Chew Brook

A scramble up Chew Brook above Dovestone Reservoir. Summary verdict: an easy, not-very-challenging introductory scramble; can be combined with several others nearby

Route in: park at Dovestone CP. Rather than walking up by the side of the stream, it’s quicker to go up Chew Road and then cut down to the stream under the Western-most of the Wilderness gullies.

Start point: enter the stream by the iron footbridge (marked on OS maps and at SE 02713 01758)

Grading: about 0.75 – there are two waterfalls from deepish pools which need a little bit of thought/care; otherwise nothing very much of a challenge but quite slippery throughout

End point: the end of a spillway from the Chew Reservoir dam

Route out: walk down Chew Road back to the car park

Time: about 45 mins from CP to start point; then about 50 mins up; then about 40 mins to walk back down

Verdict: I recce’d Chew Brook below the footbridge – there is nothing worth doing on that. Above the footbridge is OK for a beginner but maybe not worth the c.45-minute walk in, though the two waterfalls are a bit more challenging than – say – Torside Clough. For an introductory day, you could do Chew Brook for wet scrambling, and then one or more of the Wilderness gullies or Charnel Clough for dry scrambling

Video guide: