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Swains Head via Far Small Clough from A628

Start/Finish

On A628, Woodhead Pass road, a few hundred metres west of where the track joins it at SE 133 998. This itself is a few hundred metres south of the viaduct which, in turn, is about the same distance south west of the minor road to Dunford Bridge. There is a long layby about 100 m long.

Distance/Time

4 km.    About 2 hours depending on ground conditions.

Peaks

Swains Head, c 500 m, SK 133 983. (Not a peak)

OS 110: Sheffield & Huddersfield.    OS Outdoor Leisure 1: Dark Peak

Introduction

Swains Head is the watershed between Bleaklow and the Howden Edge. It is the head of the Derwent Valley and could be considered to be the watershed between the Derwent Valley and the Woodhead Valley.This is a short but strenuous walk with good moorland views in clear weather. Some of the going is boggy, even very boggy and gaiters are recommended in a wet spell when progress will be slow. There is plenty of time for this walk on a late-winter's day when the views are often at their best and the frozen ground is more pleasant to walk over. Snow and ice are not normally a problem but err on the side of caution if you have any doubts. There are no really steep sections. Note that many of the paths and tracks are not on most maps. The stream below the A628 may be awkward to cross in wet weather.

Route

(1) From the layby walk up the very busy A628 to where there are signs saying “Riders Crossing 200 yards”. Leave the road here and go down the steepish bank to reach the bottom of the stones used to reinforce the bank below the road. Far Small Clough is opposite and has a fence running up it. Cross the stream and go up the W side of the clough with the stream on your left and the fence on your right. There is a faint path all the way up. A stile is crossed. Cross another stile to put the fence on your left. Soon the fence crosses the clough but you stay on the same, W, side. Continue up. Higher up the clough almost disappears and the fence rejoins the path. Continue up. Another stile can be crossed or not. Continue following the fence to where it turns right with a stile just after. This is Swains Head. There is nothing else to mark the spot.

(2) Retrace the outward route.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 16^th February, 2017.