Wilderness Gully East

A guide to scrambling Wilderness Gully East near Dove Stone Reservoir in the north-west Peak District. Summary verdict: an excellent challenge that pushes the boundaries for the grade 1 scrambler

Route in: park at Dove Stone Reservoir Car Park. Walk past the south side of the reservoir and then up Chew Road towards Chew Reservoir until you reach roughly OS ref SE 02791 01887 – then look for a vague path running down to Chew Brook heading up the brook. If you can’t find that, take the slightly-clearer path towards the footbridge and then head up the brook.

Start point: make your way up the south side of Chew Brook to the entrance to Wilderness Gully East at SE 02902 01669

Notes: there are several Wilderness Gullies; all of the others are easier grade 1 scrambles

Grading: alongside plenty of grade 1 terrain there are at least four grade 2 pitches beside (often-insubstantial) waterfalls

End point: where you meet the path along the tops at SE 02911 01533, after c.300 ft of ascent

Route out: I did once meet someone exiting down the gully but, mad men aside, the easiest route is heading east along the top path until just before Chew Reservoir when you can cut down and across Chew Brook to Chew Road and walk back down. Alternatively, you go west along the top path and take the rough route down Chew Green that then follows along the west bank of Chew Brook

Map link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-january-27-2025-15e122e

Time: about an hour from CP to start point; around half an hour to scramble up the gully; about an hour to walk back

Combine with: Charnel Clough, Chew Brook, other Wilderness Gullies

Gear: unless it’s been raining hard, this is a dry scramble though you’ll likely get wet feet on the walk in beside Chew Brook

Verdict: a fine challenge for the grade 1 scrambler that’s tricky to negotiate but thoroughly satisfying when completed

Category: Top-rated

Score: 8/10

Video guide: