Saturday 17th May saw me leading another scramble for the UK section of the Austrian Alpine Club (AAC(UK)). A full group of members gathered in Edale for a classic Peak District adventure: a Grade 1 scramble up Crowden Clough, a wander across the Kinder plateau to pick up an Ethel and a descent via the rugged beauty of Grindsbrook Clough.
What’s an Ethel?
The Ethels are a collection of 95 notable hills in the Peak District, launched in 2021 by the CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) Peak District and South Yorkshire branch. They’re named in honour of Ethel Haythornthwaite, a pioneering environmental campaigner who was instrumental in establishing the Peak District as the UK’s first national park in 1951.
What qualifies as an Ethel?
• Prominent summits over 400 metres (with some lower exceptions for historic or scenic value)
• Spread across Derbyshire and the wider Peak District
• Chosen for their viewpoints, historical significance or popularity
Why they matter
• Discover overlooked areas of the Peak
• Encourage stewardship and appreciation of the landscape
• Provide a fun alternative to Munro or Wainwright bagging for Peak District lovers
The days route combined everything I love about this part of the Dark Peak: striking gritstone features, hands-on movement, accessible train links and the odd bit of remoteness you can still find in the cloughs despite the popularity of the area.
We met at 9am by the phone box close Newfold Farm Café. An early start, but with good reason: Edale’s car parking can fill quickly on a fine May weekend and many of the group had travelled from afar. The loos were open, the slight late comers in our group managed to luck out and find a parking space that someone vacated and the train service delivered those of us arriving on foot in good time. Things were off to a good start.
Rather than gathering at the main car park, I’d chosen a quieter meeting point near the benches opposite the primary school. It felt calmer, more distinct and allowed a clean start along the Pennine Way without the confusion of getting mixed up with other groups.
We kicked off with a short group briefing: introductions, a run-through of the route, safety points and a reminder about key gear. With a diverse group including climbers, qualified Mountain Leaders and newer scramblers, it was great to see people quickly sharing stories and advice.
The approach along the Pennine Way and through skirting above Upper Booth gave us time to warm up. It’s a pleasant stretch of field paths, followed by a gentle climb into the Crowden valley. The clough was dry underfoot, with low water levels making for excellent conditions.
As we entered the main scramble, the terrain ramped up: rocky steps, short gullies and a few bouldery puzzles to solve. This Grade 1 line never feels overly exposed but it’s certainly hands-on. Everyone took it at their own pace and there was some nice teamwork through the trickier sections.
Then we got to what is arguably my favourite part, a choice of three lines up a short wall. There is a chimney, groove or the main gully which is the easiest option when the water levels are low so we all progress up this way.
We made such good progress that a detour to Grindslow Knoll felt like the right call. The views were superb: Edale, Mam Tor and the Great Ridge all visible. It made for the perfect lunch spot, with plenty of space to sit and take it all in.
Back on the plateau, we began our descent via the Grindsbrook Clough scramble. You reach it by bypassing the first path down the clough, continuing to the stream, then dropping down the rock steps. Grindsbrook often feels more dramatic in descent than ascent and today it served up a satisfying down scrambling. A final stroll into the village brought us full circle, with a few of us capping the day with a well-earned drink at the pub.
The blend of seasoned walkers and first-time scramblers made for a supportive, chatty team and a brilliant day out.