The Manchester – Sheffield line is great for linear Peak District walks, something that’s difficult to do in the car without some faff and organising! Get off at one stop and back on at another for the return journey home (Make sure any return tickets cover the furthest away stop on your outing to avoid any fines).
I quite like to end my walks and runs at Edale so that I can stay warm at the Penny Pot Cafe whilst I wait for my train. It’s right by the station and also has a wood burner, cakes, sausage/vegan rolls, hot chocolates and coffee, electronic and up-to-date traintime signs and really lovely people working in it. I would also highly recommend the Ramblers Inn for a meal or a pint, just a few minutes from the station.
Make sure you are well equipped with appropriate kit and skills for the hill before embarking on this walk. If you would like to learn the more about to how to plot and navigate your own walks in the hills take a look at our hill and mountain skills courses.
Download GPX file: Hope Station – Edale Station (via Win Hill and Kinder Southern Edges)
Hope – Edale via Win Hill and Kinder’s Southern Edges
Distance: 17km | Total ascent: 620m | Time: approx 5 – 6 hours quick walk | Terrain: on-path, some steep/rocky sections descending Grindsbrook Clough (the path below Ringing Roger would be kinder on the knees)
Train times available here. Get off at Hope Station. If you’re coming from Sheffield you’ll need to cross the footbridge over the trainline (probably the hardest part of this route to navigate!). If you’re coming from Manchester you’ll already be on the right side.
Hope Station to Win Hill Summit (3.6km)
Looking from Aston across to the shrouded Hope Valley
Take the public footpath north up to meet the road at Aston. Head east (along the public footpath and then the road) until you pass Aston Hall. Immmediately after Aston Hall you’ll take the public footpath (on the left) heading northeast up towards Win Hill.
The path will bring you round to the eastern side of Win Hill, where you’ll end up handrailing a dry stone wall north. This brings you to the top of Parkin Clough in a wooded area where a well trodden path leads westwards up on to the trig point on Win Hill. If you start going downhill you’re probably going in the wrong direction.
You’ll gain quite a lot of height in this section but the views give you ample opportunity to rest and take it all in!
The Great Ridge peeping above the clouds from Win Hill
Win Hill Summit to (just beyond) Hope Cross (3.9km)
Take the westerly path along (or below) the Win Hill pike and then continue westwards along the plateau (descending slightly, but not dramatically). After about 2km you’ll meet the boundary on your right at Wooler knoll. Follow the boundary for a further 1.9km until you reach Hope Cross (a square pillar, not a cross). Follow the path onwards (away from the boundary) for another 250 metres to reach a distinctive crossroads path junction.
(Just beyond) Hope Cross to Kinder (top of Jagger’s Clough) via Crookstone (2.6km)
Stone Post at Crookstone
I had to get my compass out here as the clouds drew in! From the path junction, take the northwesterly path for 300m to a boundary. Pass through and immediately take the footpath heading west and gently uphill across the moor. After around 500m you’ll reach a stone post with ‘Crookstone’ carved in and continue to follow the path gently uphill and in a generally westerly direction. Terrain will gradually steepen until you reach a craggy outcrop near the top of Kinder (just over 1km from the stone post) (phew!) follow the path below and past this to ascend up onto the plateau. By now your path will be heading a towards the southwest with steep ground down to your right. After about another 700m you should join the top of Jagger’s Clough, a distinctive valley shape and stream on the hillside.
Jagger’s Clough to Grindsbrook Clough (4.5km)
From here you’ll follow the undulating southern edge of Kinder, keeping to the path at the top of the steep ground (steep ground will be down to your left). It’s 4.5km to the top of your descent down Grindsbrook Clough. Don’t be fooled by earlier cloughs – Grindsbrook heads east, initially steeply and later much more gradually.
You can shorten this leg by taking the easier-going path down from below Ringing Roger (at 1.7km) or Golden Clough ( 1.9km – steeper, hard on the knees!), which both bring you down to the public footpath leading into Edale.
This is not Grindsbrook Clough but one of the earlier (and much less passable) tributaries to Grindsbrook that can easily mislead you in poor visibility. Make sure you take the clough heading east if you’re heading down Grindsbrook.
Grindsbrook Clough to Edale (3.4km)
Pick your way down Grindsbrook Clough (easterly), which is initially steep and gradually becomes more amenable. After 1.75km cross a footbridge over golden clough, pass through a short plantation and follow the flagstone path for a further 650m to cross a footbridge , bringing you onto the road through Edale. Follow this South for just over a kilometre to find the Ramblers, the train station and the Penny Pot cafe.
Let us know if you have done this walk, or another variation.
Learn how to plan and navigate your own walks in the hills and mountains.
Hati
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