The Wild Outdoors

Tag: Peak District Hiking

Peak District hike: circular route of Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

December 9th, 2023
If someone suggests a “scrambly hike” as a day out, you’d be forgiven for not first thinking of the Peak District as the obvious destination but the Peaks is actually home to some of the best UK hikes and scrambles of different grading thanks to the endless supply of rocky, bouldery brooks and cloughs which are often running dry. Although not as high or exposed as scrambles you might have seen or experienced in the Lake District, Snowdonia or Scotland, scrambling in the Peak District can actually be a much more fun, alternative way to explore the area. Plus, these routes are often quieter so you can really hone in on your explorer skills and feel at one with the outdoors amongst the tranquility of vast moorland. The circular route of Fairbrook Naze, The Edge, Nether Red Brook and Black Ashop Moor is what feels like a remote one and will keep you on your toes (literally and figuratively) throughout the day; enjoy wild swimming spots, slippery scrambles, bizarre rock formations, vast boggy moorland, river crossings and friendly sheep – this Peak District hike really has it all!

*A grade 1 scramble is classed as an easy scramble with simple route finding and no requirement for technical skills or ropes but you may need to use your hands and this route definitely requires that. The route is slippery over the rocks and sure footedness is required as a slip could easily result in injury.

How to hike Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

Starting at Snake Woodlands, the Nether Red Brook scramble can be done a couple of ways but is best tied in with Fairbrook Naze, a hike which I wrote about here. After scrambling up Fairbrook Naze and reaching the summit plateau famed for its fascinating (and totally random) rock formations, the walk from here along what’s known as The Edge (sounds like a budget rate horror film to me), takes you alongside many of these weird and wonderful formations including this one, which I tried, and ultimately failed, to climb.

After admitting defeat and soothing my bruised ego while my hiking companion giggled and rolled her eyes with that knowing look of “I knew you couldn’t do it”, we set back off along The Edge, a quieter part of the Kinder Scout plateau, making our way through more funky rock formations and along a well maintained path.

Glancing to the right, the views down towards Black Ashop Moor are ones that make you really feel like you’re deep in the wilderness (not just an hour or so from your car) but still, this area isn’t to be underestimated and it’s really important to understand that navigation in this area, when the weather comes in, can become incredibly challenging, especially if waymarkers disappear quicker than the white walkers in the fog (sorry if you’re not a Game Of Thrones fan – sorry that you’re NOT a fan that is).

Passing some more formations to make you go oooh, ahhhh you’ll eventually reach the top of Nether Red Brook where the path makes a turn left away from the edge and a right turn back towards it. There are no signs to mark this path which is why navigation is important or be sure to download the offline route to your phone from OS maps or Komoot. At the top of Nether Red Brook, the way down can seem unlikely but this scramble effectively follows the stream bed straight down.

Standing at the top of the rocky outcrop, not being able to see an obvious route down I questioned whether my map reading skills were really as accurate as I thought they were. Here I was, standing at the top of Nether Red Brook with my mum, who had already set off in front of me shimmying her way down a steep drop between two rocks after a fleeting, “this way is it?” but after one more quick check of the map I took a sigh of relief; it was definitely the right way.

The scramble isn’t technical but good balance, strength in your legs and arms and confidence over rough terrain is a must. There is a small path every now and again to hop onto but the majority of the route is over large boulders and you’ll have to navigate your way down over these.

Looking back up towards the way you’ve just scrambled down…

Eventually, you’ll find yourself in the base of the Valley known as Black Ashop Moor with no path to follow; not even the faintest glimmer of one to be precise and this is where your navigation skills will come in handy.

You’re heading for the small steam at the opposite end which will lead you back to wards Snake Woodlands but be prepared to lose a foot or even a whole leg to the boggy moorland swamp monsters which will try to suck you down to their peaty home if you make a wrong choice of step. At least if you get sucked into the pool of peaty mud, the view back up to where you came from is a nice final view.

