Crowden Clough

Ascending Crowden Clough that runs north from Upper Booth near Edale onto the Kinder Plateau. Summary verdict: basic waterfalls and pools at the start, a nice though fairly brief grade 1 scramble at the end, but nothing much in the central section

Route in: park at Barber Booth CP west of Barber Booth, and walk up road to Upper Booth. Or train/park to Edale and walk along Pennine Way to Upper Booth

Start point: walk north on footpath close to brook from Upper Booth and enter Crowden Brook after barn at OS ref SK 10216 85726. Or, for just the upper part, walk up the footpath and enter the brook around SK 09663 86965

Grading: the upper part of the brook is graded 1 by the “Scrambles in the Dark Peak” book and the final tight-squeeze “thrutch” is about 1.5/2; the brook’s central section is not worth doing; the lower waterfalls are collectively about a 1

End point: at the upper footpath that runs along Kinder Plateau, around SK 09393 87273

Route out: you can descend the brook on a path initially to the right of and then alongside the brook if parked at Barber Booth. Alternatively, head east and descend the path down Grindsbrook Clough to return to Edale, or take the shorter route to the south of Grindsbrook Knoll

Time: 15 mins from Barber Booth or 50 mins from Edale; then c.1.5-2 hours depending on whether you do the lower-reach waterfalls; then 50 mins back to Barber Booth or 60 mins back to Edale

Combine with: descent or ascent of Grinds Brook to the east; Fair Brook to the north; any of the three Red Brooks to north and north-west

Gear: wet scramble gear for the lower section (pools up to chest deep); could probably stay dry for upper section in summer but I’m glad I had wet gear; helmet not required

Verdict: three different sections – some OK waterfalls and deep pools at first but quite a bit of splash-walking between; nothing much in the mid-section; a really enjoyable final section of rocky scrambles and waterfalls

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