Avoid the stone stiles you may wish to walk down the steps first to see if you can get over, but if not then turn left down the road and then the next left which will avoid the stiles. This blog may contain affiliate links through which, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. ).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-box-4','ezslot_9',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-box-4-0');The cow poo kind of ruins the illusionif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-banner-1','ezslot_10',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-banner-1-0');We followed a very faint path round the head of the Clough and over the moor, heading down the hill on quite indistinct paths. We have two routes, from Hollinsclough the route takes you up the scramble section and on the Earl Sterndale walk the route heads down this path. I use OS Online, its a great App which you can use in Flight mode on your walks. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. Length - 8.5 miles / 13.8 km Ascent - 1065 feet / 323 metres. Join our Peak District walks Facebook page, follow us on Instagram andTwitter for inspiration. If youre new to scrambling or even been doing it a while, I would always recommend you scramble up instead of down. Start: lay-by between Barber Booth and Upper Booth. The path leads back to the River Ashop, where we crossed the bridge. Birchen Clough (Chew Valley) Start: lay-by on A635 at SE 051 063 I don't know the area around Saddleworth at all well, but this first excursion will have me back soon enough. Thanks for sharing these. Obviously, scrambling has a few potential risks, so the routes in this book are helpfully graded 1, 2 and 3. Guided Walks with an introduction to map reading (see dates here). This walk is in the White Peaks which means Limestone rocks and they can get very slippy in the rain. Go to the end where youll need to cross the water at the top of the reservoir (you can bypass this by taking the upper path at this pointSE 02020 04855). Kevin Clough Operations Manager at Landed Arvada, CO. Kevin Clough Landscape & Commercial Snow Removal . Before climbing the stile into the old plantation however, we took a faint path along the riverbank which lead to Snake Woodlands. Let me know in the comments if youve done any of these Peak District scrambles? We quickly plotted this route on the OS map and then set off to walk it! It can be reached by a quick scramble down.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-2','ezslot_16',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_15',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The path runs alongside Blackden Brook and climbs steadily, getting rockier as you head up. We reached Heyridge Farm, where the footpath carries on along the farm track to the north-east. Join our Peak District walks Facebook page, follow us on Instagram andTwitter for inspiration. Then ascend heading right until you reach the top and the path at the top. Sometimes a lack of planning can have a happy outcome. Again the scramble section is near the top of the Kinder Plateau on this route. Id been on a photography course in Snake Woodlands the day before though and they were so magical with the Autumn colours I knew we had to go back. This was a bit of an unplanned walk as we had meant to head over to Teggs Nose and White Nancy. Facilities: None there is sometimes the Wildman Cafe in the car park but Ive never seen him! to a bridge over the River Ashop, which we crossed and then followed the path to Blackden Brook. At the top its easy to visit the three-pronged rock tower known as The Trinnacle apparently its possible to sit on top but I wasnt getting that close on my own! Once youve admired the views from The Trinnacles, continue walking along the edge, the path runs all the way around to Ashway Rocks but its easy to miss the path along the edge. It can be reached by a quick scramble down.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-2','ezslot_16',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_15',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The path runs alongside Blackden Brook and climbs steadily, getting rockier as you head up. This part of the walk takes you along the edge past more rock formations on the way before finally turning left at the end to reach Alphin Pike, youll see it first with a stone cairn but the trig point is around the other side. This is at no extra cost to you. We had a quick snack break and Hols signed the book for us (I get her to do most of my admin now ;)!). It feels like a hidden vale and the scenery is charming, so you could take your time with this one. Id been on a photography course in Snake Woodlands the day before though and they were so magical with the Autumn colours I knew we had to go back. The path runs along Lady Clough through the woodlands, then opens out into a clearing with a woodpile and a skip. Practice Areas . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sometimes a lack of planning can have a happy outcome. We quickly plotted this route on the OS map and then set off to walk it! A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address. Plus we love a scramble, and the Blackden Brook scramble was one we hadnt ticked off yet. You can say thank you and buy me a coffee here. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. But the climb up Birchen Clough was even better, essentially a long gradual scramble alongside a waterfall. