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Scrambles in the Dark Peak

Easy summer scrambles and winter climbs

By Terry Sleaford, Tom Corker

ISBN

9781786310163

Availability

Published

22 Aug 2018

Reprinted

3 Sept 2021

Edition

Second

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.15cm

Weight

220g

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More information...

Guidebook to 41 graded scrambles in the Dark Peak and Roaches areas of the Peak District, most of which can be done year round. Includes areas such as Kinder Scout, the Wilderness Gullies and Bleaklow, and features both classic (Wilderness Gully East and Wildboar Clough) and lesser known routes. Link routes, variants and extensions also described.

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.

ISBN

9781786310163

Availability

Published

22 Aug 2018

Reprinted

3 Sept 2021

Edition

Second

Pages

192

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.15cm

Weight

220g

Overview

This guide describes 41 scrambles in the Dark Peak and Roaches areas of the Peak District, most of which can be done all year round. The selection of routes are graded 1 to 3, offering a range of scrambles to suit all abilities. Easy routes are suitable for adventurous walkers with good fitness and navigation skills, while harder routes require some climbing experience.

Both classic and lesser known routes are featured, taking in areas such as Kinder Scout, the Wilderness Gullies, Bleaklow, Chew Valley and Crowden. Route description, together with information on approach, link routes, variants and extensions, is accompanied by extracts of 1:25,000 OS mapping. Also included is practical information regarding safety, equipment, access and conservation.

The UK's first designated national park, the Peak District has long been famed for its walking and climbing opportunities. Perhaps lesser known are the routes that lies somewhere in between - the 'hand's on' ascents that offer the thrill of an adventurous line without venturing on to the climber's crags. This guide showcases some of the best routes in the Dark Peak, perfect for those looking for a change from the well-trodden paths that lead to the moorland tops.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map 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

Maps

Maps

The Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer OL1 (Dark Peak) map covers all the routes except for The Roaches and Chrome and Parkhouse Hills, when the OL24 (White Peak) map will be needed. Please note that place names highlighted in the route descriptions refer to these 1:25,000 maps, sections of which are reproduced in each route. Many of the footpaths mentioned in the text are not shown on the OS maps and can be fairly indistinct in some cases, especially where described as a ‘vague path’ or ‘sheep track’. At other times it will be a case of ‘find the best way’. Where given, National Grid references are quoted to six digits only (eg SK 123 456), close enough to enable the feature to be found on the map.

As anyone who has become ‘misplaced’ on the moors of the Dark Peak knows, it is very easy to get lost in poor visibility. So before this happens, check that you've got the right map and a compass with you and, more importantly, that you know how to use them.

Climbing the slab out of Holme Clough (Route 1)

Updates

July 2022

Correction

The line map for routes 30 and 32, Square Chimney Exit and Arpeggio gully on page 137 is incorrect. The line for route 32 should follow the first stream shown on the OS map down the ravine from the downfall. This also moves the line for route 30 closer to the downfall. See maps on pages 145 or 153 for the correct locations.

July 2021

2021 reprint route updates

1016 Reprint 2021 (11.558 MB)

Reviews

A range of scrambles to suit all abilities.

This guide Scrambles in the Dark Peak, describes 41 routes in the Peak District, most of which can be done all year round. The routes are graded 1 to 3, offering a range of scrambles to suit all abilities. Both classic and lesser known routes are featured, taking in areas such as Kinder Scout, the Wilderness Gullies, Bleaklow, Chew Valley and Crowden.

Route description, together with information on approach, link routes, variants and extensions, is accompanied by extracts of 1:25,000 OS mapping. Also included is practical information regarding safety, equipment, access and Conservation.

The Bradford Bugle

Downloads

Terry Sleaford

Terry was 23 years old when he climbed his first routes in the Peak District and his climbing career soon peaked at leading v.diffs! After a few years of being dragged up harder routes, he decided that the life of a 'crag rat' was not for him. A weekend in Snowdonia in the late 1970s opened his eyes to other possibilities and he began to restrict his climbing activity to trips to Wales, the Lakes and the highlands and islands of Scotland, gradually extending his skills to include winter snow and ice-climbing. As he got older, the combination of a walk into the mountains, followed by a few hundred feet of steady scrambling to reach the summit, became his idea of a good day out. Over the past 45 years he has spent many a day on the crags and moors of the Peak District.

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Tom Corker

Tom has been walking and climbing in the Peak District for over 50 years as well as having extensive Alpine and British mountaineering experience in both summer and winter. He has developed a great affection for these Moorland places at all times of the year and in all weathers. Alone, or with friends, he has realised how varied and interesting are the opportunities for having great 'hands-on' fun using all the skills used in the bigger mountains.

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