Torside Clough

A scramble up Torside Clough in Longdendale, that lies between Bleaklow and Torside Reservoir. Summary verdict: an enjoyable and absorbing grade 1 scramble with lots of variety including rocks, pools and waterfalls

Route in: park at Torside CP. Walk SE from the car park through a gate, up the hillside and then SW along the shoulder of the hillside and round into Torside Clough, following a path marked on the standard OS map. Easier but much longer alternative is to walk West along the Trans-Pennine Trail until you reach the Pennine Way, then double back past Reaps farmhouse following the path into Torside Clough.

Start point: large boulder under tree on left bank where shoulder path hits the clough, just before little waterfall and footbridge (OS ref: SK 06731 97288).

Grading: rated grade 1 in the “Scrambles in the Dark Peak” book but more like 0.75. There’s nothing that difficult but a fair bit of variety: a number of small waterfalls, several deep pools, quite a constant gradient including scrambling over large rocks. There are a couple of sections with overhanging rocks. There’s a set of pools and waterfalls towards the top including a sheep dip-type bit you have to swim through.

End point: get out where the fence crosses over the brook (OS ref: SK 07793 96835). You can continue further up the clough and turn right into Wildboar Grain but they are of little interest.

Route out: walk steeply up to your right and then back on the Pennine Way. You can walk along the Pennine Way and then Trans-Pennine Trail, or save a few minutes by scrambling down Clough Edge in one of the Torside gullies to the start point and then back along the shoulder path to the CP.

Time: Shoulder route in takes c.25 mins; about 2.5 hours up; about an hour or so to walk back down.

Verdict: enjoyable scramble; good route for a beginner; not as challenging as Birchen Clough

Video guide: