10 Best Walks from Edale in The Peak District

Start all walks from Edale Railway Station. Leave your car at home.

You can of course join the routes anywhere that’s convenient for you. OS Route links will load in a web browser and in a standard map format. For a topographical map you will need to have the OS Maps app which you can download here. You will need appropriate software to use the GPX files. All our maps and routes are provided with best intentions, are intended to support you on your hike and are appropriate to the best of our knowledge.

It is vital that you do your own research, carry a map and make decisions that are best for you and your group. Remember, it is best you do not rely on your phone to navigate the hills around Edale. It is easy to get lost and service can be patchy at best.

If you or anyone you meet needs assistance, call 999 and ask for the POLICE then MOUNTAIN RESCUE once you've been put through. Then stay in the same spot until they call you back.

Pay attention to signage, take your rubbish home and please respect the working farms, delicate flora, fauna and the local community.

Walk One - Hollins Cross Circular

This is one of our favourite walks in Edale because it’s the easiest route onto The Great Ridge, takes you through pretty tree lined lanes and patchy woodland on an easy slope to the top.

You could be up and down in less than an hour. Take a more ambling approach with a hot chocolate in hand from The Penny Pot and it’ll be closer to two hours with a good long stop at Hollins Cross to enjoy the incredible views. The only real navigation you need to do is when you get to the house at the top, past Hardenclough Farm. Once you’re through the stile on your left, turn left. Most people head right up to Mam Tor (another option) but we much prefer the lazy slope to Hollins Cross where you can decide whether the extra time to Mam Tor is worth it.

This is one for all the family and while it’s hard to go too far wrong on this one we still recommend taking a map and plenty of water.

Walk Two - Grinds Brook and Back

This walk is a bit Marmite and we’ll explain why below. It’s short, easy and the river at Grinds Brook makes for a pretty picnic spot, but before you make it your walk of choice...

Edale is full of pretty views, vistas and tumbling rivers, brooks and waterfalls. Those making the hike from Edale Railway Station to Grinds Brook will get all of that in spades. But that makes it a hotspot for the thousands that head to Edale on a sunny weekend. So if you’re looking for peace and quiet this isn’t the place to be, particularly in the Summer. During the winter months and midweek however it is quiet, full of Tolkein-esque charm and well worth a short stumble for an insta pic or two.

You should be there and back within an hour and a half as most people stop for a paddle and a cup of something warm from the thermos while dipping your toes and listening to the brook rumble by.

For an alternative with pools, waterfalls, views to die for and far less people, try this walk instead.

Walk Three - The Double Shelf

The Double Shelf walk in Edale is trickling towards being a ‘medium’ walk but remains pretty easy with only a little uphill at the outset. It traverses the south facing slope of the Kinder Scout plateau at around 400m above sea level at its highest (Kinder is at 636m) and gives fantastic views of The Great Ridge.

You’ll head up towards the village from the train station and turn right before the church, heading toward Ollerbrook Farm. One you’re through the farm turn left and head up towards The Nab. Once through the third gated stile, head right over the river and follow the track back round and toward the Youth Hostel at Rowland Cote from where you walk down the YHA entrance road and then right through the gated stile at Nether Booth before you hit the main road. From there you’re a 25 minute walk back to the village on the lower shelf.

This walk will take you 1.5-2.5 hours depending on your fitness levels and how many stops you make. We’ve decided to end it at The Old Nags Head because while it isn’t quite a hike it’s a good ramble and we think you’ll feel you’ve earned a drink.

Walk Four - Western Valley Circular

The West Valley Circular Edale walk is a great mid-length walk that’s perfect for all the family. As always in Edale there is occasional tricky terrain and some rough paths so appropriate footwear and a good level of fitness come recommended.

This walk will take you 3-5 hours depending on your fitness levels and how many stops you make. There’s a series of waterfalls and pools at the turn of Crowden Brook so you could easily pack a picnic and make this a full day out.

You’re never particularly high on this walk, but the views are none-the-less spectacular. You follow the Pennine Way beneath Broadlee Bank and, careful not to take the path to Barber Booth, cut right and up onto a shelf that takes you past beautiful woodlands and fern-filled fields to Crowden. The map is slightly deceiving as, once you pass Dalehead you don’t need to scale the hill to come down Chapel Gate. You can cut across past the barn (circled green) and over the stile.

Once you’re on the short stretch of road back to Barber Booth you can either follow the signs to the train station or cut right toward Small Clough for better views of Kinder Scout on your final mile.

We recommend taking a map, compass and plenty of food and water. If you’re planning on stopping for a dip at Crowden, why not make a day of it and back a picnic!

Walk Five - The Horseshoe

The Horseshoe walk in Edale is a great way to test your mettle on Kinder Scout while keeping the village reassuringly (for the most part) in sight.

This walk will take you 2-4 hours depending on your fitness levels and how many stops you make. We’ve done this with children as young as 5 but bear in mind there are some steep drops and tricky-to-navigate rocks along the way so if you do take the young ones keep an eye on them at all times and be prepared to carry and support along the way.

