Lost Mountaineering

Kinder Low End, Kinder Low, Edale Rocks, Swine's Back, Edale Cross & Oaken Clough from Bowden Bridge car park

Start/Finish

Hayfield campsite or Bowden Bridge car park. If coming from the south or east, take the A619 from Chesterfield to Baslow before picking up the A623 signed for Manchester. Those approaching from Buxton, on the A6, will meet this route at a roundabout just before Chapel-en-leFrith. Soon after, take the A624 signed for Glossop. Continue on this road until the right turn into Hayfield village is reached. Turn in then go left and pass the church before crossing the river then follow the road on the N side of the river until past the Sportsman pub. Soon after there is a right turn, over a bridge, for the campsite. There are public toilets just across this bridge. The Bowden Bridge car park is a little further along the road after this turning. It is possible to park for free on the opposite side of the road to the car park but a little way back to Hayfield. Those approaching from Glossop should fork left on the one way street into the village until the above route is joined. There are a few signs in the village for the campsite which may help.

Distance/Time

8 km     About 3 – 4 hours

Peaks

Kinder Low, 633 m, SK 079 870.

OS Outdoor Leisure 1: Dark Peak.

Introduction

This is a lovely walk which samples the most popular part of Kinder. The path up the steep section of Kinder Low End has been constructed and is one of the finest paths in the Peak District. It knocks spots off the over romanticised Jacob's Ladder. Edale Rocks, Swine'e Back and Edale Cross are added bonuses. The track down Oaken Clough is very rough and stony but there is a grassy path on its left for much of the way.

Route

(1) From the bridge by the public toilets, turn left (camp site is right) and walk up the minor road with the river on the left. Soon the river is on the right. Keep going ahead at junctions, aiming for Tunstead House which is signposted. Walk up the track which goes around the right hand side of the buildings before heading E up a green lane. Follow this, shadowing a wall on the right, crossing stiles and passing through gates. Finally cross the wall on the right near to the National Trust sign, just past the wall. Walk up the side of the same wall, soon passing through another gate, before a path goes off to the right aiming for the obvious nose of Kinder Low End. A lovely engineered path takes over for the steep section. When the path levels out, continue. It soon becomes a slabbed path. Ignore another slabbed path going off right but remember it for later. Soon some cairns appear. Follow them until a very large cairn is reached. Turn right here and within 40 m, reach the trig point of Kinder Low, 633 m which stands on a boulder.

(2) Head almost due S on the wide and obvious Pennine Way. Soon rwach Edale Rocks which is a massive outcrop. The Pennine Way passes it on its left side. Continue to the equally obvious Swine's Back which is a mainly grassy knoll with a solitary boulder on it. Leave the Pennine Way and follow a faint path over Swine's Back. Descend to meet another path by a wall and follow this down to a significant track which connects Edale with Hayfield. Edale Cross is behind the wall on the right as you meet the track. If you turn right onto the track then immediately look right you will see the remains of the cross. Follow the track down, roughly W. It is very rough and stony but you should find a better path slightly up to the left. Continue down, initially following Oaken Clough although the path gradually diverges from the line of the clough. When almost down, join a tarmac road. Turn right and follow this down. Surprisingly, it becomes a track before becoming a road again with a slight ascent. Reach the crossroads passed on the outward route and turn left (Tunstead House and Kinderstones are right). Follow the road back to Bowden Bridge.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 8^th February, 2019.