Kinder Scout

Kinder Scout is the highest point in the Peak District at 2,087 feet high, and the views from its plateaux are awe-inspiring in the truest sense of the words. Walking to the summit takes the visitor through a wide variety of different landscapes and perfectly illustrates the diversity of the Peak District.

This is true hill-walking and trail-running country; the visitor can head off in pretty much any direction and explore wild, beautiful uplands, with mighty gritstone summits, moorland streams and waterfalls.

A word of caution, please do not venture into the hills around Kinder Scout without adequate equipment, including appropriate clothing and footwear, a map and a compass. The Kinder Plateau can be a difficult area to navigate, particularly when you are away from any landmarks. Remember, also, that the weather can very quickly change in this part of the Peak District.

Kinder Downfall

Continuing beyond the summit, it is well worth taking a detour to see the spectacular Kinder Downfall.

The River Kinder is only a small river, rising in the moorland on Kinder Scout, but on its three mile journey to join the River Sett it crashes down almost 100 feet to create this waterfall, the tallest in the Peak District.

When in full flow, particularly when there is a strong, westerly wind, the water blows back up the hillside, and the resulting cloud of spray can be seen from many miles away.

Also worth a visit is Mermaid’s Pool, a small pool below Kinder Downfall, particularly if you happen to be out walking on Easter Saturday. Legend has it that the pool is inhabited by a mermaid who will grant immortality to anyone who catches sight of her on that day.

The Kinder Trespass

On 24 April 1932 a group of over 400 peaceful protestors took to private land across Kinder Scout and joined in a coordinated ‘Mass Trespass’ to highlight the restrictions upon walking in open country. This action led directly to legislation that allowed people to walk freely on access land throughout the United Kingdom. It was also a contributory factor in the creation of the National Parks, the first of which was the Peak District.

Each year a group of wardens and rangers from both the National Trust and the Peak District National Park Authority hold a walking event to mark the anniversary of the trespass.

More…

Click HERE to read more information on the fascinating history of the Kinder Trespass, an event that changed the landscape of the British countryside forever.

Click HERE to find the details of a circular Kinder Scout Walk (9 miles) from the lovely village of Hayfield.