Kinder Scout Mass Trespass Walk, Derbyshire

Exit car park L, following lane to gates for Kinder Reservoir. Go R over bridge. Curve L, rising to take footpath L through gate. Continue to a path junction. Go L over bridge. At lane (by large gates R) go half-R through gate, taking path uphill by wall. Follow path past Kinder Reservoir. As you near reservoir end, curve L, following a L branch of it. At the tip of this, reach a bridge by sign for William Clough. 1 - The carpark at the walk start was a former quarry and was the point where the 500+ protesting ramblers set off from on 12th April 19322 - Booth Bridge Sheep Wash was constructed after the valley was flooded for the reservoir in 19113 - Kinder Reservoir took 11 years to build and was completed in 1911 This section is relatively straightforward going but a bit rough in places

Take path ahead into William Clough. The path crosses and recrosses the stream several times - higher up, follow path as it rises steeply half-R up the clough side and soon recross the stream again. Continue by the stream to exit the clough up stone steps and follow a path to a large cairn at path junction R. 1 - William Clough is named after a cutler who worked in the clough. There are signs of iron smelting if you watch the ground of the clough carefully. William Clough is rough and eroded in places and one or two areas are a bit scrambley so take care in these areas.

Go R to stay R at next path junction. Rise to giant cairn on the edge of the Kinder plateau. As the paved path ends, continue south-easterly along the plateau edge to eventually curve L. Continue through gate and then gate opening. Follow the rising path to Kinder Downfall and pass it on the L. Continue to the River Kinder at the Downfall waterfall head. 1 - Kinder Downfall is a waterfall located in an impressive rocky gorge. It is often engulfed in mist and on windy days the tumbling water is blown back up in the air giving the impression that the waterfall is going up instead of down. The Kinder Scout plateau can be a bleak place on a day of bad weather and should be avoided in such conditions. Choose a day of good and settled weather for this walk.

Cross the River Kinder to continue southerly on plateau edge. Continue to curve around another stream and carry on to a path junction L by cairn. Go L past the cairn and follow the path to the trig on Kinder Low. 1 - At Kinder Low you are at 2,076 ft/633 metres - the highest point of Kinder Scout rises to 2,086 ft/636 metres. The path to Kinder Low can be rough in places and requires care.

Continue southerly to descend L of Edale Rocks. Beyond these the path becomes paved. At a large cairn stay half-R (paved path). At next path junction (R) leave the paved path to go ahead towards a wall/ fence. At a Pennine Way sign, you'll reach a path junction with a gate to the R. Go R through gate, taking the path ahead with wall R. Rise through gate posts and reach Edale cross R. 1 - Edale Cross marks the highest point on an old pack horse route.

Pass the cross and continue by wall to cross stream and reach path junction/stile R. Continue ahead through three gates to a lane. Go ahead to pass farm, and when lane splits at two gates, go through the R gate. Continue to rejoin the surfaced lane at a junction and go ahead. Follow the lane to a junction of tracks. Go L down lane, following it to curve right over bridge back to the car park This fairly straightforward section has no real hazards apart from a bit of rough ground.