Mam Tor Via Jacob’s Ladder Walk From Edale | 10-Mile Route

A wonderful 10-mile loop from Edale, Derbyshire finishing with Mam Tor, now that’s a perfect end to a walk!

This route begins in Edale village and follows the Pennine Way National Trail up Jacob’s Ladder before veering off to Brown Knoll, Rushup Edge and eventually to Mam Tor summit before descending back to the start.

To begin with, you’re following a popular trail, Jacob’s Ladder walk in the Peak District is a popular route up and down to Kinder Scout. But as you turn off on the flagstoned path to Brown Knoll you’ll notice it’s much quieter. Then, upon reaching Mam Tor summit, you’ll notice it becomes busy again!

Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk in Edale, parking options, route information, map, GPX file, facilities on the walk, plus a detailed step by step guide of the walk.

Have you done any other walks from Edale? Let me know in the comments.

Mam Tor via Jacob’s Ladder Walk from Edale

gpx file

Mam Tor via Jacob’s Ladder walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 12381 85327

Car parking address: Edale village hall car park, Edale, Hope Valley, S33 7ZQ

Edale is a popular place to visit in the summer months and weekends (and when the weather is good!) If the Edale car park is full there is an overflow car park a short distance away is available, directions will point you where to go.

Parking cost (cash only)*

• 1 hour – £1.80
• 2 hours – £2.90
• 2-4 hours – £4.50
• 4-10 hours – £6.80
• 24 hours – £7.90
• Coaches and motorhomes 0-4 hours – £6.20
• Coaches and motorhomes over 4 hours – £11.90

*Prices correct at time of writing.

You can also use the PayByPhone option either call or use the app to pay for parking, there are numerous other Peak District car parks that use this so it’s worth downloading the app. (The one with 9 green squares logo). The code location for Edale is 806749.

Public transport

Nearest train station: Edale train station (opposite the start location at the car park)

Facilities on the walk

There are public toilets available at the start of the walk at Edale car park.

However, there are no further toilets anywhere else on the walk.

Edale has two pubs that serve food (Ramblers Inn and Old Nags Head), a great cafe next to the train station and further shops down the other end of the village.

Other useful information

Edale, UK is a popular place for walkers so if you can plan your visit for mid-week or even the winter months it will be quieter. Also, I recommend you take a paper map and compass (see below).

Check the weather for your walk location and hills

The weather in Edale can be very different from the weather on the hills. On the section to Brown Knoll and along Rushup Edge it’s quite exposed so can be cold on windy days, worth taking an extra layer to pop on for this bit of the walk. We recommend you check a variety of sources for weather information.

• BBC Weather for Edale
• Met Office weather for the Peak District
• Met Office weather for Mam Tor (Derbyshire) and/or MWIS (Mountain Weather Information Service) for the Peak District

Mam Tor patch

Why not celebrate reaching the top of Mam Tor with our very first charity patch? Or if you are planning on doing the walk soon, order the patch now so you can take it to the top for a photo. visit shop

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Charity Patches

Mam Tor Patch

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Ordnance Survey Walk Map

The map for this area is OL1 – Peak District (Dark Peak Area)

Check prices here with Ordnance Survey, there are options to buy either standard map or a waterproof one. You can sometimes find cheaper deals on Amazon, but the Ordnance Survey website sometimes has discounts for buying more than one map!

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

For online maps, I recommend the OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with the OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Online + you can download them to the App..

Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest

Mam Tor from Edale walk route

Stage 1 – Edale to Jacob’s Ladder

Distance: 3 miles/4.8 km

Grid reference SK 12361 85304

From the car park in Edale, go down the steps near the toilets and turn right onto the road. Follow this all the way, past pub number one; The Ramblers Inn, Edale campsite – Fieldhead Campsite and all the way to The Old Nag’s Head.

Here you turn left, following the sign for the Pennine Way and up a narrow path. Go through a gate, then shortly after turn left through a second gate which takes you across a field with flagstones. Continue walking along the path and through another couple of fields, until you reach the farm at Upper Booth.

Turn right into the farm and walk through the gate at the other end. Turn right onto the road over the bridge and follow the path as it veers round to the left, then straightens out.

Continue on this trail until you reach a gate next to a beautiful bridge, this is the bottom of Jacob’s Ladder.

Stage 2 – Jacob’s Ladder to Rushup Edge

Distance: 3.1 mile/5 km

Grid reference SK 08836 86157

Jacob’s Ladder thankfully is not a ladder but it is a steep climb up stone steps. It’s an easy path to follow but a tough hike up! The top of Jacob’s Ladder is marked with a stone cairn, but from here you need to continue walking uphill, up a narrow rocky path (do not follow the more popular path heading right) until you reach a gate. 

Go through the gate, immediately turn left onto the path that takes you up to Brown Knoll. After 900 metres, turn left and continue along the flagstone path, past the trig point and continuing until you reach a track. This is a tough section as it’s moorlands and can drag on, but not for too long!

Turn right onto the track then, after a short distance, you’ll reach a boundary wall, which is the start of Rushup Edge.

Stage 3 – Rushup Edge to Mam Tor

Distance: 2 miles/3.2 km

Grid reference SK 09924 82909

Take the path heading uphill with the boundary wall on your right, go through a gate and continue to the Lord’s Seat summit. From here you have lovely views towards Mam Tor.

Then you continue along the ridge. As you near the end of the ridge with Mam Tor in your sights, be sure to take the path veering downhill on your right. This will take you down to a gate where you cross the road to head up to Mam Tor.

On the other side go through a gate and take the stone path, signposted Mam Tor, heading left that then bends around the corner, another steep climb to the top, but the last uphill of the walk!

You then follow this path all the way to the top where you’ll find Mam Tor trig point!

Stage 4 – Mam Tor to Edale

Distance: 1.9 miles/3.1 km

Grid reference SK 12774 83604

From the summit, continue in the same direction but now heading downhill off the top. It’s a nice gradual downhill walk, just over 1 km to Hollins Cross stone marker. There are several paths leading from this point, so make sure you take the right one!

Walk down the path on your left, almost doubling back the direction you came, the path then splits and you want to bear right, heading downhill. Follow the path down, past farm buildings on your right and then shortly after on your left.

The path takes you down through a wooded area and out on to the road. Turn left here and follow the road for about 600 metres to the car park and you’re back at the start. Maybe time to visit one of the Edale pubs for a post-walk treat!

Let me know if you have any questions about walking Mam Tor via Jacob’s Ladder from Edale in the comments below.

More walks in the Peak District

For different routes up Mam Tor, check out these different routes here, from 3-20-mile options!

Edale is a popular place for hikes, you might like these walks from Edale, Derbyshire.

• Grindslow Knoll (via Ringing Roger) Walk From Edale | 5.5-Mile Route
• Kinder Scout Walk From Edale (via Grindsbrook Clough) | 8-Mile Route
• Grindslow Knoll (via Grindsbrook Clough) Short Walk from Edale | 4-Mile Route

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

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