20th October 2019 - Around the head of Edale
Walk Details
Distance walked: 11.5 miles
Total ascent: 2268 ft
OS map used: 6.5 hrs
Route description: NT car park, Mam Tor-Mam Tor-Mam Nick-Lord's Seat-Chapel Gate-Brown Knoll-Edale Cross-Swine's Back-Noe Stool-Wool Packs-Crowden Tower-Grindslow Knoll-Pennine Way-Upper Booth-Barber Booth-Harden Clough-Greenlands-Mam Nick-NT car park, Mam Tor
After moving home in April it was obvious that where I decided to go walking at the weekend would change. The closest national park to where I live changed from the Peak District to the Yorkshire Dales, more of the dales was brought into reach, and I was also closer to the parts of the South Pennines that I like the most. I'll still make trips to the Peak District, but be more picky about where and when I choose to go. The gritstone edges for instance would definitely make the grade. I decided to head to the Peak District today because it had the best of the weather, and with not wanting to spend ages trying to decide on where, I opted for a walk around the head of Edale, a route that I've done several times. Starting from the NT Mam Tor car park gave me free parking, as I'm a member. The first half of the walk was done in some nice autumn weather, with a mix of cloud and sunny spells, but when I reached Edale Cross and Swine's Back in the early afternoon the weather went downhill quickly. Grey, murky skies with on and off drizzle took over and persisted for the rest of the afternoon. It was quite unpleasant at times but at least the cloud stayed off the tops.
From the NT car park below Mam Tor I climbed to the summit of Mam Tor, then descended to Mam Nick and took the footpath opposite up to Lord's Seat on the top of Rushup Edge. I then continued west along Rushup Edge, joining a bridleway to reach the track of Chapel Gate, which I briefly followed north before taking the flagged path northwest to the trig point on Brown Knoll. I carried on following the path north from Brown Knoll until I reached a bridleway on the left, which I took, to reach Edale Cross, and then a path north up onto Swine's Back. From Swine's Back I then joined the path round the head of Edale, passing Noe Stool, and going through the Wool Packs to reach Crowden Tower. I then crossed Crowden Brook, kept on the edge top path for a while and then took the path to Grindslow Knoll. From the top of Grindslow Knoll I made my way to the southern edge of the hill and down a steep path by a wall to reach the Pennine Way below, which I followed west to Upper Booth. After walking along the road to Barber Booth I took the path opposite at the T-junction across fields to the lane up Harden Clough. I then followed the bridleway up this lane to Greenlands and then up the hillside to Mam Nick, where I was left with a short walk back down to the car park.
Total ascent: 2268 ft
OS map used: 6.5 hrs
Route description: NT car park, Mam Tor-Mam Tor-Mam Nick-Lord's Seat-Chapel Gate-Brown Knoll-Edale Cross-Swine's Back-Noe Stool-Wool Packs-Crowden Tower-Grindslow Knoll-Pennine Way-Upper Booth-Barber Booth-Harden Clough-Greenlands-Mam Nick-NT car park, Mam Tor
After moving home in April it was obvious that where I decided to go walking at the weekend would change. The closest national park to where I live changed from the Peak District to the Yorkshire Dales, more of the dales was brought into reach, and I was also closer to the parts of the South Pennines that I like the most. I'll still make trips to the Peak District, but be more picky about where and when I choose to go. The gritstone edges for instance would definitely make the grade. I decided to head to the Peak District today because it had the best of the weather, and with not wanting to spend ages trying to decide on where, I opted for a walk around the head of Edale, a route that I've done several times. Starting from the NT Mam Tor car park gave me free parking, as I'm a member. The first half of the walk was done in some nice autumn weather, with a mix of cloud and sunny spells, but when I reached Edale Cross and Swine's Back in the early afternoon the weather went downhill quickly. Grey, murky skies with on and off drizzle took over and persisted for the rest of the afternoon. It was quite unpleasant at times but at least the cloud stayed off the tops.
