Why I Love Kinder Scout – And Why I Can’t Wait to Get Back, by Samantha Tideswell

There’s something wild and untamed about Kinder Scout that’s always pulled me in. It’s not just the height or the views – it’s the whole experience: the rugged gritstone edges, the sweeping moorland, the feeling of being somewhere raw and real. For me, Kinder has always been a kind of escape – a place where I can push myself, get lost (in the best way), and feel completely at home.

Scrambling up the rocky gullies and clambering over boulders has given me some of my best memories – moments where it’s just me, the rock, and the challenge ahead. There’s a simplicity in it that I love. And then there’s the wild camping – nothing beats waking up to the sunrise creeping over the hills, with no one else around, just the sound of the wind and the occasional grouse. It’s pure peace.

Lately, though, I’ve had to take a break. An injury has kept me grounded – frustrating at times, but also a chance to reflect and rebuild. Healing is a journey of its own, and I know I’m getting closer to the day I can shoulder my pack again and head back up there.

I can already picture it: scrambling up the Kinder edges, the weight of my pack feeling like freedom rather than burden, setting up camp in a quiet hollow, and watching the sky turn gold as the day ends. That’s where I want to be – and I’ll get there.

For now, it’s all about patience, training, and holding onto that fire. Kinder Scout will be waiting – wild as ever – and I can’t wait to meet it again, stronger than before.

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Guest post written by Samantha Tideswell - follow her on Instagram.