Butterly & Carr Cloughs

A scramble up the first part of Butterly Clough and then Carr Clough that run into Butterly Reservoir South of Marsden in West Yorkshire. Summary verdict: don’t bother with Carr Clough but for a swim and short scramble the first part of Butterly Brook is fine

Route in: park in South-West part of Marsden as near as possible to Butterley Reservoir; walk around the outside of the wood just to the West of the reservoir

Start point: enter Butterly Brook just below the first fall; at about OS ref SE 04418 10151

Grading: there are some nice cascades and then a grade 1 waterfall above a pool that can be swum in on Butterly Brook; there’s a grade 2 waterfall in the left turn up Butterly Clough that looks like it needs a rope to climb; from that point, there’s at most one grade 1 waterfall and some cascades along Carr Clough

End point: where the Standedge Trail meets Carr Clough

Route out: walk back down the side of Mount Road

Time: 15-25 mins to start point depending on where parked; then c.45 mins up Carr Clough; then about 20-30 mins to walk back

Verdict: first part of Butterly Brook is fine for swimming and a little scramble but main waterfall is beyond Grade 1 and Carr Clough is not worth scrambling

Video guide: