The charming moorland village of Edale – more correctly known as Grindsbrook Booth – is a Mecca for Peak District “bogtrotters”, the name affectionately given to ramblers who enjoy the dubious pleasure of trekking across peat moorland.
Situated under the southern edge of Kinder Scout, at 636m (2,088ft) the highest point in the Peak District, Edale was recently named in several national polls as one of the best villages to live in England.
Edale - the start of the Pennine Way
It is perhaps best known to walkers as the starting point of Tom Stephenson’s classic long-distance marathon, the Pennine Way. This arduous 268-mile route up the backbone of England to Kirk Yetholm, just across the Scottish Border, sets off from the 300-year-old Nag’s Head public house in Edale.
Things to do in Edale
The beautiful valley of Edale is threaded by the Sheffield to Stockport railway line built in 1894, a highly scenic line still fondly known as the ‘Ramblers’ Route.’ Edale station is at Grindsbrook Booth, along with the charming Victorian Holy Trinity Parish Church, built in 1886, the village school and post office.
The Peak District National Park’s Edale Visitor Centre is at Fieldhead, which is also the headquarters of the Moors for the Future project, which has done so much to restore the precious peat moorlands of the South Pennines.
Edale walk
There is an easy circular three-mile walk is along the Pennine Way beneath Kinder’s southern edge to Upper Booth and then back via Barber Booth.
