Edale to Rushup Edge Walk | 6 Miles
Edale is one of the Peak District’s best-loved walking bases, and it’s easy to see why. Tucked beneath the brooding bulk of Kinder Scout, it’s the official start of the Pennine Way and the gateway to some of the finest ridge walking in the Dark Peak. But you don’t need to tackle a big day on the plateau to enjoy the best of what the valley has to offer.
This 6-mile Edale to Rushup Edge circular route is a perfect example. Starting from the village, you’ll climb gently up Hardenclough before emerging onto the breezy heights of Rushup Edge, where far-reaching views open up across the Edale valley and over to Kinder Scout. From there, you’ll follow the wide ridge before dropping back down the ancient track of Chapel Gate. It’s a satisfying half-day walk with a proper sense of height and space, and a great option when you want big views without a big mileage.
This walk is from ‘Short Circular Walks in the Peak District’ by John N Merrill, a brilliant book.
Route Highlights
- Harden Clough: A peaceful, steadily climbing valley path that follows the clough up from the valley floor – a quieter alternative to the busier routes out of Edale.
- Rushup Edge: The star of the show. This long, grassy ridge gives you sweeping views over the Vale of Edale, Kinder Scout and the surrounding hills.
- Lord’s Seat: The summit of Rushup Edge at 550m, and an ancient Bronze Age burial mound. This is a Scheduled Monument, so please be respectful and don’t climb over the fence.
- Ridge-top views: Enjoy open skies and an airy feel as you walk the edge, with Mam Tor and the Great Ridge close at hand.
- Chapel Gate: A historic old packhorse track with a real sense of age, dropping you steadily back towards the valley.
- Variety in 6 miles: Stunning views, high open ridge and a sunken ancient lane, all in one compact loop.
- Village finish: Return to Edale, where you can reward yourself with a well-earned brew or pint.
What to Expect
- Distance: Approximately 6 miles, allowing around 3 to 4 hours at a relaxed pace with stops for photos and snacks.
- Terrain: A mix of field paths, stony tracks, open moorland ridge and a rough, rutted old lane.
- Ascent: A steady, sustained climb up Hardenclough onto Rushup Edge. It’s nothing technical, but you’ll feel it in the legs.
- Underfoot conditions: Expect mud and wet ground after rain, particularly in the clough. Chapel Gate can be rocky and uneven, so good footing matters on the descent.
- Weather: Rushup Edge is exposed, so it can be windy and cooler than the valley. Pack layers and waterproofs, even on a fine day.
- Navigation: Paths are generally clear, but a map or GPS is always wise, especially if visibility drops on the ridge.
- Footwear: Walking boots with good grip are strongly recommended.
- Facilities: Edale has a car park, toilets, cafés and pubs, but there’s nothing on the route itself, so carry water and snacks.
- Busyness: Edale is popular, especially at weekends, so arrive early to find parking and enjoy a quieter start. This route however is much quieter than a lot of other Edale walks, so perfect if you want to escape the crowds.
Getting There and Parking
By train (recommended): This walk starts right at Edale railway station, which makes it easy to leave the car at home. Edale sits on the scenic Hope Valley Line between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield, with regular services throughout the day (usually around hourly, though it’s worth checking the latest timetable before you travel). Leaving the station, you’re only moments from the lane that leads out of the village and towards Harden Clough. It also means you can finish the walk with a pint at the pub without worrying about the drive home.
By car: If you’re driving, Edale is reached via the A6187 through Hope, then a winding minor road along the valley. The main pay-and-display car park is at the Peak District National Park Authority’s Fieldhead site, near the visitor centre and just a short stroll from the station. Sat nav users can try S33 7ZA. There is also an overflow car park near the train station, a small car park at Edale station itself and sometimes an overflow car park which opens directly across from the main car park.
Parking tips:
- Edale is one of the busiest walking spots in the Peak District, and the car parks can fill up early on sunny weekends and bank holidays. Aim to arrive by 9am if you can.
- Avoid parking on the narrow village lanes or in passing places. Residents and farm vehicles need access, and parking restrictions are enforced. If there’s no space, choose a different walk and start point – the hills will be there for another day.
- Phone signal can be patchy in the valley, so it’s worth having change or an app for the car park set up in advance.
- If the car park is full, the train is a much less stressful backup plan. You could drive to Chinley or Hope and catch the train to Edale from there.
The walk starts from the train station and heads out onto Barber Booth Road. Crossing the road, we picked up a track marked by a National Trust sign for Hardenclough Farm.
We walked past the small honesty box (sadly it’s cash only) and continued up the track until we reached a set of stone steps into a field. With this on our right, we followed the wall line up through the woodland before emerging at another wooden stile.
The route then climbs the grassy slopes, reaching the road at a signpost marked Edale via Hardenclough and Mam Tor. We walked on the road for a short distance before picking up the footpath on the right, over a stile. Above you can see Rushup Edge.
The footpath climbs steadily onto Rushup Edge, which has stunning views over Edale to Kinder Scout, Grindslow Knoll and Broadlee Bank Tor. You can also usually see a steady stream of people heading up Mam Tor.
We walked along the ridge, reaching the high point of Lord’s Seat. This Bronze Age burial site is a Scheduled Monument, protected by a small fence. We passed this and continued along the wide ridge until we reached a Peak and Northern Footpaths Society green sign, passing the remains of a Range Rover and Porsche which were driven up Rushup Edge and dumped a few years ago. These cars are now wrecks, with glass and debris everywhere.
We turned right onto a good path and followed this for a quarter of a mile before bearing right onto Chapel Gate. Chapel Gate is an ancient packhorse route from Edale to Chapel en le Frith, one of five which radiated from Edale.
Chapel Gate descends into fields below to Manor House Farm. We took the footpath heading left. Skirting round the buildings, the path bears right and descends to the road at Barber Booth. We turned right and then left, walking up past the bench and the cottages.
Just after the bend we turned left onto the footpath track which crosses the railway, then sharp right onto the track leading over the fields to the right of Shaw Wood Farm. The path splits, and we took the lower one which passed through a wooden gate and squeeze stile before following the footpath to Edale.
We passed The Peak Centre and turned right onto the road, following this back to the train station. The walk passes The Rambler Inn, so is perfect if you want some post-walk refreshment.
Walk Map (Opens in OS Maps): Edale to Rushup Edge Circular Walk
Parking: Edale Car Park, Water Meadows, Hope Rd, Edale, Hope Valley S33 7ZQ W3W:///loudly.consoled.copper. Pay and display – cards and cash. There is an overflow car park which sometimes operates near the railway station, and Edale station itself has 20 parking spaces. We were also able to park in a new overflow car park directly across the road from the main car park and it was £5 cash/£6 card all day. Get there early – parking goes quickly in Edale, and the traffic wardens are always out and about handing out tickets for rubbish parking.
Facilities: There are public toilets in the main Edale car park. There is a cafe at Edale Train Station, The Penny Pot, and the walk passes a pub (The Rambler Inn).
Dogs: The walk uses Open Access Land, so by law dogs should be on leads between 1 March and 31 July to protect ground nesting birds.
Walk Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: ▲▲
Distance: 5.87 miles (9.44km)
Elevation: 1150 ft (350m)
Trig Points Bagged: None
Peak District Ethels Bagged: Lord’s Seat (Rushup Edge)
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