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Walk 3407 - printer friendly version

Chinley to Edale without a car Walk

Author - Peter Schofield

Length - 9.3 miles / 15 km

Ascent - 1700 feet / 515 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference SK038826
Lat 53.340289 + Long -1.9443913
Postcode SK23 6EB (approx. location only)

This Peak District walk offers both easy moorland walking and fine views, particularly on the descent to the Vale of Edale. Like walk 2622, it uses the excellent train service running along the Hope Valley making it very accessible to those without their own transport.

The route starts at Chinley station (Grid ref SK038826). Go left at the station entrance to the B6062. Turning left on to the main road, follow it around the bend for 300m to reach a footpath on the left. Follow the path, turning right over a stile just beyond a cottage (Grid ref SK047830) and continue up the hill to arrive at the A624 at White Knowl Farm.

Immediately opposite, take the right hand of two paths across the fields to a quiet lane. Turn left and continue up the lane for 500m to Slack House. Go down the track in front of the house to cross a stream and continue up the other side through a gate, to reach another gate after a further 50m (Grid ref SK059829).

Do not go through this gate, instead turning left to follow the wall up the hill, arriving at a broad track after 400m. Expansive views open out to the south, while Cowburn Moor looms up ahead. Go left on to the track and follow it for 1K to Shireoaks, continuing left through a gate just beyond the farm as the route climbs to join the Pennine Bridleway after 600m (Grid ref SK071837). To the left, the distinctive features of South Head and Mount Famine are prominent.

Turn right, descending for 700m to arrive at Roych Clough, which is a delightful spot for a refreshment halt. There are no route finding problems as the route wends its way across the moor to arrive at Sheffield Road after a further 2K (Grid ref SK091824). Go left along a concessionary path and after 200m fork left on to a deeply rutted bridleway. This is Chapel Gate which is the ancient pack horse route linking the Vale of Edale with Chapel en le Frith.

Follow the bridleway as it climbs steadily, to arrive at a Peak Footpaths Society signpost after 700m. Turn left, following the bridleway as an extensive panorama opens out across Cowburn Moor towards Kinder to the north and the Vale of Edale to the east. Go left off Chapel Gate after 500m (Grid ref SK099834) and descend the steep path to reach the National Trust barn at Dalehead. Crossing the bridge at the side of the barn, continue along the path as it first contours and then descends to Upper Booth.

From here, there are two ways back to Edale. You can take the familiar route of the Pennine Way to finish at the Nags Head. However, if want something easier, follow the path across the fields to Barber Booth and then on to Edale, finishing opposite the national park visitor centre. Turn right on to the road to arrive at the station after 200m.Whichever route you take, it will make a fine end to a very enjoyable walk.

The Manchester to Sheffield stopping train links the start and finish points at approximately two hourly intervals (hourly on Saturday). The timetable can be found on www.northernrail.org.

Walk 3407 Route Map

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