This 12km circular route in the Peak District starts in the Edale Valley and follows the Pennine Way before ascending Crowden Clough, a grade 1 rocky scramble, high onto Edale Moor and the Kinder Scout Plateau. The route then traverses the moor with sweeping views down into the valley below, through some of the typical Peak District rock formations and descends back into the village of Edale. Get the full guide below as well as downloadable walking routes from Ordnance Survey and Komoot.
The route at a Glance
Difficulty: moderate - paths are a mixture of paved stones, uneven rocks and muddy sections as well as one rocky grade 1* scramble section
*A grade 1 scramble is classed as being relatively straightforward with some exposed sections that require the use of your hands over the steeper sections
Distance: 11.6km/7 miles
Total Ascent: 547m
Est Time: 4 hours not including stops or breaks
Starting location: Edale Car Park (S33 7ZQ)
Dog friendly: no, unless they are already confident with scrambling. If you take the path to avoid the scramble then dogs would be fine.
Crowden Clough scramble and circular walk route
The walk starts in Edale from the main car park and heads under the railway bridge and along the road through the village. After passing the Rambler Inn pub, the church and then the primary school, the route cuts left signposted for The Pennine Way. Soon, you head through a gate and along the paved path through the countryside. This is the Pennine Way and the views over to Mam Tor on the other side of the valley are stunning.
The route follows the Pennine Way until it reaches Upper Booth and the farm. Passing through the farm, the path joins the road where you cross a bridge over the river and then immediately turn right, through the small gate and follow the path through the woods with the river below you on your right hand side. Eventually, the view opens up and you pass through a wooden gate on the right to cross a bridge over Crowden Brook.
After crossing the bridge, the path follow the river upstream and passes lots of small waterfalls and a few places for a wild swim dip. The path here is easy to follow but gets muddy in wet weather and is quite uneven and rocky.
In front of you, you’ll be able to see the path of the brook and Crowden Tower looming on the moorland above. As the path veers off uphill to the left (this is the bypass path if you want to avoid the scramble completely) keep right and follow the rocky bed of the river.
There is a path to the right of the rocky brook for most of the way with a few rocky sections and large boulders to cross. Towards the top of the scramble, you’ll reach the waterfall which is the main scramble section. Stick to the left here where there are large hand and foot holds but be mindful that the drop here is still large and the rocks can be slippy. Some of the steps here are quite high so for easy movement and to protect yourself from scratches from the rocks, I recommend a pair of the Trailblazer hiking leggings. They're comfortable and practical and will give you ease of movement on the scramble section.
After the waterfall, you’ll have a few more minutes of walking to reach the top and find yourself on Edale Moor.
There are plenty of walking routes to choose from here, but this route heads along to the right, towards Grindsbrook Clough and the rock formations on Upper Tor. This is a great place for a lunch with views down into Edale below. It can get windy here so if you're stopping here for lunch, be sure to put an extra layer on to keep you warm and protected from the wind like the Rambler zip through fleece.
The route then continues along the well maintained path before cutting down the path towards Ringing Roger, the rocky outcrop that sticks out from the moor. There are a couple of options here; either stick to the high path to go to the top of Ringing Roger and then follow the path down off the top or follow the path below Ringing Roger.
The path here is easy to follow and only goes in one direction; towards The Nab, another rocky outcrop, which looks over Edale below. From here, follow the path down towards the trees, through the gate and into the open field, back down to Edale.
Crowden Clough circular route downloadable maps
Download the Ordnance Survey route and map here.
You can also download the PDF version of the route and print it out.
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Parking in Edale - either in the main car park or at the train station
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After walking through the village, head left along the Pennine Way
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After walking through the farm at Upper Booth, join the road and cross the bridge over the river then head right through the woods alongside Crowden Clough.
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The top of the scramble on Edale Moor
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Ringing Roger, the rocky outcrop that overlooks Edale. Head down the path from here back to Edale.
Komoot App
Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.
Is there public transport to Edale?
Yes, there is a train station in Edale which is at the start of the walking route.
The number 62 bus service operates between Buxton and Castleton and stops at Edale.
How long is the Crowden Clough scramble and walk?
The route is just under 12km and is a circular one starting and finishing in Edale. Expect it to take approximately 4 hours without rest stops.
Where is parking for Crowden Clough?
There are two car parks in Edale; the main village car park and an additional one at the train station. Edale is a very popular place for walking so during peak times it’s best to arrive as early as possible as there is no other parking nearby.
Edale Car Park cost
The main car park in Edale has space for 138 cars is a coin only machine or you can pay via the PayByPhone app. The location number for the app is 806749. I recommend paying before you arrive as internet signal on some phone networks is weak here.
Parking here costs £6 for over 4 hours (correct as of March 2025).
Edale Train Station parking cost
There are limited spaces here for 20 cars and is pay and display. It costs £6.80 for over 4 hours and payment is by card or cash (correct as of March 2025).
Overflow car park
On some days of the year the Parish Council provides an overflow car park. This costs £5 per day.
How hard is the scramble up Crowden Clough?
Crowden Clough is classed as a grade 1 scramble. Grade 1 is the simplest level of scrambling where there are no technical requirements or equipment needed. The difficulty in a grade 1 can vary hugely in exposure, difficulty, steepness and length.
Crowden Clough is a straightforward scramble route that follows a stream uphill but still comes with risks, as with all routes.
The majority of the route is on an uneven path alongside the stream until the last ten minutes. The final section involves scrambling over large rocks and boulders, some of which are slippy and can become loose underfoot. The waterfall at the top end is the crux of the scramble and the most difficult section.
The scramble follows to the left of the waterfall on large rocks with plenty of hand and foot holds. The exposure is minimal but there is still risk of severe injury in case of a fall. Some of the steps up are high and you will need to use your hands for balance and to pull yourself up on this section.
This is a great introduction to scrambling on grade 1 terrain but if scrambling is new to you, I would always recommend going with someone who is confident and knows the route.
If you don’t want to do the scramble section, there is a bypass path that avoids the scramble completely and takes you to the same point on Edale Moor.
Top tips for scrambling routes
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Prepare just like you would for a normal hike - know the route and how to navigate it, any escape options, read information online about the route so you know what to expect
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Never use vegetation (grass/moss/reeds) to pull yourself up - these can easily come loose and give no safe holds
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Always maintain three points of contact with your feet or hands
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Test hand and foot holds before trusting them (push down or pull hard to make sure they aren’t loose)
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Buy some grippy gloves if needed
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Take your time and move slowly
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Use trail shoes or hiking boots with good grip
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Go with someone more experienced if you are unsure
What else is there to do near Edale?
Edale is a fabulous place well positioned for plenty of hiking, adventurous activities and beautiful villages to visit.
For a hiking challenge, try the Edale Skyline, a 20 mile route circling around the hills on either side of the Edale Valley.
On the other side of the valley is Pevril Castle, Mam Tor, the Great Ridge and Winnats Pass, a great place to explore from the village of Castleton.
If you enjoy caves, visit Peak Cavern, the largest natural cave entrance in the British Isles, where you can enjoy a guided tour deep underground.
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check my other blog posts here on MY URBAN TRAIL and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.
Happy adventuring!
Izzy