Why Visit Edale?

Edale is tiny, but its location has made it one of the most famous walking villages in Britain.

The Pennine Way

The biggest reason for that fame is the Pennine Way.

Edale marks the traditional starting point of Britain's first National Trail, which heads north for hundreds of miles through the Pennines towards the Scottish border.

Fortunately, you don't need several weeks off work to enjoy it.

You can simply follow the opening section from Edale and incorporate part of the trail into a much shorter walk.

The route begins near the Old Nag's Head in the village before heading towards Upper Booth and the slopes of Kinder Scout.

For serious long-distance walkers, this is where a major adventure begins.

For the rest of us, it's also perfectly acceptable to walk a few miles, admire the scenery and return to Edale for lunch.

Dark Peak Scenery

Edale is a brilliant place to experience the difference between the White Peak and Dark Peak.

The Dark Peak gets its name from the darker gritstone and peat that dominate much of the landscape.

Instead of limestone valleys and gently rolling farmland, you'll find high moorland, dramatic edges, rocky cloughs and broad open plateaux.

Kinder Scout rises immediately above Edale and is the highest point in the Peak District.

On a clear day, the views can be spectacular.

On a wet and windy day, it can feel considerably more serious.

Which brings us neatly to planning.

Who the Area Suits

Edale is particularly good for:

• Keen walkers
• Experienced hikers
• Photographers
• Trail runners
• Visitors wanting to experience the Dark Peak
• Anyone interested in the Pennine Way

You don't need to climb Kinder Scout to enjoy the area, though.

There are shorter routes around the valley and village for visitors who want the scenery without committing to a major hill walk.

Families with older children who are confident walkers may also enjoy Edale, provided you choose an appropriate route and conditions.

Walking Around Edale

This is where Edale really comes into its own.

You can spend an hour walking around the valley or most of the day high above it.

Shorter Valley Walks

Not every visit needs to involve reaching the Kinder plateau.

Footpaths around the Vale of Edale connect the village with the surrounding hamlets, farmland and lower slopes.

A shorter walk around Edale gives you wonderful views towards Kinder Scout, Mam Tor and the surrounding hills without exposing you to the more demanding terrain above.

It's a particularly good option if the weather is uncertain.

You can also walk towards places such as Upper Booth before turning around or creating a gentle circular route back towards the village.

Take a map even on shorter routes.

There are plenty of intersecting paths, and knowing exactly where you're going makes the day considerably more relaxing.

Kinder Scout

For many visitors, Kinder Scout is the main attraction.

There are several routes onto the plateau from Edale, including approaches via Jacob's Ladder and Grindsbrook Clough.

These are proper hill walks.

Expect significant ascent, rough ground and sections where conditions can be wet, rocky or difficult underfoot.

Once you're on the Kinder plateau, the landscape becomes much more open.

Views can be enormous in clear weather, but cloud can reduce visibility very quickly.

That is why a walk onto Kinder requires considerably more preparation than following a riverside footpath near Hartington.

If you're new to hillwalking, choose a well-established route, allow plenty of time and avoid setting out onto high ground in poor conditions.

More Demanding Routes

Experienced walkers can create much longer routes around the Kinder plateau.

Popular options can include Kinder Downfall, Jacob's Ladder, Grindsbrook Clough and sections of the Pennine Way.

There are also ways to link Edale with neighbouring parts of the Hope Valley and Mam Tor.

These are full-day routes rather than something we'd recommend squeezing in before lunch.

Distances can be deceptive too.

Walking across peat, stone slabs and rough moorland is much slower than walking the same distance on a surfaced trail.

Plan according to daylight, weather and the ability of the slowest person in your group.

Navigation and Weather

This is the most important section of the guide.

The Peak District National Park specifically warns that weather on high open moorland can change rapidly, with sunshine giving way to fog, cold, wind and rain. It recommends carrying food and water, knowing how to use a map and compass, and bringing warm, windproof and waterproof clothing.

Don't rely entirely on your phone.

Batteries fail.

Signal disappears.

And rain has a remarkable ability to arrive at the exact moment you need to look at a screen.

If you're heading onto Kinder Scout, we'd bring a proper OS map or equivalent mapping alongside your phone or GPS.

Check the forecast immediately before setting off and be willing to change the plan.

Turning around isn't failing.

It's sensible hillwalking.

Practical Information

Edale's popularity means a little preparation can make your day much easier.

Parking

The main village car park sits at the bottom of Edale and operates as pay-and-display.

