Get Lost Mountaineering

River Kinder, Kinder Downfall, Kinder Scout, Kinder Low & Kinderlow End from Hayfield campsite or 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 camp site. There are public toilets just across this bridge. The Bowden Bridge car park is a little further along the road after this turning. 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 camp site which may help.

Distance/Time

10 km      About 5 hours

Peaks

Kinder Scout W, 636 m, SK 084(62) 875(37)

Kinder Scout E, 636 m, SK 086(22) 875(49)

Kinder Low, 633 m, SK 079 870.

OS Outdoor Leisure 1: Dark Peak.     OS 110 (1:50 000).

Introduction

This is a pleasant walk but most will need clear weather in a dry spell to enjoy it. There is a path up the River Kinder which goes almost to Kinder Downfall. Only climbers will be able to ascend the steep cliffs from this close to the Downfall, most will need to retreat downstream for a few hundred metres to ascend easier, but still very steep ground, where a slip might result in a long slide. The River Kinder is criss crossed a few times which will be difficult after rain; there are also some short mossy and boggy sections which can be unpleasant after rain. From the Downfall, the River Kinder is easily followed past Kinder Gates on a good path but, again, in wet weather, the river soon becomes swollen. One has to walk across the rough plateau to reach the two “summit” cairns. From these, it is fairly easy to reach Kinder Low then follow the well defined path down Kinderlow End then back to Bowden Bridge. Do not venture on to the Kinder Plateau unless you consider yourself a competent navigator. The camp site at Hayfield is very pleasant and well equipped. It is owned by the Camping and Caravanning Club. The rates for members, about £7 less per night, are very much below those for non-members. It may be worth joining as it only takes about six nights to break even. The path up the mainly grassy ridge to Sandy Heys is very easy to follow and only moderately steep. The route is not too boggy with the worst section being alongside Kinder Reservoir.

Route

(1) From Bowden Bridge car park, continue up the road (do not cross the bridge by the car park). Soon the private road going up to Kinder Reservoir is reached. This usually has locked gates across it so turn right, cross the bridge then follow the footpath on the right of the river. This leads up to a footbridge which is crossed to gain the top of the private road by another gate. A small footpath gate is on the left of the large gate with a sign saying White Brow. Take this footpath, which is quite steep and cobbled. When it levels out, follow it along the wall on the W side of the reservoir and up the side of the N spur of the reservoir to reach a footbridge. Just beyond the bridge is a sign saying William Clough. Cross the footbridge and follow the obvious path going right along the edge of the reservoir. This leads past a weir crossing the River Kinder near the tip of the E inlet of Kinder Reservoir. Leave this path when it crosses the river and follow a fainter, but still obvious, path up the River Kinder. This is mainly pleasant with the odd short wet section. The path criss crosses the river several times. When Kinder Downfall cliffs are close, the river becomes full of boulders. Look high and left for a large rock flake perched on an outcrop near the start of the cliffs (see photo). The recommended way up on to the edge is the mainly grassy, but steep, ridge just before this flake. If you go further, you may have to come back! Once ascending towards the top of the edge, easier ground will generally be found to the left. Be careful of being on slopes which have a cliff below them! From below, the ascent looks harder than it actually is but there is no path. Once on the edge, turn right and follow the obvious path which crosses the River Kinder above the Downfall.

(2) Walk upstream following the River Kinder. In a dry spell, the river almost dries up and one can easily walk along the river bed. The river passes between two large outcrops known as Kinder Gates. A little further, there is a large cairn where the river splits. Follow the path on the right fork. Soon after, the river splits again with the right fork being chosen again. There is still an obvious path at this point. Continue up. More junctions follow. Aim to head roughly S and eventually ascend on to the featureless plateau. Careful navigation will be needed here to locate the two cairns. You are likely to end up between them. As they are only about 300 m apart, in clear weather, there should be no difficulty in locating them. They lie on a line almost due W – E. The E cairn seems to be the higher on the ground and this is the likely “summit” of Kinder Scout E, 636 m, SK 086(22) 875(49). The surrounding area is quite boggy. From here, walk almost due W, for about 300 m, to reach the cairn which marks the W “summit” of Kinder Scout W, 636 m, SK 084(62) 875(37). This cairn is in a more grassy area. On 22/4/15, there was a short pole in the small cairn. Nearby was a “peat cairn” with a stick in it.

(3) From the W cairn, walk roughly SW for almost 1 km to reach the trig point which is the summit of Kinder Low, 633 m, SK 079 870. In clear weather, this will be visible from the Kinder Scout W cairn.

(4) From the trig point, walk, roughly W, to the obvious very large cairn (may not be visible in thick weather) and follow the edge path S then SW heading for the Kinder Low End spur. The path has well spaced smaller cairns, easily seen in clear weather but too far apart in mist. The path leads to a slabbed path. When on this slabbed path, ignore the turn off left on to another slabbed path and stay on the Kinder Low End path. Follow this, descending gently until Kinder Low End is reached. This is steep and rocky but there is a very good stepped path which makes the descent very straightforward. At the bottom, continue ahead to reach a major path and go left through a gate. Drift right towards the wall and soon reach another gate where there is a notice. Go through the gate then the boggy gate less hole in the wall just beyond and diagonally to the right. Continue down, shadowing the wall on your left, passing through some gates. There is no obvious path at first. Continue down to reach a stile which is above Tunstead House. From the house, follow the road down. Go straight on at a crossroads and soon reach Bowden Bridge.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 22^nd April, 2015.