After navigating through the moorland, the next obstacle you’ll face is the river crossing. I hope in your mind you’re picturing a whirlpool and rapid-ridden force of nature but actually it’s just a small one which, if your legs are long enough, you’ll be able to leap across in one foul swoop to the safety of the path on the other side.

Following the path downstream will lead you back towards Snake Woodlands and the view back is stunning during heather season with all the purple hues.

Eventually, you’ll reach the edge of Snake Woodlands and will continue following the path through the woods and back up towards your starting point. There is another wonderful little spot for a swim in Snake Woodlands which the path will take you next to.

Map and key locations for Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Roadside parking at Snake Woodlands

2: Footbridge below end of woodlands to cross over the river

3: A series of waterfall pools

4: Beginning of the steeper, rocky scrambling section of Fair Brook

5: Top of Fairbrook Naze, rock formations and the beginning of The Edge

6. Top of Nether Red Brook marking the scramble down

7. Boggy moorland crossing across Black Ashop Moor and river crossing (you’ll need to find a suitable crossing place yourself)

8. Path back towards Snake Woodlands

9. River running to Snake Woodlands and extra swim location

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.

Top Tips for scrambling Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook
- The parking area in Snake Woodlands fills up quickly on a nice day so be sure to get there early or late in the day for any chance of parking
- There are no facilities on this route or in the car park
- The scrambles are slippery in places and require sure footedness and confidence on rough, scrambly terrain.
- The scramble down Nether Red Brook has a steep and relatively high drop to navigate
- Navigation across Black Ashop Moor is pathless so strong navigation skills are needed
- This route includes a small river crossing
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check out my other blog posts and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about new UK routes, the best swimming spots, international adventure and ideas of things to do for your next adventure.

Happy adventuring and don’t forget to subscribe!

Izzy

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The Edale Skyline: the ultimate Peak District hiking challenge.

September 4th, 2023
The Edale Skyline, a circular loop which winds its way around the hills either side of the Edale Valley, is a spectacular long-distance hiking challenge. On this 20 mile route, you take in several summits and will finish by walking along the glorious Great Ridge before descending back down to the valley floor. If you’re looking for some of the most beautiful views in the Peak District and want to push yourself then look no further than the Edale Skyline!

Key information for the Edale Skyline

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult

Distance: 33.5km/20.8miles

Total ascent: 1128m

Est Time: 8-12 hours depending on speed, fitness and rest breaks

Starting location: Hope Train Station (S33 6RR)

Cost: £3 for all day parking with the RingGo app. Correct at time of writing (July 2023).

Dog friendly: Only if fit, healthy and able to walk long distances.

Key features: summits of Win Hill, Brown Knoll, Mam Tor, Back Tor and Lose Hill, rock formations towards the Kinder Scout plateau.

Edale, the little village nestled below the watchful eye of Kinder Scout and at the end of the Edale Valley, is an incredibly popular destination with walkers, runners, cyclists and the odd few hundred tourists. On a sunny summer’s day, the village is bustling with crowds of people and the surrounding hills alive with cheerful and jubilant walkers. Its popularity is easy to understand when you take into account its accessibility; 30 minutes from Manchester and Sheffield with a train station if you’re coming by public transport. This isn’t an area you head to if you want a peaceful, isolated hike but on the Edale Skyline you will find that some sections are much quieter than others. My friend Zoe and I completed this route under the warm Spring sunshine and only really bumped into the crowds near the popular sections of Kinder Scout and Mam Tor.

The Edale Skyline is a popular fell running face but that doesn’t mean you need to be a trail runner to attempt this route. On a clear and calm day, the Edale Skyline can be an excellent first time, long-distance hiking route with clear paths and relatively straight-forward navigation. This route starts from Hope Train Station and takes in the summits of Win hill, Brown Knoll Mam Tor, Back Tor and Lose Hill but also passes by an array of interesting rock formations, historical sites and famous locations along the way.

