Kinder Valley Explorer

This mini extension to the Sett Valley Trail makes the route both a more worthwhile out-and-back and a far more dramatic ride, tracing quiet lanes into the damp, hidden valley where the rivers Sett and Kinder meet below the mighty Kinder Scout.

Route details

  • Distance 8.9 miles / 14.3 km
  • Elevation Gain 130 m / 425 ft
  • Time allow 1 ½ hours
  • Difficulty Gentle
  • Terrain 64% Off-Road Path Traffic-free trails, towpaths & cycleways 36% Road Quieter lanes, sometimes brief busier roads 0% Unpaved Bumpier tracks & bridleways
  • Suited to City or Folding Bike Gravel Bike Hybrid Bike Mountain Bike Road Bike
  • Notes Extending an easy-going trail onto quieter roads, part closed to general traffic. One short sharp hill at the reservoir.

It’s easy to think the end of the Sett Valley railway trail is, and has always been, the end of the line. For one brief time in Hayfield’s history, the railway serving this quintessential High Peak village didn’t stop here. Between 1908 and 1912 a further line continued on, travelling straight across the main street, then along the Sett and Kinder rivers to the construction of a huge new dam.

The full-size Kinder Reservoir Railway carried materials and labour to the site of Stockport Corporation’s new water source, building a giant earth dam in the Kinder valley below the famous moorland plateau of Kinder Scout.

The route’s grand finale is a stunning close-up view of Kinder Scout and the reservoir’s huge earth dam.

The construction of both the railway and reservoir were protracted and fraught with difficulty, in fact beginning as early as 1903 with Abram Kellett as the contractor and the plans being for a stone masonry dam. Difficulties with construction and foundations saw the suspension of work, expensive litigation and eventually the switch to a clay core earth dam.

Stockport Corporation took over works and the reservoir was eventually complete in 1912. It has a capacity of over 2.3 billion litres and covers 43 acres. The railway and works were wound down and disappeared from the landscape, leaving little trace except a few gentle embankments. From 2,087 ft (636 m) above sea level, the highest point in the Peak District National Park, water still drops over Kinder Downfall and into the reservoir to meet the needs of distant urban life.

A few decades later, this otherwise peaceful, secluded upper valley beyond Hayfield would see upheaval again as the Kinder Mass Trespass of 24th April 1932 brought hundreds of ramblers to protest over the right to roam these and other natural areas of national significance.

This route passes right by Bowden Bridge, the small quarry used in the initial construction of the dam and where the Mass Trespass began, as it follows first the Sett and then the Kinder rivers to the reservoir’s impressive dam.

Route map

The route stats featured here are automatically generated by Komoot. For the most accurate guide, please refer to the route details above, based on actual rides recorded by Strava.

GPX Collection

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Getting there

This route is best started from New Mills to feel the full grandeur of arriving at the foot of Kinder. See the Sett Valley Trail cycle route guide for further tips and instructions.

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Things to note

  • See the Sett Valley Trail cycle route guide for general notes about the trail.
  • Unlike the Sett Valley Trail itself, this route sees you cycling on a couple of minor roads alongside cars. Since they’re very quiet, though, it can be a good introduction to going beyond the end of the trail and mixing with some gentle traffic.
  • You’ll encounter most cars on the short 50 metre hop through Hayfield itself. It’s a short enough distance to push bikes here over to Kinder Road if necessary, giving time to take in the village.
  • Beyond Bowden Bridge, the road is “access only” for motor vehicles, though you may still encounter the odd one. Be more vigilant of the many hikers! The lane up from Hayfield will be much, much busier on pleasant weekends, especially Sundays, so perhaps save it for another time — evenings are almost deserted.
  • To get up to the final vantage point towards Kinder Scout, there’s an incredibly steep climb that can’t really be described as ‘Gentle’ like the rest of the route, but given it’s so short it’s worth getting off and pushing if necessary.

