Grindsbrook Clough Scramble to Grindslow Knoll | 7 Miles
A classic Peak District scramble, with a twist! This Grindsbrook Clough scramble walk avoids the crowds before visiting Grindslow Knoll, then hiking along the tops to descend via Ringing Roger, and is 7 miles, perfect for a morning or afternoon out on the hills.
The Grindsbrook Clough scramble is a popular Grade 1 scramble. When I say popular, I mean it gets busy! It’s no wonder though – it’s a great way to get up onto the Kinder Scout plateau without having the long, arduous climb up Jacob’s Ladder, and is a beautiful route with waterfalls along the way.
People climbing the more popular way up Grindsbrook.
Our walk starts from Edale. We had planned to park in the Edale car park but this was full, so we managed to get one of the last parking spaces in the overflow car park next to the railway station. If you want to park in Edale on a sunny dry day, you need to get there early!
We walked along Station Approach, passing the Penny Pot Cafe on our left, and turned left to walk up into the village of Edale. Passing the Old Nags Head Inn (the official start of the Pennine Way) we continued up the track a short distance before forking to the right down to the bridge over Grindsbrook. Once over the bridge, we followed the stone slabs through the fields and woodland before reaching the Open Access Land beyond, crossing a pretty wooden bridge.
The path then winds it’s way up the valley, passing small waterfalls. It is very rocky in places, and gets rockier and steeper as it gets higher. There is a section with a shale banking – it’s best to cross the stream here and head up the left hand bank.
See the shale bank there where the blue rucksack lady is? It’s easier to get past if you cross using the stones in the foreground of this pic.
About one mile from the wooden bridge, there is an obvious fork in Grindsbrook Clough. Most people continue straight on to climb the left hand fork, but here we crossed Grindsbrook and headed for the right hand fork. The right hand fork is slightly more challenging than the left hand fork, but both are still hands on scrambles.
The view of the right hand fork from the split point.
Once at the top of the Grindsbrook scramble we turned left and followed the path round to the top of Grindsbrook – it can get very busy here. We followed the stone slabs until they formed a junction, and we took the left hand path over to Grindslow Knoll. There is a short sharp climb up to the summit cairn, but the views from the top make it worthwhile.
The view of the scramble we climbed up, as seen from Grindslow Knoll
We bagged the summit and then picked up the path that runs back towards the top of Grindsbrook, following this path past the Anvil Stone, marked with the names of gamekeepers from days gone by. We skirted the top of the Grindsbrook scramble we’d just climbed up, and then followed the path round to Upper Tor and Nether Tor before descending down Ringing Roger, down the switchbacks, back into the fields we started the walk in. We then retraced our steps over the bridge and back into Edale, where we had a lovely lunch in the Old Nags Head Inn beer garden.
The Anvil Rock – graffiti carved by gamekeepers
Stunning views!
Looking back up to Grindslow Knoll as we descend RInging Roger
This was a lovely hike, and it was lovely to get away from the crowds on Grindsbrook (even if for a short while).
Grindsbrook Scramble to Grindslow Knoll Details:
Walk Map (Opens in OS Maps): Grindsbrook Scramble to Grindslow Knoll
Parking: We parked in the overflow car park near Edale train station, Station Approach, Edale, Hope Valley S33 7ZA W3W:///scarecrow.careful.sushi – £5 for the day, car park locked at 6pm.
Dogs: Allowed on leads – the route passes farmland and enters the Kinder Scout Nature Reserve.
Facilities: Once you leave Edale there are none – remember to Leave No Trace and take all your rubbish (including dog poo) away with you.
Walk Time: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: ▲▲▲
Distance: 7 miles (11km)
Elevation: 1800ft (548m)
Trig Points Bagged: None
Peak District Peaks Bagged: Grindslow Knoll
Peak District Ethels Bagged: Grindslow Knoll
For more Kinder Scout scramble walks you might like:
Blackden Brook Scramble to Edale Moor Trig Point | 8 Miles
Fair Brook Scramble to Kinder Scout Northern Edges | 9 Miles
Red Brook Scramble to Kinder Scout | 10 Miles
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