Hayeda one

Verified Slow Way

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Walked from Edale to Hayfield on a mostly overcast winter morning. This route is not easy, but it is well worth the effort for the views. The permissive route west from Edale station means that an easier route is available as far as Upper Booth, but that is the only thing on this one I might be tempted to change if I were designing it.

Leaving Edale station, we follow / lead the crowds up into Edale then along the well signed Pennine Way route which climbs then descends into Upper Booth. An easy track takes us further up the valley, but eventually we reach Jacob's Ladder, which is quite a long steep climb - this is safe but hard work, especially for those of us who haven't climbed enough proper hills recently, and in descent I would favour the longer zigazagging cycle track/bridleway. Eventually we reach the moor level where most of the crowds head right up Kinder. We continue down the bridleway, then take the path right through the heather slopes. We have to climb a stepladder to reach the first of the green fields that lead us down the hill, and there are several more stiles before we reach Tunstead Clough Farm.

From there we follow the lane down to the bridge just opposite the popular quarry car park. Our route stays on the left bank of the river and follows paths, lanes and residential streeets into Hayfield, where the meeting point is just over the A624, which is crossed using a helpfully positioned pelican crossing. Church Street in Hayfield has some pavements on both sides but neither is continuous, so watch out for local traffic.

Bryony says it all and the pictures are great. Although a fairly short walk it is challenging, take plenty of water on a hot day. The Pennine Way east section can be very busy the west side quieter. Going east to west care is needed after Edale Cross to leave the bridleway onto the footpath. A walk along the Sett Valley Trail or a bus to New Mills offers the option of a train ride under the hill back to Edale.

If you have a decent pair of boots and you can manage a stiff climb, rough moorland paths and a fair few stiles this is well worth the effort - but it's not one to be taken lightly. The route follows lanes out of Hayfield, past the gathering place for the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass at Barber Booth (detour slightly into the carpark opposite to see the plaque, if you're interested). Then it passes into farmland as the climb begins, and you cross a series of sheep fields using stiles - some of them are pretty high, and the gates are locked, so it was fine with a terrier but would be tricky with a larger dog. Eventually you cross a ladder stile (the ford marked on the map is only a trickle) onto moorland, and skirt below Kinder Plateau to join the Pennine Way which leads you all the way into Edale. You'll descend via the infamous Jacob's Ladder which is steep and rocky, but the rocks are stable and level so it's more like an uneven staircase than a real scramble. From there, you descend into the Hope Valley via a series of lanes and fields. If you've got this far, the only potential challenges are a few pinch points at narrow gates, bridges and stiles - the tightest only about 30cm wide.
Watch out for boggy patches after wet weather, for sheep which graze both the fields and moors, and for ground nesting birds which means dogs should stay on a lead during spring and summer. The soft peat means some paths are pretty rutted and stepped even for moorland, but do try and stay on the main routes so the erosion doesn't spread more widely. The navigation out of Hayfield needs a bit of attention, but is decently signposted if you keep your eyes peeled - on the descent it would be difficult to miss the Pennine Way and its distinctive acorn symbol. If you want a day out from Manchester or Sheffield without a car, use NewHay to link this up to New Mills via the Sett Valley Trail.

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