Kinder Scout

Visit Kinder Scout in the Peak District & Derbyshire

As the highest point in the Peak District, Kinder Scout boasts unforgettable views, unique moorland and even a waterfall. It offers some of the most challenging but rewarding walks in the Peak District, where you’ll encounter gentle streams, dark gritstone, steep rocks to scramble up, unique peat and the glorious Kinder Downfall.

Kinder Scout is also one of the most significant areas in the National Park as the site of the 1932 Mass Trespass - when ramblers from nearby cities peacefully protested on what was then private land, contributing to the change in legislation allowing people to freely walk on access land. The Mass Trespass was a key event in the campaign for open access to moorland in Britain which eventually led to the formation of Britain's National Parks; the Peak District was the first National Park, founded on 17th April 1951.

Today, this breathtaking moorland plateau is a walker's paradise: at 2,087ft above sea level it offers some of the most breathtaking views in the country.

Accessible from the villages of Edale (where there's a well-linked train station) and Hayfield in the High Peak, walks around Kinder offer a journey through many different landscapes, illustrating the diversity of the Peak District.

Start your walk in Edale and you can scramble up the rocky yet rewarding Grindsbrook Clough route, or climb to the top via the picturesque, stepped-path of Jacob's Ladder, crossing an old packhorse bridge. From Hayfield head up William Clough, working your way to Sandy Heys and Kinder Downfall - the tallest waterfall in the National Park.

Points of interest include a serene Mermaid’s Pool and interesting rock formations such as Pym’s Chair and the Boxing Gloves.

Kinder Scout is known for its challenging walks and the Kinder Plateau can be a difficult place to navigate in poor weather conditions. With this in mind, always wear appropriate clothing and make sure to bring a map, compass and some good walking boots.

Follow this popular 8 mile walk But note that this route covers terrain that is steep and very rocky in parts, often without clear paths. The walk should only be attempted by more experienced hikers.