The route can be started from multiple places but this route starts from Hope Station, one of the more popular starting points.

Route Details for the Edale Skyline hiking challenge

Upon leaving the car park at Hope Train Station you head over the bridge which crosses the train track and follow the stream, uphill, through the fields. Eventually, you reach a stile on your right which you cross allowing you to cut across another farmers field until you reach a track called Parsons Lane. Following this road will take you to a small hamlet called Aston and you eventually reach a right or left turn. Turn right onto Thornhill Lane then immediately left through the trees (look for the public footpath sign). Once you’re on the public footpath, it’s simply a matter of following the path slowly uphill to the summit of Win Hill. From here, the views are stunning down into the valley and behind to Ladybower Reservoir and you can make out part of the route you’ll be doing towards the end of the day too.

Win Hill is a great little one to start with; it gets the legs warmed up and you’ll have done a chunk of elevation to start the day. We were even treated to a stunning cloud inversion during our attempt!

From the summit of Win Hill, the path takes you along the edge of a section of woodland, which for those budding historians, is actually where an old Roman Road to Hope begins. This road crosses the ridge of Win Hill and is a wide and well-defined path. Eventually, you reach the historic landmark of Hope Cross, a packhorse waymarker which would have been used in the past for directional guidance. Thank god we have maps now, eh?

Leaving Hope Cross behind you, your next hill to tackle is Crookstone Hill for which you head up the hillside to your left shortly after leaving Hope Cross. Look for the tree on its own and you’ll be on the right track! The path here rises gently uphill before topping out above a rocky outcrop and onto the ridge above the valley beneath you. There is only one path to follow here and it eventually leads you towards Ringing Roger (an eroded rock that gets its name from the sound it makes when the wind blows over it) and some fascinating rock formations on Upper Tor. This is my favourite place for a little snack and photo stop as the views back down the valley and across to Mam Tor are breathtaking on a clear day.

Continuing on the path, you’ll see Grindsbrook Clough in front of you (a great, scrambly route for another day) before making a sharp right turn and crossing over a small stream and back again. Heading away from this area, you’ll now find yourself on Edale Moor and below the Kinder Scout plateau which is probably when you start to notice many, many, many more people. This section can feel wild at times especially when the cold wind bites and whistles through your bones. It’s quite exposed and can feel long after the hiking so far, therefore this is another section that is nice to take a quick pit stop on. There’s some wonderful rock formations too along here called The Woolpacks, Pym Chair and Noe Stool that you’ll probably find yourself getting distracted by. These rock formations were formed over 320 millions years ago when the UK was actually located on the Earth’s equator when eroded material was deposited into the Pennine Basin. The rocks now have been weathered over thousands of years to form some remarkable shapes.

Your next checkpoint is the trig of Brown Knoll but this path can be a real joy killer. After leaving Edale Moor behind you and passing the descent of Jacob’s Ladder, the path winds through boggy moorland along a series of, what feels like never-ending, paving slabs. Reaching the trig is a welcome sight but don’t get too comfortable because you’ve got another never ending section of stone paving slabs in front of you again.

At the end of this section, you head left up a stony track and soon you are rewarded with the wondrous, and famous, view of Rushup Edge and Mam Tor in the distance. This section really feels like the home straight and you’ll start to feel that buzz of accomplishment seep in as you realise that this is the final section.

The Great Ridge and Mam Tor is iconic to the Peak District and this final section of the walk, once you cross the road, takes in the whole of the ridge, up Back Tor and along to Lose Hill. Mam Tor, meaning “Mother Hill” attracts hordes of walkers, experienced and beginners alike, who flock here to soak up the joy of this ridge. This will be the busiest section yet but the views make up for that and as you pass over the ridge, the views on each side down to Edale on one side and Castleton on the other are something special.

In the past, Mam Tor was a place of ancient civilisation with occupation believed to be from around 1200BC. The summit has two ancient hill forts, Bronze Age burials nearby and archaeological artefacts have also been recovered here. Read more about the ancient history of Mam Tor here.