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_11',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-leaderboard-2-0');We reached Heyridge Farm, where the footpath carries on along the farm track to the north-east. There is a path if you prefer to detour the scramble with this walk. Pub Snake Inn. Sometimes a lack of planning can have a happy outcome. Let me know in the comments, Walk type: Medium circular walk (challenging route in places), Walk highlights: Views across Dovestone Reservoir, waterfalls + scrambling up Birchen Clough, The Trinnacles, views along the edge, Alphin Pike, Stiles: 4 stone stiles (same 2 at the beginning) option to avoid, Car parking address: Binn Green car park, off Holmfirth Road, Oldham, OL3 7NN. The path leads back to the River Ashop, where we crossed the bridge. Refine Your Search Results. If the farmer isnt there youll have to follow the footpath a short distance down to Alport Bridge and then join Snake Road. Walk: Birchen Clough car park, Snake road SK 10920 91431. At the woods turn right, follow the path, turn right through a gate and walk downhill. This was a bit of an unplanned walk as we had meant to head over to Teggs Nose and White Nancy. This popular route up the south side of Kinder is more a bouldery walk, but does have a couple of interesting scrambling sections near the top, one of which graces the front cover of the book above. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. This route takes you up Birchen Clough, for most of the route its simply navigating the rocks but theres a short scramble about halfway up (see photo above). In heavy rain, the route via Birchen Clough may not be passable, during my first visit in February 2020 it was not safe to cross. We nipped over the bridge to get a photo of the Peak and Northern Footpaths green sign and then headed back over the bridge and over the stile into the woods. Good if you want to feel very, very insignificant in the overall scheme of the universe. Others named Kevin Clough. Scramble routes in the UK are graded on a scale between 1 to 3, based on the difficulty rating. We had a quick snack break and Hols signed the book for us (I get her to do most of my admin now ;)! As most of these routes are actually up the beds of small rivers they are particularly suitable for dry periods. As you climb higher the last section of the route turns into a rocky steep section, which is where you can scramble to final part to the top of Grindsbrook. A faint path (bit of a scramble) leads up the LH side of Birchen Clough to Raven Stones Brow. Follow this alongside Dovestone Reservoir, as you reach the Dam at Greenfield Reservoir, youll see a stile over a fence on your right. The entry to the gully is across tricky terrain with many hidden holes. If youre looking for a scramble route to start with the Grindsbrook Clough is a pretty good one to do. Remember to do it at the end of the walk too. Did you know the National Trust signs are called Omega signs?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-1','ezslot_13',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-1-0');There is a gate which leads down the hill (quite steep and very muddy!) Before climbing the stile into the old plantation however, we took a faint path along the riverbank which lead to Snake Woodlands. to a bridge over the River Ashop, which we crossed and then followed the path to Blackden Brook.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_14',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Blackden Brook is home to a series of waterfalls, with quite a large one being just down from the main path. 22 Jun. We headed for the sheepfold, where there is a stile leading to the footpath running adjacent to Cowms Moor and the former quarry or landslide which has made some peculiar looking spoil heaps there. For this, Ive been grateful for Cicerones handy Scrambles in the Dark Peak book (from which the title of the blog is shamelessly taken): Still working my way through the book, but here are a few reports/tips from what Ive done so far. Crowden Clough Scramble (Via Grindslow Knoll) From Barber Booth | 6-Mile Route. Hello! Check prices here for theone month or yearly option with OS Online App. Nat Park - Peak District - Kinder Scout Edale. This is at no extra cost to you. Peak District Walks is a FREE online resource. This means that you will be closer to the terrain, as the higher ground is in front of you, therefore its easier to use your hands and find a safe route up. Follow the path keeping to the edge, youll head slightly towards the moors to cross the stream but then it doubles back on the other side back to the edge, past Great Dove Stone rocks and Cairn on Fox Stone. While in the area I thought Id visit Alport Castles for the first time in years. As a rule, if you dont feel confident then dont do it, its not worth a serious injury and a Mountain Rescue callout. From which you see how the surrounding shale cliff has collapsed in some previous era. Many of the Peak District scrambling routes are in the Dark Peak area and these are the more challenging scrambles due to the nature of the terrain. At the top of the climb we had a snack break then followed the top path round Blackden Edge to the Seal Stones. The map for this walk is OL1 Peak District (Dark Peak Area), Check prices here for standard maps or waterproof mapsOrdnance Surveyor Amazon UK. This can get busy at weekends so be sure to get there early. All Filters. Oyster Clough Cabin Walk Map:Parking:Birchen Clough Bridge car park, Snake Road, near Glossop (nearest postcode S33 0AB)Facilities: None there is sometimes the Wildman Cafe in the car park but Ive never seen him!Walk Time: 5-6 hoursDifficulty:Distance: 8.5 miles (13.8km)Trig PointsBagged: NonePeak District PeaksBagged: NonePeak District EthelsBagged: NoneBlackden Brook Scramble Walk Map:If you want to try some other