Hayfield

 

Hayfield – Kinder Downfall Circular

Sept 10th 2026

PLACES VISITED – Sportsmans Arms, Nab Brow, Sandy Heys, Pennine Way, Kinder Downfall,

Three Knolls, Clough Farm.

Distance: 7.06miles Ascent/descent: 1682 ft

Difiiculty: Moderate/Difficult. One long climb

Weather: Fine & dry

Walkers: Andrew Blease, Steve Brearley, Mike Cassini, Mark Enright, Russell Spencer, Simon

Williams, Keith Welsh.

Alternative walkers: Jock Rooney with Milly, Kieran Rooney

Leader: Russell, Diarist: Russell

Starting point: Sportsmans Arms, Hayfield.

Starting time: 9.40am Finishing time: 13.30pm

This Weeks Route:

Hayfield – Kinder Downfall Circular

I have saved this walk for public consumption. Anyone can follow the route using the OS app,

providing you have a registered account (Free) in future.

Weather proved to be fine on this morning, and we had a surprise late guest in Mark who decided to put his ankle to the test. We set off from the pub and followed the road skirting the reservoir and over to the bridge in the far corner. We then went up, straight up, no flat sections, which on

reflection proved to be too much, even though we were taking it easy (we are supposed to enjoy

this after all).

 After a 10min rest at the top we proceeded along the very rocky, Pennine Way.

Stopping at Kinder Downfall for Pie Time, we then took an easy steady descent down to the pub.

On reflection this walk is probably best walked in reverse.

We met Jock and Milly in the pub for a very nice pint of Thwaites.

Next week’s walk will be led by Mike, starting at Rowarth Public Car Park and finishing at The Little

Mill for approximately 1.30pm

From the archives. By Alan Hart. April 3rd 2019

When we reached a cairn (76mins) we paused for pies, port and damson gin kindly provided by Chris and prepared ourselves for the final assault on Kinder Ridge along The Pennine Way.

On April 24, 1932, this same route had been taken by 400 hikers who had assembled at Bowden Bridge under the leadership of Benny Rothman, a member of The Young Communist League. Ignoring the civil laws against trespassing they had climbed William Clough where they were confronted by gamekeepers near Ashop Head. Scuffles broke out. Six of the protestors were arrested and subsequently jailed for periods up to six months for assault on the gamekeepers. Their “martyrdom” marked the start of a media campaign by The Ramblers' Association which led to The Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act of 2000 which legislates rights to roam on mapped access land.

Happy Wandering!