The route involves a short crossing of the Kinder massif and should not be attempted in mist or low cloud. Besides, you would miss the marvellous views! Grid references are provided for this portion of the walk.
[1] Leaving Edale Station, turn left up the road past the Rambler pub and the church, then 160m past the Nag’s Head turn off right down steps to cross the stream valley on a footpath signed Grindsbrook. In 100m leave the paved path right to climb up to a gateway. Continue up the side of the valley on a zig-zag path, mainly paved, which comes to a viewpoint at The Nab (SK12507 86580). Here pause for breath and views over Edale and up the Grindsbrook valley, then head back and up towards a rocky promontory called Ringing Roger. Avoid the steep climb up this by keeping left at a cairn (SK12462 87064) round into the upper part of Golden Clough. As you near the top keep on the right side of the stream and, passing a very large cairn at SK12507 87511, up to where a paved path crosses (not obvious) at SK12536 87577.
(A) Ringing Roger: It is thought that the unusual name of this rocky promontory derives from the French “Roches” meaning rocks. Roche Abbey near Rotherham has a similar derivation. This route provides a relatively easy way up to the southern edge of Kinder Scout, which is named after the village of de Kinder which once lay on the slope of the peak and was included in William I's Domesday Book.
[2] Turn right on this paved path along the edge of the Kinder Scout massif, ignoring any right or left turns and proceeding straight ahead. After crossing the 2nd stile (SK12819 87388) out of an enclosure turn left, then at the fence corner (SK12829 87390) bear up half-left on a path above the more obvious lower path*. Keep forward on a peaty path parallel to the edge, with views across to the Great Ridge and at an indistinct Y junction at SK13209 87365, go left. After 12 mins pass the Druid’s Stone (SK13455 87445), then in 150m, a stone like a Henry Moore sculpture (SK13644 87559). In 20m fork right on a narrow path along the edge turning left at SK13852 87605 to a ford at the top of Jaggers Clough (SK13868 87808). Continue in a northerly direction for 4 mins to stones on the left (SK13934 88087) then in 50m bear right (SK13935 88135) on a path which heads to the northern edge of Crookstone Knoll. At SK14076 88246 near some grouse butts, ignore the path on your left, going right onto the promontory (SK14509 88327) to admire the panorama of the Alport Valley, Ladybower, Win Hill round to Lose Hill & Mam Tor.
*In reduced visibility on Kinder, after the 2nd stile take the obvious lower path on the edge. After 5 mins bear up left on a peaty path, then in 12 more minutes bear right to cross Jaggers’ Clough and continue to the stone, passed on your left hand side joining the main route towards Hope Cross. This alternative saves 20 mins.
(B) There is no evidence that the Druid’s Stone was used for pagan rights! It is more likely that its name refers to its portly figure.
[3] By turning right off the promontory, continue on the south edge of the knoll for 3 minutes then at a stone (SK14343 88055) turn sharp left to descend back under the knoll. (you can cut the corner down a gully 150m before the stone). The path then swings right through a gateway towards a double tree. Here follow the sign left to descend to a wall where you go right over a stile on a rough bridleway. After 7 minutes arrive at Hope Cross after a gate.
(C) Hope Cross: Located on a former Roman road (sometimes known as Doctor’s Gate), Hope Cross stands 7 feet high with a square capstone bearing the names of Edale, Glossop, Hope and Sheffield on its faces. The date 1737 is carved on the shaft below the Hope face and this is the date this medieval stoop was either restored or replaced. Hope Cross lies at the crossroads of important ancient packhorse routes through the Peak District and it is possible that there could have been a cross here prior to this one.
[4] Go on the track between the wall and the plantation fence which gradually slopes up to the summit of Win Hill, around 3km and nearly 1 hour away. After crossing a fence join the main track with a wall on the left. Eventually it leaves the plantation to skirt a knoll then bends to the left to arrive at Win Hill Pike at 462m, a good viewpoint with Ladybower Reservoir to the north, Shatton Moor to the south and Lose Hill (14m higher) to the west.
(D) Win Hill: There is a legend of no great antiquity that Win Hill gets its name from the Battle of Win Hill and Lose Hill in 626. Prince Cwichelm and his father, King Cynegils of Wessex, possibly with the aid of King Penda of Mercia, gathered their forces on neighbouring Lose Hill and marched on the Northumbrians based on Win Hill. Despite their superior numbers, Wessex was defeated by the Northumbrians building a wall and rolling boulders down upon them. There is no record of this battle in any Anglo-Saxon source and should best be regarded as a myth.
With around 144 m of relative height, Win Hill is only a few metres short of qualifying as a Marilyn. The hill's counterpart, Lose Hill, lies to the west. On top of Win Hill lies Win Hill Pike, locally known as the Pimple. Win Hill Pike has an Ordnance Survey triangulation point, or trig point. Often misnamed the Old Witches Knoll, Win Hill Pike is often used for a Duke of Edinburgh Award station.
[5] The main path ahead descends steeply through woods to the Ladybower dam, but after 300m you reach a signpost at the plantation fence where you need to turn right towards Thornhill on a more level path in a southerly direction. In 300m you should reach a fork where you go right through a wall signed Aston, ascending slightly then cross a wall to descend a field to a stile in the bottom right hand corner into an enclosed pathway.
[6] On reaching the road turn right into Aston village. Pass a side road on the left with Aston Hall on the right. At the bottom of the hill look for steps left on a public footpath which goes in front of several houses, keeping ahead through a gate to re-join the road. Here turn sharp left on an obvious path down the edge of several fields until you reach a gate into the path right to Hope Station.