Edale Northern Skyline & Castleton loop from Hope — Peak District National Park
Edale Northern Skyline & Castleton loop from Hope — Peak District National Park
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hikers
Edale Northern Skyline & Castleton loop from Hope — Peak District National Park
08:51
31.0km
710m
Hiking
The Edale Northern Skyline & Castleton loop from Hope is a difficult hike, spanning 19.3 miles (31.0 km) with an elevation gain of 2339 feet (713 metres), typically taking 8 hours and 51 minutes to complete. This route offers varied terrain and continuous panoramic views across the Peak District National Park. You will experience steep climbs and rocky paths, especially on the ascent to Mam Tor, which provides sweeping vistas over the Edale and Hope Valleys. The trail also takes you across the rugged landscapes of Kinder Scout, featuring the Kinder Low trig point and fascinating rock formations at places like Ringing Roger.
Planning your visit requires good fitness levels and suitable gear, including sturdy, well-fitting walking boots. While the loop is often started from the village of Hope, you can also access it from Edale or Castleton, offering flexibility for your adventure. Hope itself provides amenities like parking, cafes, and shops, making it a convenient starting point. Be prepared for varied conditions; some sections are well-marked, while others, particularly on Kinder Scout, can be less defined and involve peat bogs, requiring sure-footedness.
This route is considered a classic Peak District challenge, even serving as a well-known fell running race. It encompasses many of the region's most famous peaks and features, including Win Hill, Mam Tor, and the entire Great Ridge. You will encounter diverse landscapes, from picturesque villages to expansive moorland and dramatic rock formations. The trail also passes Hope Cross, an ancient monument marking the crossroads of old packhorse routes, adding a touch of history to your journey through this iconic national park.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
Tips
Temporary access restrictions
Includes segments with temporary access restrictions. Check ahead to confirm restricted segments are open to the public.
After 24.9 km for 67 m
Waypoints
Start point
Train Station
Get Directions
1.74 km
View of The Great Ridge
Highlight • Viewpoint
Tip by
5.51 km
Hope Cross
Highlight • Monument
Tip by
9.83 km
Ringing Roger Rock Formation
Highlight • Climb
Tip by
12.7 km
Labrador Rock
Highlight • Natural Monument
Tip by
13.9 km
Crowden Tower
Highlight • Climb
Tip by
15.5 km
Kinder Low Trig Point
Highlight • Summit
Tip by
17.6 km
Brown Knoll Trig Point
Highlight • Summit
Tip by
21.8 km
Lord's Seat Summit, Rushup Edge
Highlight • Summit
Tip by
24.9 km
Winnats Pass Entrance
Highlight • Natural Monument
Tip by
26.0 km
Peak District National Park Visitor Centre, Castleton
Highlight • Rest Area
Tip by
26.2 km
Castleton
Highlight • Settlement
Tip by
26.6 km
Peakshole Water Trail
Highlight (Segment) • River
Tip by
29.8 km
Navio Roman Fort
Highlight • Historical Site
Tip by
31.0 km
End point
Train Station
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
21.7 km
7.36 km
625 m
426 m
379 m
325 m
190 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
15.1 km
5.31 km
4.85 km
3.14 km
1.86 km
688 m
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Elevation
Highest point (630 m)
Lowest point (160 m)
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Weather
Powered by Foreca
Wednesday 6 May
12°C
3°C
12 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h
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This route was planned by komoot.
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Trail Reviews
Please ignore the speed/time data - Komoot doesn’t import that data correctly from the Suunto GPX file. Actual time was 8hrs 27mins (Guiding)
Long circular trail around Edale and the Hope Valley. Views of Ladybower Reservoir, Win Hill, Hope Cross, Kinder Plateau, Crowden Rocks, Mam Tor, The Great Ridge, Lose Hill.
Full day hike, its been a while! Ive been wanting to do the Edale Skyline walk for years and finally decided this morning that today was the day to smash a 20 miler out... great conditions with amazing views. Not the easiest of walks... Saw an owl which was cool! Post walk Thai curry and giving the legs a well deserved rest 🙏
EDALE SKYLINE CHALLENGE 2024 (20 miles circular of the Peak District, 1500 meters height gain in 9 hours) We completed 22 miles 🤷🏼♀️ in 7 hours 58 minutes. This includes a pub stop in The Cheshire Cheese. Not sure how we did 22 miles.
After the other weeks adventures in the lake district. We wanted to do something a little further. With some amazing weather forecast, Edale skyline it was. Fantastic day even got a little sun burnt. Views for days
Training Walk, 2 weeks to go for the Yorkshire 3 peaks Challenge
A long walk around some of the Peak District's highlights. Most of the route was familiar to me, but putting it all together had been on my planner for a while! I parked for free on the street in Hope. Had a quick drink and snack from The Grasshopper Café before setting off. The weather was beautiful, although maybe a touch too warm for a long hike. This was a full day out, featuring heather-covered moorland, 🌸 small detours due to big bulls, 🐮 plenty of mountain bikers, 🚵 dry cloughs, a mountain hare, 🐇 the turtle stone, 🐢 lots of people then no people, a search and rescue helicopter 🚁 flying close to the western edges of Kinder, a small lizard, 🦎 five trig points, 🧭 fantastic views 🌄 and very sore feet 👣! The walk is not technical, there is plenty of ascent but not a lot of steepness. It's just long... especially the section from Brown Knoll to Lord's Seat (as the views are limited). I needed little navigation, given the clear weather (would be a different story in low visibility). Walking poles would probably be helpful, especially towards the end. I was delighted to find a restaurant, The Curry Cabin in Hope open for dinner when I was finished. Great stop for post-walk food. 😋 What a day... time to stock up on foot cream 😄