From the NT car park below Mam Tor I climbed to the summit of Mam Tor, then descended to Mam Nick and took the footpath opposite up to Lord's Seat on the top of Rushup Edge. I then continued west along Rushup Edge, joining a bridleway to reach the track of Chapel Gate, which I briefly followed north before taking the flagged path northwest to the trig point on Brown Knoll. I carried on following the path north from Brown Knoll until I reached a bridleway on the left, which I took, to reach Edale Cross, and then a path north up onto Swine's Back. From Swine's Back I then joined the path round the head of Edale, passing Noe Stool, and going through the Wool Packs to reach Crowden Tower. I then crossed Crowden Brook, kept on the edge top path for a while and then took the path to Grindslow Knoll. From the top of Grindslow Knoll I made my way to the southern edge of the hill and down a steep path by a wall to reach the Pennine Way below, which I followed west to Upper Booth. After walking along the road to Barber Booth I took the path opposite at the T-junction across fields to the lane up Harden Clough. I then followed the bridleway up this lane to Greenlands and then up the hillside to Mam Nick, where I was left with a short walk back down to the car park.
Route map
Looking across to Winnats Pass as I head up Mam Tor
The Hope Valley from the top of Mam Tor
The Great Ridge to Lose Hill with Derwent Edge in the distance
Brown Knoll and the western half of Kinder Scout around the head of Edale
Rushup Edge. That's where I'll heading to once I've descended to Mam Nick.
A quick photo of a briefly unoccupied trig point
Eldon Hill on the left with Axe Edge Moor and Shining Tor in the distance
Looking back to the trig point as I head down to Mam Nick
The long and winding road down into Edale
Looking back to an increasingly busy Mam Tor as I head up onto Rushup Edge
Eldon Hill and the countryside around Peak Forest
Heading up onto Rushup Edge
Looking back along Rushup Edge to Mam Tor
and down the Vale of Edale with Derwent Edge in the distance
On the bridleway west on Rushup Edge with Shining Tor and the moors around Whaley Bridge in the distance
The southern slopes of Kinder Scout on the other side of the Vale of Edale
On the flagged path to Brown Knoll
From Pym Chair and the Wool Packs to Grindslow Knoll
Looking back to the Great Ridge and Rushup Edge from Brown Knoll
Past the trig point on Brown Knoll
The visibility is good enough for me to make out Manchester and Winter Hill in the distance round the western slopes of Kinder Scout
South Head, Mount Famine and the head of the Sett Valley
This wall running across the moor makes a good foreground for the view across to the southern slopes of Kinder Scout
On the bridleway to Edale Cross
South Head and Mount Famine are being lost in the mist and drizzle as I reach the southern end of Swine's Back. The weather has changed quickly from the sunshine I had an hour ago and I don't think it's going to change back.
The Jacob's Ladder path up from Edale is as popular as ever
Looking down the Vale of Edale
Swine's Back
Passing Noe Stool
Swine's Back and Noe Stool
Mam Tor and Rushup Edge across the Vale of Edale from the Wool Packs
South Head and Mount Famine
A bit of a tight squeeze
Grindslow Knoll and Crowden Clough as I reach Crowden Tower
Crossing Crowden Brook
Looking down Crowden Clough and across the Vale of Edale to Mam Tor and Rushup Edge
You probably can't make them out in this photo, but I was watching a group taking an unconventional route up to Crowden Tower
Heading for Grindslow Knoll
Looking west along the southern edge of Kinder Scout from the top of Grindslow Knoll
The Great Ridge from Lose Hill to Mam Tor across the Vale of Edale
Past a peaty pool on the way to the southern end of Grindslow Knoll
A steep but quick descent
On the Pennine Way to Upper Booth
A bit of autumn colour at Upper Booth
Walking the road from Upper Booth to Barber Booth
A murky Vale of Edale as I follow the path from Barber Booth to Harden Clough..
Onto the bridleway from Greenlands up to Mam Nick
The occasional look back at a gloomy Vale of Edale as I head up...
A last shot looking across to Winnats Pass from the path down to the car park