Kinder Scout via a scramble up Crowden Clough (6 miles/9.5 km)
This is a wonderful way to gain access to the Peak District’s highest hill: Kinder Scout. On this walk you will enjoy a great little adventure by scrambling up Crowden Clough from Upper Booth. Once up at the top of Crowden Clough you can take any number of options. Head right and look for the aircraft wrecks above Edale, head straight on (good navigation skills required) to find Kinder Gates and then Kinder Downfall or most simply turn left and complete a circular route back down Jacob’s Ladder (as given here). Best done on a scorching hot summer’s day when the water-falls of Crowden Clough have dried to a trickle. (Or just get a right soaking!)
General Information
Start / Finish Location – Barber Booth Car Park Hope Valley, S33 7ZL
Distance: 6 miles / 9.5 Km
Height gain: 1350 ft / 409 m
How tough? Anyone with reasonable fitness can manage this wonderful adventure – a great one to get your kids out too! Be aware, a reasonable head for heights is needed!
Recommended kit list for UK hill walking
Join us for …
Hill Skills (Navigation) Courses
FREE Guided Walks in the Peak District
Guided scrambling weekends in Snowdonia and the Lake District
Personal experiences
Back in the day (many years ago) when I was a single man surfing the pages of online dating sites, I decided that if I ever got as far as a third date, going on this walk would be it. It was a winter’s day in 2005, the weather wasn’t great, and I led this young lady up to the heights of Kinder Scout. She didn’t complain about the cold and wet, and she coped marvelously with the ascent of Crowden Clough. At the top we stopped to have a picnic and supped our hot chocolate from the flask. As we looked over the view of the Hope Valley in front of us – she said to me “this is GREAT”. And that was the first moment that I thought, this girl is a keeper! As it turned out, I only got to a third date once because I married her!
Further Reading/Information
Ten GREAT Peak District walks to do
Ten of the Best Peak District Mountain Biking Routes
The Tongue In Cheek History Of The Peak District
Recommended equipment / kit for walking in the UK
What to pack in your first aid kit
Accommodation in Castleton
Accommodation in Youlegrave
Hill and Mountain Weather Advice
Five Grade 1 Scrambles to Get You Started
Top Tips For Footcare
Top Tips to Get Your Children Walking
Walking boots: a new approach