South Head And Kinderlow End From The A624

Introduction

A cool dry day beckoned, and I decided it would be a great day to climb some fairly big hills.

It’s a 35 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme to Chinley Head on the main road from Chinley to Hayfield.

In fact the weather was mixed. It was cool and dry, but on the highest section, the cloud had stuck around the tops, and, with a good breeze, it was cold!

The walk is 7 miles with a big 1600feet of ascent.

It took 3 hours 30 minutes plus 15 minutes for lunch.

The walk is a mix of walled tracks, open moor, and sheep pasture, so some opportunities for dogs to be off the lead, especially outside the bird nesting season.

I walked in an anticlockwise direction.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map OL1.

I parked at the junction of the A624 and Maynestone Road, a little way up the main road from The Lamb Inn, postcode SK23 6AL, What 3 Words ///lakeside.bigger.driving

A624 To South Head

The car park is on a col between Chinley and Hayfield, and there are great views down towards Cracken Edge.

I joined the Pennine Bridleway which traverses round Mount Famine, giving spectacular views over to the ridge of Chinley Churn.

As I rounded the hillside, the pointed peak of South Head was just visible through the cloud.

To my right, I could make out Chapel-en-le-frith in the distance.

I climbed to the top of South Head, a great viewpoint…. but not very clear this morning.

South Head To Kinderlow End

Dropping down from the summit, I was now on a generally flat upland moor. The first section was quite boggy, but easily negotiated. Then came the stone slabs which have been laid to enable the moor to be easily negotiated.

I came to a right turn which leads to the trig point at Brown Knoll, but I didn’t bother detouring as there would be no views to enjoy.

From here the path continues on to meet the route down left to Oaken Clough and right to Upper Booth and Edale. I continued straight ahead to the steep ascent to Swine’s Back and the Kinder Scout plateau.

At a large cairn, I turned left onto a just discernable grassy path. Fortunately this path soon met another stone slab path which took me all the way along Kinderlow. Along here, the heather was covered in ice crystals, and snow lay in patches. Visibility was very poor!

However I soon reached an outcrop of rocks although I didn’t see the cavern referenced on the map.

Now the path began to descend, soon reaching Kinderlow End. Approaching “the end” it appeared there was a sheer drop beyond it. However, the OS online map had auto-drawn in a path going straight down this drop, so I went forward…… gingerly! As I did so, the cloud cleared for a moment.

I discovered that a stone slab staircase had been constructed to lead down to the next plateau below. It is reminiscent of the descent from Shutlingsloe towards Macclesfield Forest but a bit steeper and longer.

I negotiated this carefully, but with relative ease, stopping occasionally to take in the views that now appeared. I’d love to come back on a clear day.

Back To The A624

The last section of the walk is altogether softer. and the weather was warmer, the sunshine returning from time to time. I made my way across the pasture and down to Tunstead House.

At Tunstead House I turned left. The path through the gate isn’t signposted, but it traverses the field and stone steps lead to the next field. It’s a lovely valley with streams that run down to Hayfield and the River Sett.

At the head of the valley in the distance is South Head, now clear of low cloud.

Downstream it’s a tranquil valley.

Beyond the next farm the route heads downhill, then leaves the drive to reach a bridge over the brook.

On the way down, I spotted a shepherd and sheepdog herding a flock on the opposite hillside. Always a joy to watch this!

Crossing the bridge, I was faced with a very steep, grassy, uphill climb. At this stage of the walk, this was quite tough, so I took my time.

I finally reached a track which was ascending the valley side in a diagonal manner, and took in the view down the valley.

From here, I made my way up the track to the top of the valley side and down to the main road and the car.

This is a fantastic walk, and one I’d highly recommend for those who like the challenge of a hill climb. I wish it had been clear at the top, but the mist certainly created an additional challenge, and an eerie atmosphere!

And Finally….

One of 2024’s top rated albums was Prelude To Ecstasy by The Last Dinner Party. This track is “Sinner”.