Three Quick Saddleworth Scrambles

Three short clough scrambles running from Greenfield Reservoir up onto Saddleworth Moor. Summary verdict: western clough is best – grade 1 at the top but best out of summer and after heavy, prolonged rains

Route in: park at Binn Green car park and walk around the north side of Yeoman Hey to Greenfield Reservoir

Start point: the three cloughs begin just north of the path around the reservoir at OS refs SE 03231 05196, SE 02966 05478, and SE 02931 05492

Grading: the unnamed eastern clough is around 0.5; Far Rough Clough 0.75; and the unnamed western clough has a grade 1 set of cascades at the top.

End point: in each case, where the gradient starts to drop off as you reach Saddleworth Moor proper

Route out: just walk back down the side of each brook to the reservoir path; retrace your steps at the end to get back to the car park

Time: about 30 mins there and back to Binn Green CP; the eastern clough takes about 15 mins to climb and 5 mins to get back down; the other two take about 30 mins to climb and 10 mins to get back down

Combine with: Birchen Clough

Gear: dry bag is helpful though maybe not essential; wetsuit recommended (you do get soaked on some cascades); helmet and buoyancy vest not needed

Verdict: perhaps too overgrown in summer and Wilderness gullies would be preferred for a dry scramble; the western clough works well in Oct-Mar after a lot of rain if you want a quick and continuous scramble as an appetizer or alternative to Birchen Clough; the other two cloughs are less good

Video guide: