The Wild Outdoors

Tag: Peak District scrambles

Peak District hike: circular route of Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

December 9th, 2023
If someone suggests a “scrambly hike” as a day out, you’d be forgiven for not first thinking of the Peak District as the obvious destination but the Peaks is actually home to some of the best UK hikes and scrambles of different grading thanks to the endless supply of rocky, bouldery brooks and cloughs which are often running dry. Although not as high or exposed as scrambles you might have seen or experienced in the Lake District, Snowdonia or Scotland, scrambling in the Peak District can actually be a much more fun, alternative way to explore the area. Plus, these routes are often quieter so you can really hone in on your explorer skills and feel at one with the outdoors amongst the tranquility of vast moorland. The circular route of Fairbrook Naze, The Edge, Nether Red Brook and Black Ashop Moor is what feels like a remote one and will keep you on your toes (literally and figuratively) throughout the day; enjoy wild swimming spots, slippery scrambles, bizarre rock formations, vast boggy moorland, river crossings and friendly sheep – this Peak District hike really has it all!

*A grade 1 scramble is classed as an easy scramble with simple route finding and no requirement for technical skills or ropes but you may need to use your hands and this route definitely requires that. The route is slippery over the rocks and sure footedness is required as a slip could easily result in injury.

How to hike Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

Starting at Snake Woodlands, the Nether Red Brook scramble can be done a couple of ways but is best tied in with Fairbrook Naze, a hike which I wrote about here. After scrambling up Fairbrook Naze and reaching the summit plateau famed for its fascinating (and totally random) rock formations, the walk from here along what’s known as The Edge (sounds like a budget rate horror film to me), takes you alongside many of these weird and wonderful formations including this one, which I tried, and ultimately failed, to climb.

After admitting defeat and soothing my bruised ego while my hiking companion giggled and rolled her eyes with that knowing look of “I knew you couldn’t do it”, we set back off along The Edge, a quieter part of the Kinder Scout plateau, making our way through more funky rock formations and along a well maintained path.

Glancing to the right, the views down towards Black Ashop Moor are ones that make you really feel like you’re deep in the wilderness (not just an hour or so from your car) but still, this area isn’t to be underestimated and it’s really important to understand that navigation in this area, when the weather comes in, can become incredibly challenging, especially if waymarkers disappear quicker than the white walkers in the fog (sorry if you’re not a Game Of Thrones fan – sorry that you’re NOT a fan that is).

Passing some more formations to make you go oooh, ahhhh you’ll eventually reach the top of Nether Red Brook where the path makes a turn left away from the edge and a right turn back towards it. There are no signs to mark this path which is why navigation is important or be sure to download the offline route to your phone from OS maps or Komoot. At the top of Nether Red Brook, the way down can seem unlikely but this scramble effectively follows the stream bed straight down.

Standing at the top of the rocky outcrop, not being able to see an obvious route down I questioned whether my map reading skills were really as accurate as I thought they were. Here I was, standing at the top of Nether Red Brook with my mum, who had already set off in front of me shimmying her way down a steep drop between two rocks after a fleeting, “this way is it?” but after one more quick check of the map I took a sigh of relief; it was definitely the right way.

The scramble isn’t technical but good balance, strength in your legs and arms and confidence over rough terrain is a must. There is a small path every now and again to hop onto but the majority of the route is over large boulders and you’ll have to navigate your way down over these.

Looking back up towards the way you’ve just scrambled down…

Eventually, you’ll find yourself in the base of the Valley known as Black Ashop Moor with no path to follow; not even the faintest glimmer of one to be precise and this is where your navigation skills will come in handy.

You’re heading for the small steam at the opposite end which will lead you back to wards Snake Woodlands but be prepared to lose a foot or even a whole leg to the boggy moorland swamp monsters which will try to suck you down to their peaty home if you make a wrong choice of step. At least if you get sucked into the pool of peaty mud, the view back up to where you came from is a nice final view.

