The Grade 1 Scrambler

A guide to scrambling Oaken Clough in the Crowden Valley of the northern Peak District.  Summary verdict: an easy grade 2 scramble that is compact, sustained and constantly absorbing

Route in: park at Crowden car park north of Torside Reservoir, follow a largely unmarked path along the right bank of Crowden Great Brook (see video for guidance)

Start point: cross Crowden Great Brook around OS ref SE 06118 00968 and make your way through vegetation to the steepening of Oaken Clough around SE 06044 00931

Grading: rated grade 2/3 in “Scrambles in the Dark Peak”, I would say this is overall an easy grade 2 and definitely within the capabilities of a confident grade 1 scrambler

Notes: after heavy rainfall the clough can get very full and more difficult to climb

End point: where the clough crosses the Pennine Way at SE 05854 00906 (above this the brook gradient is shallow and there’s no path alongside but there is a single not-really-climbable grade 2 waterfall at SE 05697 00949)

Route out: walk south down the Pennine Way back to the car park

Time: 50 mins from CP to start point; then 25 mins to scramble the clough; then about 35 mins to walk back

Combine with: the weir on Crowden Brook; Crowden Great Brook; walk over the tops via Chew Reservoir to Wilderness Gully East, Chew Brook, etc above Dove Stone

Gear: drybag and wetsuit only; rope, helmet, buoyancy vest not needed in normal weather

Verdict: a compact, sustained scramble with pitch after pitch that is constantly absorbing

Category: Top-rated

Score: 8/10

Video guide:

Map:

Map image/data from OpenStreetMap