Hiking Mam Tor and Kinder Scout (Circular Route)
Hiking in the Peak District is stunning, and the Mam Tor and Kinder Scout circular route is one of my personal favourite walks. This 18km hiking route covers the highest point in the Peak District (Kinder Scout) as well as the Peak’s most famous ridge walk (Mam Tor). All the while providing beautiful views over the Derbyshire Dales and surrounding area – including Winnats Pass, Edale and even Manchester (on a good day).
The walk is relatively simple with paths covering the majority of the route. However, hiking Mam Tor and Kinder Scout does require a good level of fitness as the walk should take around 4-6 hours including rest breaks.
In this guide, I will cover information about Mam Tor and Kinder Scout, the hiking route itself, as well as tips and guidance for everything you will need to enjoy this fantastic hike through the Peak District.
About Mam Tor
Height in Metres: 517m
Height in Feet: 1696 feet
Prominence: 62m
Prominence in Feet: 203 feet
Range: Peak District
Parent Peak: Kinder Scout
Meaning: Mother Hill
About Kinder Scout
Height in Metres: 636m
Height in Feet: 2088 feet
Prominence: 497m
Prominence in Feet: 1629 feet
Range: Peak District
Meaning: Water over the edge
Getting to the Mam Tor and Kinder Scout Hike (+ Parking)
Though you can technically start anywhere as this hike is a circular route, I would recommend starting in Edale. In this small village, both on-street parking and a small car park are available. Be aware that these spaces fill up quickly and that some streetside parking is for residents only.
Getting the train to Edale Station is a good alternative option, particularly for day trips. You can check out train times for Edale here.
Mam Tor and Kinder Scout Hiking Route
Ascending from Edale
From Edale Station, I recommend following this route anticlockwise and heading towards The Old Nags Head pub. The road continues straight into a private road, so make a right turn onto the footpath where you will go across a small bridge.
The bridge leads out towards an open hillside, with a singular man-made path. This is the point that I consider to be the start of the trail.
Follow the path in the direction of the woodland, where you will cross another smaller bridge.
From here, you will start gaining altitude as the path follows along a stream.
The path may become less obvious, but as long as you keep in sight of the stream, you will continue on the correct route. You will gain a fair amount of altitude as this is the most challenging part of the hike.
The steep incline is worth it as you will be rewarded with fantastic views from the top.
Scenic views to Kinder Scout
There is a network of paths at the top which are great for exploring as they provide amazing views over the Derbyshire Dales. If you want to stick to this route, don’t go right as this will lead you in the opposite direction. Instead, follow the ‘middle’ path (as seen below).
The path will lead you through a variety of interesting rock structures coupled with expansive views.
There is a turn-off onto the moorland in the direction of Kinder Scout. If you are going anticlockwise, this will be a righthand turn.
Despite Kinder Scout’s height, the terrain is relatively flat and boggy. If I’m honest, I wasn’t blown away by the views compared to other parts of the hike. So, if you are not bothered about saying that you’ve reached the highest point of the Peak District, avoiding this detour can save you a bit of time.
Kinder Scout to Mam Tor
As you continue onwards, the landscapes become very open and exposed. On a sunny day this it’s wonderful. Not quite so nice when it’s pouring down with rain!
Due to the paths, this part of the route is great for mountain bikers as well as trail runners.
The path eventually curves left as it loops around towards Mam Tor.
As you follow the ridgeline you will need to cross the road.
Climb up the hill on the other side of the road to the peak of Mam Tor. Standing at 517m, Mam Tor will give you 360-degree views of the surrounding area overlooking the National Park.
If you want to climb Mam Tor without completing the rest of the hike (don’t ask me why you would!), there is a small amount of parking at the pass which can be used for quick photo stop-offs.
The Final Stretch: Mam Tor to Edale
Once you’ve ascended Mam Tor, there is no more climbing!
Continue along the ridge down towards Hollins Cross where you will turn left and continue your descent.
The trail down from Hollins Cross leads onto a country road which you can follow back towards your starting point in Edale.
If you want to extend this route, instead of exiting the ridge at Hollins Cross, you could continue straight towards Back Tor (437m) and Lose Hill (481m). This would increase your altitude again and add a few more kilometres to the walk.
Mam Tor and Kinder Scout: Hints and Tips
Food and Pubs
As the starting and finishing points are in Edale, there are a few options for you to grab either a pre-hike coffee or a post-hike meal or drink. One lovely cafe option is The Penny Pot Cafe which serves good tea and is well-located near Edale Station. One hearty pub option is The Old Nag’s Head which you walk past at the start of the walk.
I would also strongly recommend bringing your own food, snacks and water for the hike.
Navigation
Due to the distance of 18.5km, I would recommend following some kind of directions to ensure that you stay on the trail. There are paths covering the majority of the Mam Tor/Kinder Scout walk, but I’d recommend double-checking that you are following the correct route. Particularly towards Kinder Scout where paths are less clear.
If you don’t have a map and compass to navigate, you can follow this circular hiking route by saving this post and following the steps. Equally, you can follow the route using maps.me or by downloading the route in advance. This particular route can be found on AllTrails.
More Hikes in the Peak District
Before you go
Thank you for reading my travel guide on hiking Mam Tor and Kinder Scout (Circular Route). If guides and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures and why I wanted to become a travel writer.
Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.
Happy hiking!
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