The Dark Peak is one of England's most accessible yet genuinely wild upland landscapes, easily reached from Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Derby, where the gritstone edges, deep cloughs and boulder-strewn moorland of Kinder Scout and Bleaklow offer some of the most varied scrambling terrain in the country. With 41 graded routes across the Dark Peak and Roaches areas of the Peak District National Park, this is the definitive guidebook for scrambling in this area of the Peak District.

This trusted Cicerone guidebook by Terry Sleaford and Tom Corker makes Dark Peak scrambling accessible to a wide range of abilities, from those looking to take the next step from adventurous walker to scrambler to harder routes that require climbing experience. Route descriptions are paired with 1:25,000 OS mapping and detailed approach notes, with link routes, variants and extensions throughout, so every outing can be tailored to the day.

• 41 graded scrambles across the Dark Peak and Roaches are included, from the Chew Valley and Wilderness Gullies to Bleaklow, Kinder Scout and Mam Tor, with grades ranging from 1 to 3
• Classic routes and hidden gems are covered, including Wilderness Gully East, Wildboar Clough, Kinder Downfall Climb and Alport Castles Tower, alongside lesser-known lines rarely described elsewhere
• Four dedicated winter routes, including the local classics of Mam Tor Gully and Back Tor Gully, are also described for an additional challenge
• 1:25,000 OS mapping is provided for every route with clear grade, approach and access information so you can assess each scramble before leaving the car park
• Advice on equipment, access and conservation by expert authors covering the specific demands of gritstone scrambling, access restrictions and the impact of weather on route conditions
• Link routes, variants and extensions are described throughout, allowing routes to be combined into longer days or adapted to suit your group's experience

Backed by decades of combined experience on Peak District gritstone, authors Terry Sleaford and Tom Corker have crafted a guidebook that captures the full character of Dark Peak scrambling. Step beyond the footpath and experience the best summer scrambles and winter climbs the Peak District has to offer.

Scrambles in the Dark Peak - Quick Facts

Area: Dark Peak and Roaches, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England 
Total routes: 41 graded scrambles 
Scrambling grades: 1 to 3 
Winter routes: 4 (including Mam Tor Gully and Back Tor Gully) 
Winter grades: Scottish winter grades 1 to 2/3; crampons and ice axes required 
Areas covered: Chew Valley, Wilderness Gullies, Crowden, Bleaklow, Kinder Scout, Mam Tor, Roaches, Chrome Hill 
Route highlights: Wilderness Gully East, Wildboar Clough, Kinder Downfall Climb, Alport Castles Tower, Mam Tor Gully, Back Tor Gully 
Difficulty: Grade 1 suitable for adventurous walkers with good fitness; grades 2 and 3 require rock climbing experience 
Seasons: Year-round for most routes; winter routes are best in cold snaps; heavy rain affects some scrambles 
Nearest cities: Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Derby 
Local centres: Edale, Crowden, Hayfield, Greenfield 
Mapping: 1:25,000 OS maps included for every route

Author Highlight

“This latest addition to the list of Peak District guidebooks is (we believe) the first to focus specifically on scrambling in the Peak District, and the Dark Peak in particular. It is aimed at the more adventurous walker who might wish to add a little more ‘spice’ to their outings, and also those with some rock-climbing experience who may be looking for something away from the mainstream crags while retaining some element of ‘hands-on’ contact with the rock.”

- Tom Corker and Terry Sleaford, authors of Scrambles in the Dark Peak

OS key

Overview map

Preface

Introduction

Scrambling in the Dark Peak

Warnings and precautions

Equipment

Maps

About the routes

Access

Conservation

The Chew Valley area

1 Rimmon Pit Clough/Trinnacle/Holme Clough

2 Alderman’s Rocks

3 Dovestone Quarry Central Gully

4 Charnel Clough

The Wilderness Gullies

5 Wilderness Gully West

6 Wilderness Gully East

7 Wilderness Gully Far East

8 Wilderness Gully Far Far East

9 Wilderness Gully Far Far Far East

10 Chew Brook

The Crowden area

11 Oaken Clough

12 Coombes Clough

Bleaklow

13 Shining Clough

14 Deer Knowl

15 Lawrence Edge No 1

16 Lawrence Edge No 2

17 Wildboar Clough

18 Torside Clough

19 Torside Gully

20 Yellowslacks Brook/Dowstone Clough

21 Ashton Clough

22 Alport Castles Tower

23 Alport Castles Gully

Kinder Scout

24 Blackden Brook

25 Fair Brook

26 Fair Brook Gully

27 Nether Red Brook

28 Upper Red Brook

29 Far Upper Red Brook

30 Square Chimney Exit

31 Kinder Downfall Climb

32 Arpeggio Gully

33 Red Brook

34 Crowden Clough

35 Grindsbrook Clough

36 Ringing Roger

Outlying areas

37 Back Tor Gully

38 Mam Tor Gully

39 Elbow Ridge

40 Roaches Lower and Upper Tier Ridges

41 Chrome Hill/Parkhouse Hill

Appendix A Index of routes

Appendix B Further reading

Appendix C Useful contacts

Seasons

Four winter-only routes; all others possible at any time of year, although heavy rain and higher than usual water levels will affect some scrambles

Centres

Most scrambles in this guidebook are within easy reach of Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester. Local centres could be Edale, Crowden, Hayfield, Greenfield.

Difficulty

Routes are graded 1 to 3 in order of increasing difficulty (from 'scrambly' walks to moderate/difficult rock climbs). Easy scrambles are suitable for adventurous walkers with good fitness and navigation skills, harder routes require some rock climbing experience. In winter conditions, Scottish winter grades 1-2/3 apply and crampons and ice axes will be needed.

Must See

Kinder Downfall and the ravine; Ashop Clough and its gullies; Bleaklow via Ashton Clough; Torside Gully; Wildboar Clough; the Wilderness Gullies - all are good scrambles at any time of year. Mam Tor and Back Tor gullies are local winter classics.

July 2022

Correction

July 2021

2021 reprint route updates

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