Fairbrook via Oyster Clough Cabin: route guide

Francesca Donovan finds a rare pearl of a shelter in Oyster Clough via a two-day route complete with morning waterfall dips in the Peak District.

Anyone who says there’s no bothy in the Peak District is technically correct. Yet, I’ve spent many comfortable nights in the shelter of a small stone structure nestled into the pillow of an oyster-shaped clough. Outside, winds whirl around rock formations on Kinder Scout as accounts in the visitors’ book keep you company. If it looks, sounds (and smells!) like a bothy, doesn’t it a bothy make?

The MBA says that bothies – originally accommodation for itinerant workers – evolved into “open shelters…where travellers might have need of four walls and a roof”. By that definition, this shooting cabin is a rare pearl of a bothy.

“Most bothies are at least several hours walk from the public road,” the MBA adds. This is where the Oyster Clough cabin loses points. It is a stone’s throw from Snake Woodlands. Its accessibility has made it a popular haunt for those wanting a taste of bothying. It’s a great place to begin. But, take this two-day route via Cowms Moor, up Fair Brook’s falls and back along the northern edges of Kinder and you may find that away-from-it-all feeling inexorably bound to the beloved bothy.

Fairbrook via Oyster Clough Cabin: route description

Start/finish: Snake Pass layby parking (GR: SK 187 864) | Ascent: 1148m / 3,766ft | Distance: 32km/20 miles | Duration: Two days with overnighter | Maps: OS Explorer OL1 – The Peak District, Dark Peak Area (1:25k)

1. SK187864: From the layby, head E along the Snake Road for 400m and turn L before you cross the bridge. In 100m leave the track for the Public Right of Way (PRoW) walking immediately W and then quickly NW, climbing up past the building of Crook Hill Farm. Skirt Crook Hill itself following the clear path NNW. Follow this track which soon bears generally NW above Haggside and Ladybower and Bellhag Wood for 4km.

2. SK 157 895: Take the WSW path through Rowlee Farm, crossing Snake Road at SK 152892. Pass through low Barn on the other side and rejoin the PRoW at Rowlee Bridge heading WSW. Follow this over the ford until you get to another road crossing in just over 1km.

3. SK141896: Cross Snake Road, taking care to get to the immediate footpath on the other side safely. In 200m, turn L walking past Hayridge and Blackden View Farms until you reach the edge of Cowms Moor in 1km. The footpath runs alongside the stone wall and makes for easy navigation for 1km until you follow the contours above Upper House Farm NNW for a further 700m. Cross the stream and take the path running the course of the Roman Road for 500m. At SK 114907

4. SK114907: Leave the footpath and take the dogleg heading ESE. This path then skirts below Dinas Stitch Tor, first ENE then NNW and finally NNE until you reach the shooting cabin in 1.3km. Please note, there is little flat ground beside the cabin – perhaps only space for one tent – so please come prepared to share or, if full, with a back-up pitch plan.

5. SK117915: In the morning, ensuring you have followed Bothy Code and Leave It Better principles, leave the cabin the way you came until you reach SK114907 again. From here, continue on yesterday’s WNW bearing along the course of the old Roman Road for 200m, then taking the footpath W through the woods for 300m until you reach Snake Road. Descend into the woodland for 100m, then take the SE path along the river of the Woodlands Valley. It’s sometimes tricky to pick out but in 1km you’ll reach the footbridge to cross.

6. SK 114902: Cross and then take the inclining track heading S for 200m. From here, look to the E up Fairbrook. You’ll be grateful to have a lighter pack with the ascent ahead of you on day two. This 2.5km ascent is peppered with waterfalls along the way for a refreshing dip. The scrambling is easy-going grade 1 for the most part with a few sections turning slippery after rain.

7. SK 093891: When you top out, take a breath. It’s classic edge-walking from here. Take the path to your L and enjoy the ramble along above Seal Edge (from where you may be able to look back along the route and see your previous night’s hotel nestled into the clough, visibility permitting) to Seal Stones and the top of Blackden Brook in 3km. Continue onwards on Blackden Edge for 3km until you reach Crookstone Knoll and follow the edge’s footpath for a further 500m before you begin the descent ESE down to Crookstone Hill continuing down to a five-way crosspaths.

8. SK160877: Take the woodland path for 1km heading NNE until you reach Haggwater Bridge. Cross and in 200m, you’ll have your final crossing of Snake Road. Then, ascend via the path which first heads N to Hagg Farm but switches back on itself as you pass Haggtor Coppice. After the final ascent, at SK164890, pick up your first steps back over Bridge-End Pasture, skirting Crook Hill and back to your car or chose public transport.

Further information

Public Transport: The Hulleys of Baslow 257c service from Sheffield to Glossop stops at the Ladybower Inn and Fairholmes car park (hulleys-of-baslow.co.uk)

Tourist Info: Upper Derwent Visitor Centre, www.peakdistrict.gov.uk (01629 816527)