Red Brook Scramble to Kinder Scout
This amazing Red Brook scramble takes you up onto Kinder Scout past Kinder Reservoir, to the Mermaids Pool, up to the Kinder Low Trig Point and then over to Brown Knoll, South Head and Mount Famine in an epic 3 Ethels, 2 trig point walk with a scramble.
Starting in Bowden Quarry car park, we set off towards Kinder Reservoir and then headed up the steeply cobbled White Brow. We followed the route of the footpath along the edge of the (very shallow looking) Kinder Reservoir to the bridge, crossed the bridge and then followed the path that runs alongside the River Kinder. There are lots of waterfalls and pools here, and it’s a beautiful spot.
We headed up through the woods, in search of the Mermaid’s Pool. Legend has it that there’s a mermaid living in here (presumably that’s where it gets it’s name haha!) but it didn’t look like somewhere you’d want to live – it stank! The hot weather hasn’t been kind to the Mermaid’s Pool, which only had a couple of resident ducks and a lot of peaty mud. This is apparently a popular place for wild swimming but it didn’t look very inviting.
From the Mermaid’s Pool we headed off south-east down the steeply sloping banks of the river. There wasn’t a path to follow, but later, looking back from Red Brook, there was a more obvious path which ran partially back the way we came up, before turning south-east and following the Kinder River for a bit before heading into Red Brook.
We had views of the Kinder Downfall here, which looked pretty dry. I have zero luck visiting Kinder Downfall – it’s either dry as a bone or misty as anything so I can never see it!
We crossed the river, then found the start of the Red Brook scramble. This scramble is a brilliant fun way to get up onto Kinder Scout. It starts out with larger, water washed boulders as you follow the Brook (there is one super muddy bit which requires a small detour to get round it) and then gets steeper and more rocky as you progress up. This is a Grade 1 scramble so should be doable for any fit and agile hill walker, but as always, scramble at your own risk.
There are some larger pitches of rock to climb over but nothing as steep as Wildboar Clough!
We were soon at the top of Red Brook, on the Kinder Scout plateau. I like to stop and look back at the views when we get to the top as it’s all too easy to forget how amazing this place is.
From the top of Red Brook, we followed the Pennine Way path round to the Kinder Low trig point. This was really busy!
We then headed down the Pennine Way a short distance until it forks. We took the right hand fork which took us over to Brown Knoll, and the family waited while I ran to rebag the Brown Knoll trig point. We had originally bagged this as part of our Mini Edale Skyline Walk but I couldn’t pass so close without getting it again!
After the Brown Knoll trig had been rebagged, we headed over to South Head and Mount Famine. South Head is steeper then Mount Famine, and there is a path running between the two so you don’t have to climb South Head if you don’t want to! It’s a shame not to bag them both together though as they’re so close.
We walked up and over Mount Famine then headed down the cycle track back towards the car park. This route takes you through the campsite. Don’t make the mistake we did and head up through the campsite thinking you’ll pop out by the toilet block. You won’t! You can see on the map the path we should have taken! Whoops. At least we got some extra steps in!
This was a great day hike on Kinder Scout. The heather was blooming, the weather was lovely and we bagged a couple of trig points. Happy days!
We’d promised Hols next time we did a scramble onto Kinder Scout we’d go to her favourite pub so we headed off to The Lantern Pike Inn for some late lunch.
Red Brook Scramble to Kinder Scout Walk Route:
Parking: Head to the car park at SK22 2ES.
Facilities: Public toilets and bike rack near the car park (at the entrance to the camp site).
Walk Difficulty: ▲▲▲
Walk Time: 4-5 hours
Walk Distance: 9.5 miles (15.3km)
Trig Points Bagged: Kinder Low, Brown Knoll
Peak District Peaks Bagged: Brown Knoll, South Head, Mount Famine
Peak District Ethels Bagged: Brown Knoll, South Head, Mount Famine (Mill Hill and Kinder Scout aren’t too far away if you wanted to extend the route)
Red Brook to Kinder Scout Walking Route:
We’ve done a fair few other Kinder Scout scrambles now which you may like:
Kinder Downfall Walk via Nether Red Brook Scramble
Edale to Ringing Roger Scramble
Crowden Clough to Kinder Scout Walk
Edale to Grindslow Knoll Circular Walk
Fair Brook Scramble to Kinder Scout Northern Edges
and you might like 5 Epic Peak District Scramble Walks.
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