Peak District scrambles, why not try:Crowden Clough to Kinder Scout WalkTorside Clough ScrambleMiddle Black Clough Waterfall and Bleaklow StonesHigher Shelf Stones via Ashton Clough ScrambleKinder Downfall Walk via Nether Red Brook Scramble. View looking SE towards the Raven Stones. Theres a mix of lose ground and some rocky sections as you scramble your way to the top (known as The Tower). You can unsubscribe anytime. Eventually the dream ends and you hit the Pennine Way which provides a fast descent route back. Read more here. Maja from Away with Maja We did your Dovestones/Saddleworth walk yesterday from the Peak District Walks website Great route and the post was super helpful. Location: Alport Castles near Ladybower Reservoir. Fun easy scramble up Birchen Clough to reach The Trinnacle on Saddleworth Moor near Oldham. The path leads back to the River Ashop, where we crossed the bridge. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). Its amazing how much interest you can find within just an hour or sos drive from home. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "Birchen" Flickr tag. And you also have the bonus of the Dark Peak area being more gritstone rocks, which is a grippy rock so perfect for scrambling, providing youre wearing the right footwear! Start on the left hand side, shortly cross over to the right at the obvious point and continue up, sticking to the rocks at the side, don't be tempted to stray up too much. I tackled the most westerly of them and found it at the more challenging end of Grade 1. Stage 2 The Trinnacles toChew Reservoir, Stage 4 Alphin Pike to Dove Stone Reservoir (+ car park), *Peak District Walks participates in the Amazon Services Associates Programme, as well as other affiliateprogrammes. Walk along the path at the top of Chew Reservoir and at the end cross over the road and pick up a track heading right along the next edge. Top tips - Read our useful guides onhiking tips here. Very rough underfoot, firstly through an old quarry then though the heather & braken. Youll intersect with another path, turn right and continue all the way to the end of the woods in Chew Plantation. This Dovestone Reservoir walk includes walking alongside the reservoir but also exploring the edges high above it, with epic views! Thanks for the inspiration!. A brilliant 12-mile walk exploring the north part of the Peak District. Ive walked the Pennine Way to the top of Bleaklow along Clough Edge often enough without realising there was a hidden gem right below. The farmer was in his yard with some sheep and kindly let us pass through to reach Snake Road, which meant that we didnt need to follow the footpath to Alport Bridge and walk even further up Snake Road its a horrible road to walk on as the cars fly past! I started by descending Rimmon Pit Clough and Holme Clough, which are decent enough scrambles in their own right. Find out what maps you will need for your trip here. I love the hills but hate the heights, so trig bagging is er- fun! The path runs along Lady Clough through the woodlands, then opens out into a clearing with a woodpile and a skip. Read more here. The best way to think of a scrambling route is that its going to involve some form of rocky terrain that youll need to navigate. We nipped over the bridge to get a photo of the Peak and Northern Footpaths green sign and then headed back over the bridge and over the stile into the woods. Ideal parking spots as described, though note you will need to get lucky at some of the lay-bys: This is an entry-level scramble up a narrowing valley rising to the plateau edge. We quickly plotted this route on the OS map and then set off to walk it! Kathy Clough. There is a small wooden bridge which leads to a path heading up the hill out of the woods, then we crossed the road back to the car park. Before climbing the stile into the old plantation however, we took a faint path along the riverbank which lead to Snake Woodlands. The path leads back to the River Ashop, where we crossed the bridge. From Manchester, its approximately 15 miles/45 minutes taxi drive. If you want to try some other Peak District scrambles, why not try: Middle Black Clough Waterfall and Bleaklow Stones, Higher Shelf Stones via Ashton Clough Scramble, Kinder Downfall Walk via Nether Red Brook Scramble, Your email address will not be published. There are rocks to climb over and in Autumn these can be wet and slippery from rain, so take care. November 14, 2022 CIRCULAR WALKS, MEDIUM WALKS 4-9 MILES, PEAK DISTRICT WALKS. At the bottom of the road, turn right and walk across the reservoir, at the end youll see a footpath leading off to the left. I hope this blog will give you some ideas of places to visit in the Peak District and inspire you and your family to head into the great outdoors. Nether Red Brook / Upper Red Brook (Kinder). (LogOut/ Also, consider the weather conditions, a wet and windy day is probably not the right time to be scrambling onto a completely exposed rock. Sometimes a lack of planning can have a happy outcome. There is a small fence to negotiate before you enter the wood, and then the path followed the beautiful Lady Clough to the bridge. Kathy Clough may also have lived outside of Los Angeles, such as Orange, Anaheim and 2 other cities in California. Start: car-park on B6105 by Woodhead Resevoir. I picked my way up various folds in the landscape and headed for the central Tower which involves a minor scramble to sit on the top. After a bit of a scramble along Fair Brook you reach . Note you can descend via Chew Road at this point to shorten the walk by about 2.5 miles/4 km. Start details. Its the in-between level of hiking and climbing, so generally you wont need ropes or any form or equipment (some Grade 3 scrambles you might); however all of these routes in the list are Grade 1, with one Grade 2 section. Check out the 7 YHAs in the Peak Districtand find the best walks direct from your accommodation. 