Scotland
Affric Kintail Way
Coming soon
- On trail 17.0 mi 27.4 km
- Walking time 8–9 h
- Ascent 890 m 2,900 ft
- Descent 880 m 2,900 ft
- Difficulty Hard
Kinder and Bleaklow: the Way's hard opening over peat and gritstone.
Section 1: Edale to Crowden map
Example stay Crowden Camping and Caravanning Club Site (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: Pennine Way route description on National Trails . The walk follows that page's sixteen days, checked 17 October 2026. Distance and climb are measured on our line between these ends, not taken from its mile figures.
The walk
The Pennine Way does not start gently. From the Old Nags Head in Edale, fields lead to Upper Booth, then Jacob's Ladder climbs onto Kinder Scout, the second-longest ascent on the route. The path follows the plateau edge past Kinder Downfall, crosses the Snake Pass road, and follows Devil's Dike onto Bleaklow, notorious for losing walkers in mist. A long descent by Torside Clough drops into Longdendale and tiny Crowden. In half-decent weather the official guide puts it in the Way's top five for scenery.
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Official start
Edale
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Steep climb
Jacob's Ladder
Stone steps from the head of the Edale valley up onto Kinder. The climb is short and steep, and the plateau edge is the reward: gritstone tors and the valley below.
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Kinder Downfall
The River Kinder spills off the plateau edge. In a strong westerly the water blows back up over the top. The path keeps to the edge, so the views stay open on the right.
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Navigation
Bleaklow Head
Devil's Dike, a long peat channel, leads up from the Snake Pass to a broad top of peat and groughs. In mist it is one of the easiest places on the Way to lose the line. Take a bearing before you need it.
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Torside Clough to Crowden
A long, steady descent to Longdendale and its reservoirs. The path crosses the valley to Crowden, a handful of houses and a campsite.
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End of section
Crowden
Section 1: Edale to Crowden overview
The ground
- Steep climb
- Peat moor
- Flagstones
- Navigation
A big moor day, straight from the start. Cross Fell has the bigger climb and the Cheviots the longer day, but few sections ask as much navigation. This is the route's second-longest ascent, on the first morning.
Stops
Refreshments
- Edale has the Old Nags Head at the official start and the Rambler Inn by the station. There is nothing on the way and next to nothing at Crowden
- so buy lunch for two days in Edale
Toilets
- No source used for this section names a public toilet
Before you go
Opposite direction
Crowden to Edale
Walked north to south, this is the last day: up Torside Clough from Longdendale, over Bleaklow and Kinder, then down Jacob's Ladder to Edale. The stone steps are steep at the end of a long walk, and the Old Nags Head is waiting at the bottom of the lane.
Official finish
Edale
Edale to Crowden FAQ
How do I get to the start in Edale?
By train. Edale is on the Hope Valley line between Manchester Piccadilly (about 44 minutes) and Sheffield (about 32 minutes), roughly hourly. The Old Nags Head, the official start, is a short walk up the lane from the station.
How hard is Edale to Crowden?
Hard, and it comes first. The climb onto Kinder is the second-longest on the route, the plateau and Bleaklow are open peat moor, and navigation in mist is the real test. There is no food on the way.
Where do I stay at Crowden?
Crowden has a campsite and little else. If you are not camping, book a bed in Glossop or Padfield with a lift from Crowden and back the next morning. Arrange it before you leave home.
Can I download a GPX for Edale to Crowden?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Used as Day 1 on the 15-day. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 15-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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