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Route stage-by-stage

  1. Follow the Sett Valley Trail cycle route guide, leaving New Mills and cycling through Birch Vale to eventually reach the former railway station site at Hayfield. Follow the bridleway path to the left which brings you neatly to a shared crossing over the A624 bypass road built in 1979.
A signpost near Hyde Bank Road bridge points the short 2.5 miles to Hayfield.
At High Hill Road, everyone on the trail needs to fumble with two gates to cross this minor road.
The thick tree cover along the Sett Valley Trail means winter or early spring is probably the best time to ride it, to truly appreciate the surrounding scenery.
Approaching Station Road, where the railway crossed over on a bridge into Birch Vale Station, it’s another set of gates and a road crossing.
You’ve made it to Hayfield. Unless you’re accessing the car park, the best route to cycle here is to the left, avoiding the gate.
Only the 358 bus now terminates here in the large former station yard, where trains once set down carriage-loads of tourists for the hills.
Cross a minor road into a housing development and you’re almost in Hayfield village.
  1. Through a small car park you join Walk Mill Road and pass St Matthew’s Church on your left. Church Street, the narrow road through the village is then immediately ahead, with a small collection of shops and eating places. The temporary Kinder Railway crossed a little further up, through a gap created next to the George Hotel. Turn left, crossing the River Sett for only the second time in your ride.
Onto Walk Mill Road from the A624 crossing, St Matthew’s Church is on the left.
From the bridge over the River Sett, there’s a brief view further up the valley beyond the Royal Hotel and the cricket pitch, which the reservoir railway ran beside.
Church Street is the main road through Hayfield; here looking left to the bridge over the River Sett.
  1. Turn right into Bank Street, somewhat hidden between the Old Bank Surgery and the chemist but signposted for a camp site. You climb up very briefly to another junction, turning right onto Kinder Road at one of the prettiest corners of the village, used in the filming of the BBC drama “The Village”.
Turn right behind the Old Bank Surgery into Bank Street, signposted for the campsite.
Joining Kinder Road at an angle from Bank Street, be careful of vehicles coming from the left.
  1. The road now climbs gently but steadily past densely packed quaint stone cottages and the local library. Though fairly quiet, the number of parked cars can call for some patience. Where the road forks, stay left on Kinder Road and climb gently again as the views open up over a brand new part of the valley, with the river hidden far below.
Continuing up Kinder Road, past terraced cottages and the village library.
This fabulous old Peak & Northern Footpaths Society signpost marks the start of the Snake Path, now also a (pretty steep) bridleway at the start.
Looking back down the valley, you’ve already climbed a good height out of Hayfield village.
As Kinder Road curves around below Middle Moor, the Kinder plateau begins to really loom into view.
  1. Rounding a corner, with the sudden feeling of entering a mountain pass, the nobbled edge of Kinderlow End comes into view. Pass the Sportsman Inn and the road begins to dip downhill to Bowden Bridge. There are toilets to the right, near the entrance to the camp site. It’s hard to believe today, but the fields filled with tents and caravans were industrialised by the Kinder Printworks from 1855 to 1902. Near the remaining mill pond is where the River Sett leaves us, rising south to its source below South Head.
Nearing Bowden Bridge on the tree-lined lane, often also lined with the cars of hikers on busier days.
An illustrative board at Bowden Bridge quarry depicting the “gritstone country” of Kinder.
Looking to Bowden Bridge Quarry from the first bridge over the raging River Sett on a dull winter day.
Beyond Bowden Bridge, motor vehicle are thankfully completely restricted from the road except for access.
  1. We continue onward into a narrowing lane which rises again around the wooded Kinder Bank for half a mile. During the initial aborted construction of the reservoir, when the haulage railway had yet to be completed, this was unbelievably the only route to the site for all workings and machinery. Descending slightly, we reach the gates of Kinder Reservoir. To the right is Booth Sheepwash, a preserved piece of agricultural history beside the river.
At certain points, you can still make out a flattened indent in the bank beside the river, where the Kinder Reservoir Railway briefly ran.
The lane climbs gently again around the wooded Kinder Bank on one side, with peaceful houses on the other side.
Where the lane opens out slightly beside a gate, this is where the Kinder Reservoir Railway joined, forced by the steepening sides of the valley.
The whole environment here is luscious, damp and green year-round.
A small drop now takes you back downhill, to the gates of the reservoir.
An interpretation board at Booth Sheepwash explains how the water-filled pit was used to quite literally wash sheep in what was a true local event.
  1. Now, a choice: the track straight ahead through the gates takes you steadily through Marepiece Wood, along the line of the old railway, to the very foot of the dam. There a narrow, cobbled bridleway continues very steeply up White Brow. This gives a good view over the dam but is a seriously punishing push (and even trickier back down if you’re not a mountain biker). Instead, for a final flourish, turn right over the bridge before the reservoir gate and follow the smooth road up a short but very sharp climb signposted Farlands. Don’t be worried about the ‘private road’ signs, this is a bridleway too, and don’t be disheartened if it requires stopping or pushing. The Kinder Dam looms into view, and soon enough a panorama opens up ahead to the moorland plateau itself. If the climb surprised, there’s a convenient bench for a breather!
The Farlands climb is short and sharp - but worth it. Note the bridleway sign being far less obvious than the threatening “private road”.
It can be tempting to make a loop here with the bridleway down behind the bench to the foot of the dam, but be warned it is impossibly steep!
The lane ahead now truly is private, but at this crossroads of sorts bridleways join from either side for more challenging off-road adventures.
Looking back down from Farlands to Booth, tiny hamlets in the River Kinder’s own valley.
  1. After soaking up the view, turn around and follow the entire route right back, coasting gently back down the valley. Be careful not to take the initial Farlands descent too fast — there are punishing speed bumps.