After navigating through the moorland, the next obstacle you’ll face is the river crossing. I hope in your mind you’re picturing a whirlpool and rapid-ridden force of nature but actually it’s just a small one which, if your legs are long enough, you’ll be able to leap across in one foul swoop to the safety of the path on the other side.

Following the path downstream will lead you back towards Snake Woodlands and the view back is stunning during heather season with all the purple hues.

Eventually, you’ll reach the edge of Snake Woodlands and will continue following the path through the woods and back up towards your starting point. There is another wonderful little spot for a swim in Snake Woodlands which the path will take you next to.

Map and key locations for Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Roadside parking at Snake Woodlands

2: Footbridge below end of woodlands to cross over the river

3: A series of waterfall pools

4: Beginning of the steeper, rocky scrambling section of Fair Brook

5: Top of Fairbrook Naze, rock formations and the beginning of The Edge

6. Top of Nether Red Brook marking the scramble down

7. Boggy moorland crossing across Black Ashop Moor and river crossing (you’ll need to find a suitable crossing place yourself)

8. Path back towards Snake Woodlands

9. River running to Snake Woodlands and extra swim location

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

Top Tips for scrambling Fairbrook Naze and Nether Red Brook
- The parking area in Snake Woodlands fills up quickly on a nice day so be sure to get there early or late in the day for any chance of parking
- There are no facilities on this route or in the car park
- The scrambles are slippery in places and require sure footedness and confidence on rough, scrambly terrain.
- The scramble down Nether Red Brook has a steep and relatively high drop to navigate
- Navigation across Black Ashop Moor is pathless so strong navigation skills are needed
- This route includes a small river crossing
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check out my other blog posts and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about new UK routes, the best swimming spots, international adventure and ideas of things to do for your next adventure.

Happy adventuring and don’t forget to subscribe!

Izzy

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Peak District hike: Fairbrook Naze scramble with secret wild swimming spot

November 27th, 2023
Fairbrook Naze, the rocky outcrop not far from the top of the similarly named brook; Fair Brook, lies 619m high on the northern edge of Kinder Scout. The hike to it is a wonderful Grade 1 scramble up Fair Brook itself and is packed with waterfalls and many swimming spots. The sweeping view from the top of Black Ashop Moor, Kinder Scout and Edale Moor is one not to be missed while exploring the Peak District. This route really has it all; an easy stroll through magical woodlands, a fun scramble, waterfalls aplenty to quench your thirst for a wild swim, vast moorland views, those crazy rock formations that the Peak District is known for and as it’s a less explored area, the chance of you having it to yourself is really quite high.

At a Glance

Difficulty: Moderate due to Grade 1 scrambling sections

Distance: 4.22km (one way). Option to retrace steps back down or create a longer loop once at the top of Fairbrook Naze.

Total ascent: 301m

Est Time: 1hr 30 mins (without swim stop and one way)

Starting location: Snake Woodlands parking

Parking Cost: Free

Dog friendly: Only if confident with grade 1 scrambles.

Key features: Beautiful woodland walk, well-marked and maintained paths, multiple wild swimming spots along the route, stunning views from the top.

*Please note: A grade 1 scramble is classed as an easy scramble with simple route finding and no requirement for technical skills or ropes but you may need to use your hands and this route definitely requires that. The route is slippery over the rocks and sure footedness is required as a slip could easily result in injury.

Fair Brook, one of the many brooks flowing down from the breathtaking and wild moorland that is the Kinder Scout plateau, eventually finds its way to the River Alport and down into the stunning Ladybower Reservoir. The scramble up Fair Brook is bouldery, slippery and a gentle uphill all the way but you’re rewarded at the end with a beautiful vantage point and, on a nice day, uninterrupted views in all directions.

Route Details for Fairbrook Naze in the Peak District

Starting at the Forestry England car park in Snake Woodlands, the route starts by crossing the main road and heading down into Snake Woodland. An area popular with countless Peak District visitors, the woodlands really hold that magical spirit with towering pine trees occasionally making space for the sun to shine on the forest floor, the River Alport tricking alongside for paddling and swimming in and quite often, families and lone campers camping out on the river banks.

