Walk Description

On my many journeys up the Woodlands Valley and over the Snake Pass my eyes have been drawn to the steep prow of Fairbrook Naze and I have often said to myself that I should really explore Fairbrook Naze and Fair Brook. Therefore today we took advantage of the good weather and planned a walk along Ashop Clough and up onto Kinder’s northern edge.


I parked at the large lay by at Birchen Clough Bridge and while I put my boots on Steve paid a visit to the snack van. He was really pleased to find out that it had been endorsed by the ‘Hairy Bikers’.  Once Steve had paid for his breakfast we waited for a gap in the traffic, crossed the busy A57 and entered the Lady Clough woods.  Rather than following the permissive lower path, we stayed on the high level track until we left the woods.  We could see Fairbrook Naze on the horizon at the top of Urchin Clough.  We then made our own way down the steep bank and picked up the path that runs along the infant River Ashop.  To the south of us we could see The Edge and its myriad of weathered rocks that we would visit later in the walk.  We continued along this path until we reached the crossroads at the top of William Clough, where we then headed up the steep path and onto the Kinder plateau.


Rather than staying on the Pennine Way we headed for the path to The Edge.  This was easy walking, the ground was bone dry and every 100 yards or so we passed the intricately eroded rocks that we had been admiring whilst walking up Ashop Clough.  These included one that resembled a stone ewe and other that looked like a row of faces.  We continued past Fairbrook Naze and then walked towards the waterfall at the top of Fair Brook.  However before we reached the waterfall we cut the corner and made out way down the steep hillside to the path next to Fair Brook.  From here we wandered between the path and the brook, enjoying the many small cascades and shady pools that we passed on the way down to the Woodlands Valley.


When we reached the valley bottom we crossed the footbridge over the River Ashop and entered the woods at the side of the A57 below the Snake Inn.  It was pleasant being in the shade after the heat of the Fair Brook valley.  When we reached the Snake Inn we stopped for a long cool refreshing drink before we completed the road walk back to the car.  Unfortunately by the time we got back to Birchen Clough Bridge the snack van had gone and Steve couldn’t get his post walk hot snack.

It had been ideal conditions for visiting Kinder and Ashop Clough had provided a very gentle route up to the plateau.  Fair Brook’s shady pools and grassy banks make ideal picnic places and I am sure will be visited again this summer.  This had been a very enjoyable walk with plenty of interesting features.
 
 

Route & Planning

Details and Route Map

Photo Opportunities

Walk Profile

The route map shown here should not be used as a replacement for the appropriate map(s). Before attempting the walk you should check the suitability of this route in relation to your capabilities and experience.