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Other route options

  • White Brow and Kinder Reservoir
    It’s also possible to make a diversion through the first Kinder Reservoir gate, onto a bumpy track (a concessionary bridleway) which leads almost to the foot of the dam. Here the only onward route is a very steep cobbled ramp (also, unbelievably, a bridleway!), but it’s well worth a climb on foot to see the waters of the reservoir itself.

More to explore

  • Coldwell Clough
    If you’ve not had enough valley for one ride, on the return leg turn left and left again at Bowden Bridge to trace the River Sett a little further up to its source. Straight away, next to a group of benches on the left, you’ll see the confluence of the rivers Kinder and Sett. The lane can then be followed until it briefly joins the Pennine Bridleway, before dropping again into Coldwell Clough. From here a long, rough bridleway continues steeply up to Edale Cross below Kinderlow End, but there’s no harm in just enjoying this small diversion and turning home, another valley conquered.

Further reading

The Kinder Reservoir and Railway book by Derek Brumhead, Jean Rangeley and Ken Rangeley
Essential reading for the industrial history of the Kinder valley, with tons of fascinating images, plans and maps focusing particularly on the construction of the reservoir and its associated railway works. Sadly out of print but worth hunting around for.

Original photography, words and design by Anthony Sheridan unless indicated otherwise. Found this guide helpful? Buy me a coffee to help keep the wheels turning!

The all-important disclaimer: While great care and attention has been put into gathering these routes, ensuring details are accurate and determining their suitability, all information should be used as a guide only and is not a replacement for using your own judgement or research when setting out on new adventures. Peaks & Puddles/the author cannot be held responsible for any issues that may arise from the riders own decision to ride a section of indicated route.

Always ensure your equipment is safe and legal for use and that you are well prepared, carrying everything necessary including access to a good map. Follow the Highway Code and the Countryside Code at all times. Respect the landscape, the wildlife and the people you encounter. And after all that, have fun!