02 Nov. 9 Edges Walk (Derwent Edge to Birchen Edge) | 23-Mile Route. Are you enjoying the walks? The path runs along Lady Clough through the woodlands, then opens out into a clearing with a woodpile and a skip. This was a real discovery. Blackden Brook is home to a series of waterfalls, with quite a large one being just down from the main path. 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UKH Hills - Scrambles in the Dark Peak (summer) Scrambles in the Dark Peak (summer) Info Map of Routes Stats Photos Share Contributed by Iain Thow Dec/14 - This public hilllist has been seen 13,107 times All the routes from the Cicerone Scrambles in the Dark Peak by Tom Corker and Terry Sleaford. There is a small fence to negotiate before you enter the wood, and then the path followed the beautiful Lady Clough to the bridge. Instead of heading across the road down into Snake Woodlands we headed over the stile in the car park and up through the pine and larch plantation. Find out what maps you will need for your trip here. The path leads back to the River Ashop, where we crossed the bridge. If the farmer isnt there youll have to follow the footpath a short distance down to Alport Bridge and then join Snake Road. Id been on a photography course in Snake Woodlands the day before though and they were so magical with the Autumn colours I knew we had to go back. A straightforward but enjoyable boulder-hop up a stream-bed off the main Chew Valley. Peak District WalkFair Brook & Kinder Northern Edges from Birchen Clough. We nipped over the bridge to get a photo of the Peak and Northern Footpaths green sign and then headed back over the bridge and over the stile into the woods. We had a quick snack break and Hols signed the book for us (I get her to do most of my admin now ;)! This route is slightly quieter than the Grindsbrook scramble, but it does have a trickier section as you near the top. Author - Lou Johnson. Nevertheless, accept the fact that youre going to get wet feet sooner or later. The Brook itself looks to fork into two scrambles but we took the right hand fork up.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3-0');At the top of the climb we had a snack break then followed the top path round Blackden Edge to the Seal Stones.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4','ezslot_18',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4-0');We then took a steep descent down the hill next to Gate Side Clough this is very steep! Plus we love a scramble, and the Blackden Brook scramble was one we hadnt ticked off yet. Grade 3 you might want to take a rope and a friend. This is the route up to The Trinnacle, which involves scrambling up the rocks littering the Clough to get to the top. I was just glad to have it to ourselves. Near the top your scramble up through rocks to reach the edge path. There is a small fence to negotiate before you enter the wood, and then the path followed the beautiful Lady Clough to the bridge. Id been on a photography course in Snake Woodlands the day before though and they were so magical with the Autumn colours I knew we had to go back. We followed the path of the Roman road down through the fields. The path leads back to the River Ashop, where we crossed the bridge. The Brook itself looks to fork into two scrambles but we took the right hand fork up.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3-0');At the top of the climb we had a snack break then followed the top path round Blackden Edge to the Seal Stones.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4','ezslot_18',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4-0');We then took a steep descent down the hill next to Gate Side Clough this is very steep! You can say thank you and buy me a coffee here. Go to GPS File. As Ive been on my own so far Ive stuck religiously to the Grade 1s and yes, generally theyve been perfectly comfortable to tackle solo. Part of the Trinnacle Trail, a few drone shots of the Trinnacle itself and Birchen Clough (the waterfall scramble). The Brook itself looks to fork into two scrambles but we took the right hand fork up.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3-0');At the top of the climb we had a snack break then followed the top path round Blackden Edge to the Seal Stones.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4','ezslot_18',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4-0');We then took a steep descent down the hill next to Gate Side Clough this is very steep! This is more of a steep rocky path but if youre not used to steep ascents/descents it will feel like a scramble as youll want to use your hands on the way up (or down). Since scrambling is the next level before climbing, a scramble routes would naturally follows the way someone would climb up. When we did this walk the rain started as soon as we entered the Brook, stayed for the duration of our climb and as soon as we hit the top the sun came out and it was a beautiful day again! The Brook itself looks to fork into two scrambles but we took the right hand fork up.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3-0');At the top of the climb we had a snack break then followed the top path round Blackden Edge to the Seal Stones.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4','ezslot_18',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4-0');We then took a steep descent down the hill next to Gate Side Clough this is very steep!