MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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For tomorrow when the forecast is wet
Looking for something 2-3 hours duration
What would be the best circular route starting near either Edale or Hayfield?
go up jacobs ladder and wish you were on your bike.
The classic walk from Hayfield would be to park at the end of Kinder Road - don't use the pay car park, just park on the road for free - then head up William Clough via Kinder Reservoir up the cobbled bridleway climb then down and along the res.
From there take the really obvious path up alongside the stream. Or, if you want steep, cross the footbridge then head directly up onto Kinder across open country ending on steep shoulder that climbs onto the plateau.
At the top of William Clough, turn right and up the steps onto Kinder (Kinder Corner) then follow the edge of the plateau round to the Downfall. Carry on round past the trig point on Kinder Low, you can then drop down either to the Jacob's Ladder bridleway or down the steep, rocky nose to the bridleway junction then follow the obvious footpath down across to the fields, then back down to Kinder Road on the back lane that leads to the campsite.
Lots of potential variations but it's a really nice meander with great views back towards Manchester on a clear day and easy to navigate - mostly you just keep the edge on your right.
Edale, wherever you park - Nags Head - Grindsbrook booth path( branches right from Pennine Way 300yds from Nags) - Grindsbrook Knoll Cairn (stick to the path that keeps it close on your left) - cross Grindsbrook and continue north along the edge of the plateau -turn right and follow the path along the edge, enjoying the views - after Nether Tor but before Ringing Roger, turn right down Golden Clough and follw the path back to Edale.
One big climb up onto the edge of Kinder, then since you're not following PW or heading for the downfall, not many people about and great views back to Rushup, Mam Tor and Lose Hill.
Or you could just head up Hollins Cross, along the ridge to Mam Tor, down the steps to the car park, broken road to Castleton, back up and over Hollins to finish.
BWD's route would be my choice. Quite a lot of the surface is firm/rock/slabbed apart from some along the Reservoir and if you opt to cross the fields to Kinder Road.
Couple of nice Tea rooms in Hayfield to finish up in too
If you haven't walked Kinder then either of the above routes are good with an alternative to walk up Grindsbrook clough from Hayfield then back down jacobs ladder.
Another alternative from Hayfield is this one which is flagged all the way up to Kinder from the A624.
http://lonewalker.net/walkinfo.php?walk=94
Only thing I would change is to cross the A624 and go straight up to burnt hill instead of wandering down the road and up to Harry Hut. Can also come down from Kinder by Sandy Hey or the downfall instead of william clough if you have time.
If you do start from Hayfield just be aware that the Sportsman pub is closed for a couple of weeks so you will have to go into the village if you want to eat.