A guide to the Grade 2.5 Deer Knowl scramble in Longdendale, south of Woodhead Reservoir in the Peak District. Summary: a short, sharp, challenging three-pitch scramble best combined with other nearby scrambles.
Route in: park at the south end of the dam between Woodhead and Torside reservoirs and head along the road just south of the Transpennine Trail. Alternatively, you can park at Torside Car Park and walk along the Trail to the dam parking spot but that adds 25 mins each way. Use the quarry track that runs up the hill: either at the gate at OS map ref SK 08247 99317 (Lat, long: 53.49050, -1.87716), or starting via the quad-bike tracks from c.SK 08441 99431 (53.49153, -1.87424). Keep going straight until the quarry tracks run out and then walk cross-country towards Deer Knowl. See video for further guidance
Start point: the first pitch is around SK 09084 98702 (53.48496, -1.86457)
Grading: rated grade 2/3 in the ‘Scrambles in the Dark Peak’ book; I’d put the latter two of the three pitches at around Grade 2.5
Warning: Deer Knowl is for competent scramblers only and not recommended as a first grade 2-type scramble: Wildboar Clough would be a better introduction to scrambling at this level. Also watch out for sinkholes under rocks and vegetation on both approach and return
End point: at the top of the third pitch after c.40m of scramble; then walk up to the faint path around SK 09137 98635 (53.48436, -1.86377)
Route out: walk west along the edge path to around SK 09070 98513 (53.48326, -1.86478) and walk down and north-west across country to the little flat valley around SK 08885 98706 (53.48500, -1.86757). The easier route to follow from this point is north-west along the peaty tyre tracks which bend around and ultimately link up with the main quarry track. The shorter route is north-east to link up with, and retrace along, the approach route
Map link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/deer-knowl-45d5929
Time: 45 mins from dam CP to start point; 10-15 mins for the scramble; then about 50 mins to walk back
Combine with: Shining and Stable Cloughs to the east; Lawrence Edge and Wildboar Clough to the west
Gear: normal scrambling gear plus climbing helmet
Verdict: a short, sharp challenging scramble best combined with others in the vicinity
Category: Standard scramble
Score: 7/10
Video:
Map:
Map image/data from OpenStreetMap via AllTrails
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