The path along the Great Ridge is paved and incredibly well maintained that your feet will thank you for the easy work along here. Your final destination is the toposcope of Lose Hill, marking pretty much the end of the skyline (you just need to find enough energy to make it back to the car now). Soak in the views from here and take a moment to look back at the whole route you have covered that day; it’s a real accomplishment so allow yourself to be proud of your achievements.

Once you’re ready to leave the challenge behind you, head down hill, keeping left and not crossing the stile, back down towards Losehill Farm and the road that follows the river into the village of Hope. This road section is your final part of the walk and soon you’ll find yourself at the main road where you turn left and head back towards the train station.

This is a really wonderful route and is a great one for your first long distance challenge and one that will keep you coming back for another go time and time again even if you hear yourself uttering the words “never again” as you soothe your blister ridden feet and achy legs at the end of the day.

Map and key locations for the Edale Skyline

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations on map

1: Parking at Hope Train Station

2: Summit of Win Hill (463m)

3: Site of Hope Cross

4: Interesting rock formations at Upper Tor

5: Summit of Brown Knoll (569m)

6: The Great Ridge and the summit of Mam Tor (517m)

7: Back Tor

8: The summit of Lose Hill (476m and the last summit of the day)

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.

Top Tips for The Edale Skyline
- Arrive at the car park early in the morning as it fills up quickly
- The Edale Skyline requires a good level of fitness and it is important to ensure you have practised some longer distance walking over rough terrain and with ascent before attempting the Edale Skyline
- As this is a long distance circular loop there aren’t many options to shorten the route.
- There are no facilities on this walk
- Most paths are obvious as you are following the edge however in poor weather, navigation could become harder and a wrong turn could be likely
Remember – the Peak District is a beautiful location that we want to keep beautiful for everyone to enjoy. Practise “Leave no Trace” and take all your rubbish home with you.

For more UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram. Don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about new UK routes, the best swimming spots, international adventure and ideas of things to do for your next adventure.

Happy adventuring!

Izzy x

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Easy Chee Dale Circular walk from Miller’s Dale

August 30th, 2023
This 4km loop is one of the most incredible walks in the Peak District. The stunning River Wye offers up an astonishing amount of natural beauty; from lush, green rolling countryside to a 200ft beautifully craggy limestone gorge, an abandoned quarry and historical lime kilns as well as THOSE famous stepping-stones. If you enjoy wild swimming, then this is definitely a walk I would remember to pack my swimming costume for!

At a glance

Distance: 3.83km/2.4miles

Est Time: 1 hour (not including any rest or swim breaks)

Starting location: Miller’s Dale Car Park, SK17 8SN

Cost: £4.75 for all day parking (coins or card). Correct at time of writing (June 2023).

Difficulty: Easy – this route is well signposted with obvious paths however it can be slippery after rain and incredibly muddy. With some of the paths heading across rocks and down a couple of rocky slopes and alongside the river some sure-footedness is required. The elevation is only 60m so this would be suitable for all levels of fitness. Be mindful that in wet weather, some of the route may be underwater therefore to enjoy this walk for its full potential, it would be best enjoyed during dry weather.

Dog friendly: Absolutely! With lots of places for your beloved pooch to cool off in and with the walk being relatively short, it’s definitely dog friendly.

Key features: Abandoned quarry and lime kiln, Chee Dale limestone gorge and stepping stones, Monsal Trail tunnels.

England’s ever popular Peak District, with its varied terrain and picturesque rolling hills is a place worthy of its popularity. In the middle of the Peak District, known more readily as the White Peak and not too far from Buxton, lies Chee Dale; a stunning, and at times magical feeling, limestone gorge that hugs the winding Wye River. Hidden below the Monsal Trail lies this accessible trail that really packs a punch into such a short walk.

