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Kinder is a largely flat plateau at a height of around 600m, some bits higher, some lower. The aim of this route is to walk across the Kinder Plateau, on the old Pennine Way to reach Kinder Downfall. Then back down the new Pennine Way to Kinder Low, across the southern edge of Kinder, then back to Edale. All from Crowden Clough. The walk gives an opportunity to see the middle of this large plateau whilst on good paths. Parts of this walk can be busy and best visited off season or mid week.

From the Edale car park walk up the road to the village and the Old Nags Head Pub. There are four popular routes up Kinder from Edale and this walk takes the least popular, Crowden Clough. In the village there is a signpost indicating the start of the Pennine Way, and this is our way, to walk over the fields to Upper Booth Farm. This is a well marked path with flagstones in places for much of the way to Upper Booth Farm. From here walk 100m along the road to the bridge and take the footpath on the right just over the bridge. This footpath climbs by the Crowden Brook through and by a forest to a large barn. Continue uphill along Crowden Clough until there is an obvious choice of route. Take the path to the left under Crowden Tower to reach the Kinder plateau. From here walk east for a short distance to reach the top of Crowden Brook. This way avoids the scrambling directly up Crowden Brook which can be tricky and potentially wet but good fun. Now the path goes north across Kinder itself. Follow the path as it makes it's way over the plateau; initially over some natural slabs that form the start of Crowden Brook. The high point is usually wet with numerous large pools of water. This marks the watershed between Crowden Brook and the Kinder River flowing over Kinder Downfall. The views, especially east from this area shows the vast and remote nature of the Kinder plateau including the high point of Crowden Head. Continue along the path through the rocks that guard Kinder River - Kinder Gates. As the western edge approaches the views down to Hayfield and Stockport beyond, open out and then a big drop. This is Kinder Downfall. It is an impressive waterfall in the wet season but in dry summers it can be no more than a trickle. In winter the frozen Downfall provides one of the few locations in the Peaks that ice climbing can take place. (7.0kms. 50m. 2hrs. 10min.)

The Pennine Way now follows the western edge of Kinder, and the significant path passes Kinder Downfall. Follow the path south, with views over to Manchester on your right to reach Kinder Low. Now is time to reach the true summit of Kinder at .636. There is a faint path over to the summit of Kinder, but it is not very clear in places, indicating few people go over to Kinder summit. It is best to take a bearing from Kinder Low over to .636 and follow the path to reach a small pile of stones. Here a GPS will tell you that you are exactly at the summit (or not!). From here the route leaves the summit south to get to the southern edge path at Pym Chair. Again there is a lack of a good path so a bearing is a good idea. Once on the edge of Kinder at Pym Chair, the path around Kinder is obvious. Follow the path around the south of the Kinder plateau from Pym Chair, passed Wool Packs and then Crowden Tower. Rather than descending via Crowden Brook, continue around the edge of Kinder to reach the path over to Grindslow Knoll. Follow the path, initially downhill and then climb to the summit of Grindslow Knoll. The descent from here, on good paths, is a more open and interesting descent which follows the ridge down Grindslow Knoll and onto Edale village. Finally walk down the road to the car park. (7.5kms. 100m. 2hrs. 30min.)

16th July 2026 Mid July and there is a heat wave in the UK - was this a good idea to walk onto Kinder? I started at Edale and walked along the Pennine way to Upper Booth then set off to climb Crowden Clough. As I climbed the heat got higher and with no wind though about going back. But once on the Kinder Plateau there was sufficient wind to cool down. It is a great walk over the plateau, following the old Pennine Way to Kinder Downfall. Then around the current Pennine Way path to Kindfer Low before walking aalong the south Kinder edge past all the interesting rock formations. Rather than descending the airless Crowden Clough, I opted to descend over Grindslow Knoll down to Edale. A great walk but maybe too hot.