Edale Skyline in March: From Blue Skies to Whiteout

bootsandbanter
9 hours ago
6 min read

Brutal in the moment, brilliant in memory

Date: 28 March 2026

📍Route: Anti-clockwise - Hope Train Station → Win Hill → Hope Cross → Crockstone Out Moor→ Ringing Roger → Crowden Tower→ Woolpacks → Kinder Low → Brown Knoll → Rushup Edge → Lord's Seat → Mam Tor → Back Tor → Lose Hill → Hope Train Station

📏Distance: 33.44 km

⬆️Ascent: 1,530 m

⌛Time: 8 h 13 m

Weather: 0°C, feels like -8 to -10, fog + brutal > 70 km gusts

Mood: Determined. Stubborn.

The Edale Skyline is a challenging 20-mile (32–33.5 km) circular walking and running route in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England. It encircles the Edale Valley, taking in five major summits: Win Hill (463m), Brown Knoll (569m), Mam Tor (517m), Back Tor, and Lose Hill (476m). It also takes on Kinder Low (not Kinder Scout). The route is renowned for its dramatic views, rugged moorland terrain, and iconic sections like the Great Ridge, Ringing Roger, and Kinder Scout plateau.

Third Skyline this year - the March edition.

Morning Amusement at Hope

The day started in an amusing kind of way. I parked at Hope train station and the car park, usually empty, had only a few spaces left. I wondered what kind of event was happening.

While faffing around getting ready, three guys passed me. The looked the run-type, minimal backpacks. I overheard them saying they were wandering where the start is.

I asked if there was a race. They said they were doing a trail run. I told them that if they were heading for Win Hill it was straight up. They didn’t know the path though, so I explained: cross the train tracks over the bridge, then over unmarked farm fields. I did think at that point though that if you didn’t know the path, you would be hard to navigate...

Thirty meters later, one of them shouted from across the train bridge, “Where do we turn here?” 😅 I thought "They would have fun today". I shouted "Wait!" and I ran up and offered to show them the path. We were already walking into the first field when the bombshell came: they were planning a 20 km route to Mam Tor. I looked at them smiling and shaking my head. I explained that if they tried to reach Mam Tor from here, doing Win Hill first, they would be attempting the Edale Skyline which is 20 miles not 20 km.

I suggested you can do the Skyline (like it is a light social jog lol) - "It would look better on Strava", I joked 😂, all three laughed. Their faces said it all. There was no chance they were doing this. I explained again how far was Mam Tor from Lose Hill and all the detailed kms that probably went over their heads. Suddenly I was their trusted guide.

One of them even said, “Thank you, you are a guardian angel!”👼 I repeated my guidance and they went on their way. I was smiling how I just intercepted three lads moments away from accidentally signing up for the ultra version of their own plan.

Ascent of Win Hill

Pushing onto Win Hill, the wind became immediately apparent. I swapped my woolie hat for a Rab one that fit snugly over my ears. Best decision of the morning.

On top, the wind was horrendous. I briefly spoke to a guy laughing nervously saying "The forecast said 70 km/h gusts". He guessed it was more than that. Shiiiit.💨

Just after the summit, a white and dark grey wall appeared in front of me. The rain was forecasted but I didn’t expect it this early. Earlier, I had glimpsed a thick poncho in the car, something I never usually take, but fear of heavy rain had driven me to grab it. I stopped, put the poncho over everything including my backpack, and stepped into what would become a relentless battle with the elements.

Tiny hailballs began pelting me. Ignorance really is bliss. I had no idea this was just the opening act.⚠️

Ringing Roger Snow and Hail

On Ringing Roger, the wind intensified with repeated tiny hailballs striking my face and legs. I pulled my buff up and kept my sunglasses on. Sun was appearing briefly, then hail was returning minutes later.

Then came snow. The temperature was bone-chilling, feeling like -10 or worse🥶. Just how Accu Weather predicted it would feel like. I kept telling myself not to worry, but it was impossible to ignore the awful conditions.

The Snowstorm After Grindsbrook Junction

I took the poncho off somewhere on Upper Tor. It was apparent there would be hail rather than rain.

Just after Grindsbrook Clough junction, the skies turned dark. This was the worst.