Unfortunately, Snake Woodlands is regularly strewn with discarded disposable BBQs, beer cans, bags of rubbish and other, shall we say, human waste that is never nice to come across from these very campers. With the number one rule to wild camping being Leave No Trace, it is truly heartbreaking to see the outdoors being left in such a state. Be mindful that there are no facilities here and to take anything home with you that you brought in.

Continuing with the route, after crossing the road and heading into the woodlands, you’ll soon see a beautifully photogenic bridge to cross leading you further into the forest. Keeping the river on your right hand side, pass another bridge and carry on through the woodland. Eventually, you’ll come out at the end of the woods and the path will take you high onto a cliff edge looking down at the river.

As you carry on along this path, another bridge crossing the river will appear in front of you. As you cross this bridge, you’ll soon see a brook with a handy signpost signalling Fair Brook and the start of your route. At first, Fair Brook is a mere trickle and the path to your right heads off alongside it. Eventually, the small river will appear more powerful and you’ll start to see some potential swim spots. Keep an eye out to your left hand side for the perfect waterfall pools. With absolutely no self control, I decided to stop at the first one I found rather than going to investigate further up before deciding. The swim spot was nestled down a steep slope (but one which has a well trodden path down) which would be slippery in wet weather and was hidden behind an overhanging tree branch.

With a small waterfall flowing over the edge, the pool is deep enough for a few strokes and the wall of stones at the end could be classed as a small infinity pool if you really use your imagination! Once you’ve had your wild swim fix, head back up to the path and carry on following it uphill. This is where, if you’re a beady eyed swim spot hunter, you’ll find other swimming spots; choosing which one to dip in is the most challenging part of the hike you’ll have come across so far! As you gain height, the moorland path will lead you to spectacular views back down the valley before reaching a noticeably more rocky section which marks the beginning of the scramble.

As you approach the huge, imposing bouldery section, there is an easier path to the right but to really feel the scrambling experience, I opted for a simple “straight up and see what happens” route. The scramble itself is Grade 1, as mentioned above, meaning there’s no technical demands but it definitely requires use of your hands, with some big steps up, lots of pulling yourself up and it was incredibly slippery on some rocks even after a period of no rain.

The way up is obvious here but the route you choose will come down to personal preference as you clamber up and over the rocks. Eventually, it becomes less demanding and as you continue following the river up towards the flat plateau at the top.

Once you reach the top, head along the small path to your right and onto the interesting rocky outcrop of Fairbrook Naze. The views here are sensational and really encourages you to feel the wilderness of this area. It’s the perfect place for lunch to take everything in while looking back down on the scramble you’ve just completed.

Once you reach the plateau at the top, retracing your steps back down is an option but there are plenty of other routes to make this into a circular back to Snake Woodlands too which will require some independent planning. However, if, like me, you’re a big fan of a scramble, then I recommend linking this one with Nether Red Brook – keep an eye out for the next blog with all the details you’ll need to tie in the two scrambles to make an awesome day out in the Peaks.

Map and key locations for Fairbrook Naze

Access the route on the OS Map App here.

Locations

1: Roadside parking at Snake Woodlands

2: Footbridge below end of woodlands to cross over the river

3: A series of waterfall pools

4: Beginning of the steeper, rocky scrambling section

5: Top of Fairbrook Naze marking the end of the scramble

Komoot App

Have you ever tried Komoot? Komoot allows you to access routes planned by others or plan your own which you can then download to your phone to follow while you are out. Komoot is free to join and access and you can find the route for his walk here.

Top Tips for scrambling Fairbrook Naze
- The parking area in Snake Woodlands fills up quickly on a nice day so be sure to get there early or late in the day for any chance of parking
- There are no facilities on this route or in the car park
- The scramble is slippery in places and requires sure footedness and confidence on rough, scrambly terrain.
For additional UK outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, don’t forget to subscribe, check out my other blog posts here and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about new UK routes, the best swimming spots, international adventure and ideas of things to do for your next adventure.

Happy adventuring!

Izzy

Type your email…