Route details for Chee Dale circular walk

The walk starts from Miller’s Dale Car Park (a large paid car park with enough space for 80 cars) and the location of an abandoned railway junction. The railway station was built in 1863 by the Midland Railway and served as a junction for trains between London and Manchester. The station closed in 1967 but the once derelict building has now been renovated and serves as a self-guided centre called The Goods Shed where you can find out more about its rich history. Location 1 on map below.

From here you follow signs for Buxton and head along the Monsal Trail (watch out for cyclists) surrounded by woodland on each side of you. On your right you’ll see a sign for the “top of lime kilns” and following this will lead you into the disused quarry where cliffs tower above you. There isn’t an awful lot to see here but once you rejoin the path, you’ll eventually reach the old limekilns. Location 2 on map below.

The abandoned lime kilns were in use from 1880 until 1944 and produced over 50 tonnes of quicklime per day but today the kilns are home to wildlife including swifts which nest in the boxes secured high up on the buttresses. Inside the kilns you can see the remains of fireplaces where the burning process took place and keep an eye out for hibernating bats in winter too!

Carrying on down the Monsal Trail you’ll reach a bridge (you might even be lucky enough to see people abseiling off it) with a stepped path down the side leading to the riverbank (Location 3 on map). It’s signposted Chee Dale and you want to follow this down to the riverside. At the river, don’t cross under the bridge and instead head upstream. The next couple of miles take you alongside the stunning River Wye as it makes its way along the valley. The surrounding nature, wildlife, flowers, wild garlic and trees are worth stopping to enjoy as the scenery then changes quickly. There are also some great swimming spots around here if you want to have a quick dip!

As you head deeper into Chee Dale Nature Reserve the limestone gorge starts to tower over you with rocks and the cliff face hanging overhead. You might notice climbing equipment drilled into the limestone here or if you’re lucky, maybe a brave soul making their way up the wall. This section of the walk is jaw-dropping and you really feel so small standing under these huge cliff faces. Location 4 on map.

Now the bit you’ve been waiting for – the stepping-stones! The line of stepping-stones is quite long and you may have to turn around if you bump into someone coming the other way at the same time. There are excellent photo opportunities here and the stepping-stones really add a bit of childish fun into the walk. It’s worth noting that they can become covered in heavy rain and there’s also another set of stepping-stones about another mile up the river but this route misses those out. Location 5 on map.

After the stepping-stones, the path continues up river for a short distance until you cross under a viaduct and see a path cutting left up the hillside. If you follow this path, it will lead you onto the viaduct above and the entrance to the Chee Dale Tunnel looms in front of you (location 6 on map). This tunnel forms part of the 8.5 mile Monsal Trail, a spectacular traffic-free route suitable for cycling, walking and horse riding between Blackwell Mill in Chee Dale and Coombs Road in Bakewell. Following this tunnel will lead you all the way back to the car park at Miller’s Dale where you started.

Map and key locations for Chee Dale and the Stepping Stones

To access the route on the OS Maps App click here and you can download the route to your phone.

Locations

1: Parking at Miller’s Dale

2: Disused quarry and lime kiln on the right of the path

3: Path down to the riverbank underneath the viaduct

4: Limestone gorge at Chee Dale

5: Chee Dale stepping-stones

6: Path back up to the next viaduct and the entrance to the Chee Tor tunnel that will lead you back to the car park

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.

Top Tips for visiting Chee Dale and the stepping stones
- Arrive at the car park early or later on in the day. Even though it is a large car park, it’s a popular location so it does fill up quickly especially during weekends and school holidays.
- In or after bad weather the river level will rise and the stepping-stones will likely be under water so I’d probably save this one for after a period of dry weather.
- Some of the banks can become quite slippery in wet weather so caution is needed in these sections.
After your visit, I recommend heading into Bakewell (not too far down the road) and making a naughty stop off at Cake Corner – an absolutely delightful shop selling a delicious selection of handmade cakes. You won’t regret it, trust me!

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For more UK hiking routes check out the rest of my website or check out my Instagram page.

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