A proper snowstorm🌨❄️ hit me head-on. Not sideways, not at an angle, straight at me. Big flakes and tiny hailballs punched through my thin trousers that I wore so I can dry faster, if I get drenched. It was painful (I had no layers under them), like someone was shooting pelts at me. My legs went numb. Cold eventually stole all feeling. Snow gathered on my gloves, jacket, sunglasses.👓🧥🧤

I wiped my sunglasses constantly just enough to make out the path. The storm lasted 15 minutes or more. But it felt like eternity. People heading in the opposite direction had the storm at their backs while I had it straight on (I was envious). I repeated in my head: do not stop, it is freezing, it will pass. Just push through.🥶❄️

Crowden Tower Magic

At Crowden Tower, the snow storm died. The skies cleared. All around was dusted in white. Green and brown slopes transformed in a matter of minutes. I snapped pictures, barely believing it. Grey and white as far as I could see.

The wind never died. The Peaks were still showing their harsh side but letting me see the beauty at the same time.💙

Kinder Low and Swine’s Back

I pushed on past the Woolpacks, cut across to Kinder Low, avoiding bogs. My mind was on the climb up to Brown Knoll from Swine’s Back. Finally, the wind WOULD be at my back.

Hunger had been building, but the conditions never allowed me to stop and eat. Just below Swine's Back I unzipped my bag and got the sandwich out. I was descending with gloves on, fingers numb, eating a sandwich - it felt clumsy and ungraceful, but it had to be done.🥪

Brown Knoll was a minor victory. After 5 hours the wind finally pushed me instead of battering me head-on. I felt a tiny sense of relief in this relentless day. 🏆

Blue Skies, False Hope

From Brown Knoll the skies cleared briefly, offering blue skies and sunshine. 🌤

I knew this final 13 km stretch so well I didn’t need to check my watch about how long I have left to do. Then I turned and saw black skies behind me. Noooo! Hell was coming again. Hail and snow returned, tiny snowballs hitting my back and legs. I felt victorious at least my face was spared!👌🏻

Mam Tor and Lose Hill

Mam Tor was horrendous. The wind tried to push me off the path. One woman coming the other way was swinging side to side - it looked kind of funny. Touching the trig, I pushed on, fighting the gusts. Mam Tor was empty!😵‍💫

Great Ridge and Lose Hill came next. I was exhausted by the environment by this point. The downhill stretch after that was a blur. Eight hours walking in freezing wind left me craving ONLY the car, AC cranked to 30 degrees, and heated seats. I had never properly warmed up, making this the coldest 33 km hike I have ever done in the Peaks.

Car Sauna Bliss

In the car, I made a sauna. ♨️🔥The seats were scorching hot. I thought "I am not turning this down (although I should)". Dry, hot air blasted every part of me the Peaks had tried to freeze. I drove 50 miles like this, living every bit of post-hike warmth. Absolute perfection.

Self-Motivation and Solo Hiking

This day reminded me what solo hiking really means.

There was no one to cheer you on, no one to push you when the wind was trying to throw you off the path. Every step, every push through snow, hail, and wind is self-propelled. 🫶🏻

Motivation comes from within. I repeated mantras in my head: you do not give in, you done this many times before, remember Finland last month - that was REAL cold. There were moments of fear and moments of awe. Being alone in these conditions teaches you resilience, focus, and the pure mental toughness of a self-powered mission.✨️

🔍 Final Thoughts

I said the last Skyline (February one) was the toughest, and yesterday tried to claim the same title, but this one definitely wins for being the coldest. At this rate the line between difficult hikes is just a foggy mess.😵‍💫

Funny how the mind alters reality, what felt like absolute misery in the moment becomes something almost reasonable when you look back.

Peaks

⛰️ Win Hill (463 m) • ⛰️ Kinder Low (633 m) • ⛰️ Brown Knoll (569 m) • ⛰️ Lord's Seat (550 m) • ⛰️ Mam Tor (517 m) • ⛰️ Hollins Cross (388 m) • ⛰️ Barker Bank (426 m) • ⛰️ Back Tor (438 m) • ⛰️ Lose Hill (476 m)