You’ll walk through Ollerbrook farm and up the track to The Nab where the views of the valley begin to take your breath away. You can choose to ascend Ringing Roger on the way which is a bit of a scramble or go around it and on to the top of Kinder Scout via the easily identifiable pile of rocks as the top of Golden Clough. Once on the top you’ll follow the southern edge of Kinder Scout around past the top of Grinds Brook and to Grindslow Knoll before descending to Edale Village for a well earned refresher.

You can do this walk clockwise or anti-clockwise (though the latter makes for a far easier ascent) and vary it by ascending or descending Grinds Brook.

Take plenty of water and a treat for the tops.

Walk Six - Jacob’s Ladder, Kinder Downfall and Groughs

One wrong turn and this walk can very easily turn into an all dayer but with the right planning and navigation skills you can be back down at The Penny Pot cafe for a flapjack in around 6 hours.

We advise setting off early, particularly in the winter months and following the recommended route clockwise. You’ll start at Edale Train station, head through Barber and Upper Booth and take the Pennine Way to the top of Jacob’s Ladder. Following the Western edge of the Kinder Scout plateau you’ll come across Kinder Downfall from where you’ll navigate through the impressive Kinder Gates. From this point and to the top of Grinds Brook you’re in a maze of deep peat groughs that at times can feel baron and featureless.

This walk will take you 5-7 hours depending on your fitness levels, how many stops you make and whether you manage to avoid getting lost.

A friend used to say “if you’re ever lost on Kinder Scout, try to remember that moss mainly grows on a north face and water is trying to find it’s way down too”.

Do not attempt this hike without taking a friend, a map, compass and plenty of food and water.

Walk Seven - Ollerbrook Farm Walk

The Ollerbrook Farm Walk is every Edalians favourite palette cleanser. Perfect to blow the cobwebs away at any time of the day.

It’s a short and sharp family friendly walk that takes in some of the main features of the valley that many walk far further afield to enjoy. You’ll walk past the local church, The Old Nags Head, cross over a beautiful stone packhorse bridge (Gibraltar Bridge) walk the track to Ollerbrook Farm with Kinder Scout, The Nab and Ringing Roger to your left (or right if you come the other way) cut through the farm and back towards Edale Church with Losehill, The Great Ridge and Mam Tor undulating in the distance.

Please bear in mind it may be tricky if you’re walking with a stroller or a zimmer as there are a few steps, gates and a bumpy farm track to navigate. So if you’re on wheels it’s best to have a helping hand or pop into the Old Nags Head to while away 30 minutes by the fire until your group come back around.

Walk Eight - Edale to Hope

This Edale to Hope walk route takes in some of the most popular Hope Valley sights. It’s a great one if you feel you have to drive. Leave the car in Hope, hop on a train one stop to Edale and walk back to Hope and all of the great cafes and pubs they have on offer. As always in and around Edale there is occasional tricky terrain and some rough paths so appropriate footwear and a good level of fitness come recommended.

This is a really fun route to get from Edale to Hope on foot as it takes you past Grinds Brook, Nether Tor, Madwoman’s Stones and Hope Cross. On the way you have the option of climbing to Win Hill for jaw-dropping views of Ladybower reservoir as well as navigating the trees at Woodlands Valley.

This walk will take you 4-7 hours depending on your fitness levels and how many stops you make. We recommend taking a map, a compass and plenty of food and water.

If you’re looking for a less challenging way to get to Edale on foot from Hope try following this walking guide.

Walk Nine - Edale to Hayfield Circular

To be a true Mass Trespasser head to Hayfield and follow this shorter route. If you prefer you can use this circular, full day route starting and ending at either Edale or Hayfield.

We’ve marked this route as difficult because it’s a long day out in the hills and if you follow it properly the last couple of hours take you through arduous peat bogs and the scramble down Grindsbrook. If you’re looking for a challenge and a varied, rewarding day out in the hills then this one is for you, ending at either The Old Nags Head or The Rambler Inn for a refresher before catching the train home.

This walk will take you 8-12 hours depending on your fitness levels and how long you stop for lunch.

We recommend taking a map, a compass and plenty of snacks and water.

Walk Ten - Not Quite the Edale Boundary Walk

This Edale Boundary walk represents a real challenge and while the locals Boundary walk has been completed by surprisingly young and not so young participants we recommend you only attempt it if you have a good level of fitness.

Because this is an all day walk we advise setting off as early as possible (before sunrise in winter). You can start this route sensibly at Edale Train station or Mam Tor (there is a car park). You’ll take in Mam Tor, Hollins Cross and should you wish to extend out to Lose Hill you can, before heading down to Nether Booth. You’ll climb again up to Kinder Scout, tackling the southern edges skirting Grinds Brook Clough, Crowden, past Edale Head and Jacobs Ladder, past Brown Knoll, Lord’s Seat and back to Mam Tor before descending to Edale train station.

This walk will take you 8-12 hours depending on your fitness levels, how many stops you make and whether you manage to avoid getting lost.

We recommend taking a map, compass and plenty of food and water.