Peak District Scrambles

BIRCHEN CLOUGH

A Peak District classic scramble – compact and engaging, and one to return to again and again

Text guide and map: Birchen Clough

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TORSIDE CLOUGH

An enjoyable and absorbing grade 1 scramble with lots of variety including rocks, pools and waterfalls

Text guide and map: Torside Clough

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OAKEN CLOUGH

An easy grade 2 scramble that is compact, sustained and constantly absorbing

Text guide and map: Oaken Clough

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WILDBOAR CLOUGH

A grade 2 dry scramble that is engaging and demanding but achievable for the grade 1 scrambler

Text guide and map: Wildboar Clough

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WILDERNESS GULLY EAST

An excellent challenge that pushes the boundaries for the grade 1 scrambler

Text guide and map: Wilderness Gully East

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RAM’S CLOUGH

A simple but varied scramble with woods, rocks and cascades

Text guide and map: Ram’s Clough

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CHEW BROOK

An easy, not-very-challenging introductory scramble; can be combined with several others nearby

Text guide and map: Chew Brook

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CHARNEL CLOUGH

good grade 1 scramble with ready options to downgrade or upgrade

Text guide and map: Charnel Clough

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FAR BLACK CLOUGH

Fine beginners’ 0.5 grade scramble in attractive scenery

Text guide and map: Far Black Clough

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RIMMON PIT CLOUGH

A reasonable short and simple 0.5-grade scramble for a clough-scrambling novice

Text guide and map: Rimmon Pit Clough

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FAIR BROOK

An easily-accessible, family-friendly introductory scramble in the first part of the brook; the rest not worth doing

Text guide and map: Fair Brook

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GRINDS BROOK

An acceptable introductory wet (lower) and dry (upper) scramble

Text guide and map: Grinds Brook

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HEYDEN BROOK

A single, challenging Grade 1.5 / Grade 2 waterfall and swim pool half-way up and lots of cascades to clamber up

Text guide and map: Heyden Brook

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FAIR BROOK GULLY

A quick, fun grade 1 scramble with lots of different ways up plus easy escape routes

Text guide and map: Fair Brook Gully

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NEAR BLACK CLOUGH

A pleasant if not particularly challenging woodland scramble

Text guide and map: Near Black Clough

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HOLME CLOUGH

Just one grade 1 waterfall, otherwise lots of pools and cascade clambers

Text guide and map: Holme Clough

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CROWDEN CLOUGH

Basic waterfalls and pools at the start, a nice though fairly brief grade 1 scramble at the end

Text guide and map: Crowden Clough

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BUTTERLY & CARR CLOUGHS

Don’t bother with Carr Clough but for a swim and short scramble the first part of Butterly Brook is fine

Text guide and map: Butterly & Carr Cloughs

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MARSDEN & DEAN CLOUGHS

An enjoyable but long scramble with three grade 1 waterfalls

Text guide and map: Marsden & Dean Cloughs

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CROWDEN GREAT BROOK

Enjoyable but other nearby cloughs are somewhat more appealing

Text guide and map: Crowden Great Brook

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MIDDLE BLACK CLOUGH

Three OK sections though the main waterfall is not climbable at Grade 1

Text guide and map: Middle Black Clough

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TORSIDE GULLY FAR NORTH

Easy and fun; best combined with other gully / clough scrambles in the area

Text guide and map: Torside Gully Far North

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NETHER & UPPER RED BROOKS

Nether RB is a decent grade 1 scramble, Upper RB less so, but the approach route is well over an hour

Text guide and map: Nether & Upper Red Brooks

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BLACKDEN BROOK

Brilliant Grade 1.5 main waterfall and decent Grade 1 side fall half-way up the lower brook but otherwise little in the lower half and mediocre for the final scramble

Text guide and map: Blackden Brook

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ARNFIELD BROOK

Fair bit of pre-scramble approach but the seven waterfalls are quite fun

Text guide and map: Arnfield Brook

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COOMBES CLOUGH

A fun, compact scramble with standout grade 2 falls plus decent grade 1 scrambling in the upper sections

Text guide and map: Coombes Clough

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SHINING CLOUGH

Satisfying grade 1, 1.5 and 2 scrambling in a little-frequented clough that’s overshadowed by its more-accessible neighbour, Wildboar

Text guide and map: Shining Clough

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ISSUE CLOUGH

An easy scramble except for a grade 2.5 waterfall that is impassable to Grade 1 scramblers

Text guide and map: Issue Clough

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UPPER OGDEN CLOUGH

Only for an absolute beginner who was in the area

Text guide and map: Ogden Clough

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UPPER CROWDEN LITTLE BROOK

OK but there are better scrambles than this

Text guide and map: Upper Crowden Little Brook

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THREE QUICK SADDLEWORTH SCRAMBLES

Western clough is best – grade 1 at the top but best out of summer and after heavy, prolonged rains

Text guide and map: Three Quick Saddleworth Scrambles

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GREENFIELD BROOK

More of a walk than a scramble, with just a few pools and clambers

Text guide and map: Greenfield Brook

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THREE WESSENDEN MOOR CLOUGHS

Could do all three as a day out but only Blake Clough is really worth a visit

Text guide and map: Three Wessenden Moor Cloughs

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DIGGLE BROOK

Five grade 1 waterfalls and a grade 2.5 that are quite far apart with great care needed over nearby rifle range

Text guide and map: Diggle Brook

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ASHWAY CLOUGH

OK at the beginning but degenerates into continuous slithering that’s a real bore

Text guide and map: Ashway Clough

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BOWER CLOUGH CHALLENGE

A stupid way to make a boring scramble more interesting: trying to do it without using your hands

Text guide and map: Bower Clough Challenge

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