Public toilets are available there too. The former National Park visitor centre at the Moorland Centre is no longer open to the public as a visitor facility, having closed in March 2025.

There is also National Park parking at Barber Booth, although capacity is limited.

Edale can become extremely busy during sunny weekends and school holidays.

Arrive early.

And if the designated parking is full, don't park on verges or block narrow lanes.

The village is small and still has to function for the people who live and work there.

Trains

One of Edale's big advantages is its railway station.

Edale lies on the Hope Valley Line between Sheffield and Manchester, making it one of the few major Peak District walking destinations that can be reached directly by train.

For walkers staying elsewhere in the Hope Valley, that opens up some excellent point-to-point route possibilities.

The station itself is close to the village and walking routes.

If you're planning to use the train as part of a walk, check the current timetable before travelling rather than relying on an old schedule.

Food and Toilets

Edale has several useful places to eat and drink, including pubs, cafés and a village shop.

The Penny Pot Café sits beside the railway station, while the village itself has traditional pubs that are extremely welcome after several hours on the hills.

We'd still carry enough food and water for the walk itself.

Don't plan a long Kinder route on the assumption that there will be somewhere halfway round selling sandwiches.

There won't be.

Public toilets are available at the main village car park.

Busy Periods

Edale is one of the Peak District's classic walking destinations.

That means beautiful weekends can be very busy.

For a quieter experience, visit midweek or outside the main holiday periods.

An early start helps too.

There's something particularly lovely about heading into the hills while the valley is still waking up—and something considerably less lovely about arriving at lunchtime and discovering everyone else had exactly the same idea.

The White Peak and Dark Peak Compared

If you're staying around Hartington, visiting Edale gives you a chance to experience both major Peak District landscapes during the same holiday.

Terrain

Around Hartington, the White Peak is dominated by limestone.

Think green fields, limestone dales, rivers and dry-stone walls.

The Dark Peak around Edale is higher and rougher, with gritstone, peat moorland, rocky edges and broad open plateaux.

Neither is better.

They're just completely different.

Walking Difficulty

White Peak walking can certainly be challenging, but there are lots of gentler options.

You can follow rivers, old railway trails and village footpaths without needing advanced navigation.

Edale gives you easy walks too, but the routes onto Kinder Scout and the surrounding high ground demand more experience and preparation.

The difference becomes especially noticeable in poor weather.

Weather and Equipment

For an ordinary White Peak village walk, good footwear and a waterproof jacket may be enough.

For a full day on Kinder Scout, we'd take considerably more.

Proper walking boots, waterproof trousers, warm layers, hat, gloves, food, water, map, compass and a fully charged phone are all sensible.

Even in summer, the National Park recommends carrying spare warm clothing when heading onto high moorland.

Visiting Edale from Hartington Hills

Edale is best treated as a dedicated day trip from Hartington Hills.

Driving Time

We'd allow around an hour each way, depending on your route and traffic.

Peak District roads can be slow, particularly around the Hope Valley and Castleton on busy weekends.

Set off early if you're planning a substantial walk and give yourself plenty of daylight.

If you're unfamiliar with the area, plan your route before leaving rather than assuming your sat nav will always choose the most sensible road.

Our Find Us page has useful advice about travelling around our rural location.

What to Pack

For a walking day in Edale, we'd bring:

• Walking boots
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Warm layers
• Hat and gloves
• Map and compass
• Fully charged phone
• Portable charger
• Plenty of water
• Packed lunch and snacks
• Small first-aid kit
• Head torch for longer walks

And yes, we'd probably take all of that even if the morning forecast looks excellent.

Kinder Scout doesn't particularly care what the weather app promised you at breakfast.

Building Edale into a Longer Stay

This is where staying centrally becomes useful.

You don't have to choose between the White Peak and Dark Peak.

You can spend one day walking Beresford Dale from Hartington, another cycling the Tissington Trail and another heading north for Kinder Scout.

If you're planning your first trip, our Complete Guide to Camping in the Peak District explains the different parts of the National Park and how to choose where to explore.

You can also combine your Edale day with ideas from our Camper's Guide to Castleton, Hope Valley and Hathersage, particularly if you're staying for several nights and want to explore more of the northern Peak District.

For more inspiration, browse our Things to Do pages.

One of our favourite things about being based near Hartington is exactly this contrast.

You can wake up surrounded by peaceful White Peak countryside, spend the day walking across the wild moorland of Kinder Scout and then return to Hartington Hills in the evening.

Preferably after finding a pub.

And definitely after earning a hot shower.