Name: Birchin Clough, High Peak X/Y co-ords: 411197, 391690 Region: East Midlands Country: England Place type: Valley Lat/Long: 53.42190170,-1.83299801 District: High Peak Height: 411.2m Location Grid Ref: SK 1119 9169 OS Explorer Map: OL1: Peak District County/Unitary Authority: Derbyshire Other places near Birchin Clough, High Peak (S33 0BJ) Id been on a photography course in Snake Woodlands the day before though and they were so magical with the Autumn colours I knew we had to go back. Oyster Clough Cabin Walk Map:Parking:Birchen Clough Bridge car park, Snake Road, near Glossop (nearest postcode S33 0AB)Facilities: None there is sometimes the Wildman Cafe in the car park but Ive never seen him!Walk Time: 5-6 hoursDifficulty:Distance: 8.5 miles (13.8km)Trig PointsBagged: NonePeak District PeaksBagged: NonePeak District EthelsBagged: NoneBlackden Brook Scramble Walk Map:If you want to try some other Peak District scrambles, why not try:Crowden Clough to Kinder Scout WalkTorside Clough ScrambleMiddle Black Clough Waterfall and Bleaklow StonesHigher Shelf Stones via Ashton Clough ScrambleKinder Downfall Walk via Nether Red Brook Scramble. There is a path if you prefer to detour the scramble with this walk. (c) The Wandering Wildflower. I was just glad to have it to ourselves. Did you know the National Trust signs are called Omega signs?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-1','ezslot_13',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-1-0');There is a gate which leads down the hill (quite steep and very muddy!) Go to the end where youll need to cross the water at the top of the reservoir (you can bypass this by taking the upper path at this pointSE 02020 04855). At 14km (8.7 miles) it's a challenging Peak District walk over moorland and with a steep, rocky scramble up Birchen Clough to get to The Trinnacle. Birchen Clough scramble + The Trinnacles Scramble up Birchen Clough Location: Near Dovestone Reservoir Grade scramble: 1 This route takes you up Birchen Clough, for most of the route it's simply navigating the rocks but there's a short scramble about halfway up (see photo above). Gorgeous hike/scramble in the Peak Distri. We quickly plotted this route on the OS map and then set off to walk it! Parking:Birchen Clough Bridge car park, Snake Road, near Glossop (nearest postcode S33 0AB). It can be reached by a quick scramble down.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-2','ezslot_16',117,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_15',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The path runs alongside Blackden Brook and climbs steadily, getting rockier as you head up. Kevin Clough Contact center solution architect Detroit, MI. We followed a very faint path round the head of the Clough and over the moor, heading down the hill on quite indistinct paths. Practice Areas . The farmer was in his yard with some sheep and kindly let us pass through to reach Snake Road, which meant that we didnt need to follow the footpath to Alport Bridge and walk even further up Snake Road its a horrible road to walk on as the cars fly past! Ideal parking spots as described, though note you will need to get lucky at some of the lay-bys: This is an entry-level scramble up a narrowing valley rising to the plateau edge. Although it was all perfectly doable solo the overwhelming sense of natures power had me rather missing a companion. This final rocky scramble to the top is one of my favourites, but if you feel its too challenging, theres an Option B route so you can take your pick. In places the rock is covered in a pleasant spongy moss; in fact going barefoot could be an option here! View looking SE towards the Raven Stones. Once youve admired the views from The Trinnacles, continue walking along the edge, the path runs all the way around to Ashway Rocks but its easy to miss the path along the edge. Ah fantastic, Simon, Ill be heading out to do some more so there might be a few more added over the next few weeks , Your email address will not be published. The Brook itself looks to fork into two scrambles but we took the right hand fork up.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3-0');At the top of the climb we had a snack break then followed the top path round Blackden Edge to the Seal Stones.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4','ezslot_18',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4-0');We then took a steep descent down the hill next to Gate Side Clough this is very steep! We nipped over the bridge to get a photo of the Peak and Northern Footpaths green sign and then headed back over the bridge and over the stile into the woods. to a bridge over the River Ashop, which we crossed and then followed the path to Blackden Brook.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_14',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Blackden Brook is home to a series of waterfalls, with quite a large one being just down from the main path. Hello! We quickly plotted this route on the OS map and then set off to walk it! After a bit of a scramble along Fair Brook you reach . This was a real discovery. Ive walked the Pennine Way to the top of Bleaklow along Clough Edge often enough without realising there was a hidden gem right below. Alport Castles is, in fact, not a castle but a giant landslip which has created rock formations that at a glance look like a castle! Very rough underfoot, firstly through an old quarry then though the heather & braken. The Brook itself looks to fork into two scrambles but we took the right hand fork up.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3-0');At the top of the climb we had a snack break then followed the top path round Blackden Edge to the Seal Stones.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4','ezslot_18',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4-0');We then took a steep descent down the hill next to Gate Side Clough this is very steep! And you also have the bonus of the Dark Peak area being more gritstone rocks, which is a grippy rock so perfect for scrambling, providing youre wearing the right footwear! If youre new to scrambling or even been doing it a while, I would always recommend you scramble up instead of down. The path winds its way through the trees before reaching a stile where we headed up the hill over Alport Moor in the direction of Oyster Clough.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-medrectangle-4-0');At the head of the clough is the Oyster Clough shooting cabin, touted on YouTube as a secret bothy in the Peak District although judging from the guest books in there its very well visited for somewhere so secret. Plus we love a scramble, and the Blackden Brook scramble was one we hadnt ticked off yet. For this Peak District scramble walk, you start on the Snake Pass side of Kinder Scout, this 6-mile walk takes you up Blackden Brook on a challenging route to the top. Go over here, through a gate then another gate and alongside Greenfield Reservoir, on your left. Instead of heading across the road down into Snake Woodlands we headed over the stile in the car park and up through the pine and larch plantation. I also blog about our UK camping trips, UK day trips, walks around Yorkshire and more. We nipped over the bridge to get a photo of the Peak and Northern Footpaths green sign and then headed back over the bridge and over the stile into the woods. Read more here. If the farmer isnt there youll have to follow the footpath a short distance down to Alport Bridge and then join Snake Road. Did you know the National Trust signs are called Omega signs?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-1','ezslot_13',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-1-0');There is a gate which leads down the hill (quite steep and very muddy!) Sometimes a lack of planning can have a happy outcome. We then took a steep descent down the hill next to Gate Side Clough this is very steep! Nether Red Brook / Upper Red Brook (Kinder). The Brook itself looks to fork into two scrambles but we took the right hand fork up.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3','ezslot_17',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-3-0');At the top of the climb we had a snack break then followed the top path round Blackden Edge to the Seal Stones.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4','ezslot_18',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thewanderingwildflower_co_uk-leader-4-0');We then took a steep descent down the hill next to Gate Side Clough this is very steep! Ascend, mostly on the right, into the upper stream channel. Thanks for stopping by! The path winds its way through the trees before reaching a stile where we headed up the hill over Alport Moor in the direction of Oyster Clough. Turn right to reach Fairbrook Naze, which looks like a ship's prow from the valley. Grade 2 you might want to take a friend. Good if you want to feel very, very insignificant in the overall scheme of the universe. Peak District WalkFair Brook & Kinder Northern Edges from Birchen Clough. saying that I also found it fun to do as a speed scramble and race its Strava segment. If you are looking for a challenging walk with lots to see, including the Oyster Clough shooting cabin (aka the secret bothy in the Peak District of YouTube fame) and Blackden Brook with all its stunning waterfalls, this could be the walk for you!