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Kinder Scout, Peak District

About 7 miles (but feels like more!) with an ascent of about 1600ft (500 metres). Allow at least 3 hours but can easily take 4 or 5 with refreshment pauses and photography, especially if you aren't in the peak of fitness.

Access: There are two "pay and display" car parks close to Edale railway station. This is a popular area and even in winter it can get busy at weekends with fine weather. Not much scope for free roadside parking. The station is served by trains from Sheffield to Manchester and there are bus services too so you can leave the car at home! Edale village has camp sites and a Youth Hostel. There are few B&B facilities, it is only a very small village.

Route-finding: The route follows well established paths and goes around the southern edge of Kinder Scout, GPS is far from essential but offers reassurance in one or two places especially in poor visibility. As usual you must take a compass and map (and know how to use them!).

Refreshment: Take plenty of fluids and a good packed lunch. The only refreshment opportunities in Edale village and at busy times, Lee House and Upper Booth both of which are in the valley and only 1 or 2 miles from Edale.

Description: Involves some easy scrambling up Grindsbrook Clough. The top can be very wet and boggy in places.
The National Park authorities have responded to the heavy traffic making the boggy paths ever-wider by putting flagstones down in several of the most eroded stretches. A paved footpath detracts from the wild nature of the place but then so did the boggy motorway it replaces.
The first mile or two must be one of the most popular walks in the UK and the area gets very busy in holiday times. The steep climb limits the numbers getting to the top of Grindsbrook Clough (WP10) - but still you will expect to meet a few people on top even midweek in winter. Expect traffic jams on summer weekends!
The walk up Grinds Brook is very scenic and fairly easy going most of the way until Grindsbrook Clough. The top of the clough marks the end of the significant ascent and most groups pause for a few minutes to admire the view, check their bearings for where next and recover their breath.
There are different routes converging at the top of the clough so take care to set off on the right path, setting off West, quickly veering South West. Once you gain the Southern edge the route is more obvious. After 1.5 miles you start swinging round to the right until after a further half mile you are heading East, scrambling down the steep track of Jacob's ladder to the long walk along the valley bottom back to Edale. At Upper Booth (WP25) turn up through the farmyard to go back to Edale through the fields and just when you thought the climbing was over, the 200ft ascent through the fields is an unwelcome surprise! The alternative is to go via Barber Booth to Edale (either on the road or through the fields).

Variants: Too many to itemise. There are many books dedicated to walks on Kinder. Once you are through Kinder Village and into the fields (WP5) you can head East up the Nab and head for the top of Grindsbrook Clough round the obvious path along the Southern edges. This is arguably an easier ascent and the wind eroded outcropping rocks are very distinctively different from the Woolpacks, more cliff edges too. This adds half a mile to the overall walk.
When you cross Crowden Brook (WP13/14) you can set off North and visit Kinder Downfall. This is a waterfall on the Kinder River. The river is a trickle for much of the year, even in winter it drains any rainfall very quickly and you will only find something you might reasonably describe as a river in wet weather. In winter the waterfall may be frozen and more scenic. In summer you may find the waterfall itself disappointing although the rocks and views justify the detour. This would add 1.5 miles to the overall walk.

Photography: The edges present good opportunities for photos of distant scenery. Miles of film have been used on the extraordinary eroded rocks, The Woolpacks, around Crowden Tower (WP15). You will want to spend a few minutes exploring these eccentrically shaped outcrops and massive boulders.

Equipment: Boots are essential. Although you are never more than 3 miles from a road you could get lost and cold if the weather changes, you should carry additional food, clothing and a whistle. More in winter.

Safety: There are few places where you could fall any distance but going can be rough underfoot and twisted ankles are a potential hazard. The weather can change more quickly than you might anticipate so be prepared.