[Krank]

I want to head up to Grinah Stones in the near future and im after the best way to get up there. Approach from where? how long is the walk in? Should i lug 2 pads up there or are the landings good enough for just 1 pad.
Are there any other crags in the area worth looking at or is there enough at Grinah for a weekends fun.

Cheers

[Bonjoy]

The Derwent res road is closed at weekends, so you'll have to park at Fairholme and catch the bus (every 15/20 mins IIRC). Bear in mind that the last bus back is at 6pm and missing it will add more than three miles to the walkout! From the bus stop it is about a three mile walk in, first up a steepening path, then across unpathed moorland. Walking in with two pads would be unpleasant to say the least. That said the best lines are quite high so a few pads are welcome i.e. it's a good place to visit as part of a team.
There is an approach across the top, which is a shorter distance and less steep than the standard approach, but it is all off the path so probably quite hard work (I've never been in this way so could be wrong).
There is enough at Grinah for a weekend (bivvying up there would make a lot of sense if you intend to climb both days). There aren't really any other crags nearby, except for maybe the Barrow Stones, but I know nothing about those.

[Krank]

 cheers Bonjoy. I will abandon the 2 pads idea and try to recruit more pad monkeys.

[Bonjoy]

This pic gives an idea of the amount there:

[Johnny Brown]

I've walked in from Snake summit. Follow the main path north to the top of Bleaklow (fine) then head due east across hags and groughs (hard work). 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

[Krank]

Cheers JB.

Bonjoy, that picture looks good, think i should be fine for a couple of days.

[Johnny Brown]

There are a few good bivvy spots, if you get the weather it'll be great.

Also worth noting on the approach Jon describes the first half is a forestry track that can be cycled.

[Bonjoy]

Yeah, the second time we visited a couple of us cycled and stashed bikes in the woods. If in a team this means you can miss the last bus and send someone ahead on the bike to pick up a car, then drive back up and get the team. The road is technically closed on the weekend and you will get bollocked if you park on it, but the gate is actually open and it’s fine to drive and pick someone up late on in the day.

[Krank]

plan was to go up this weekend but it looks like it might rain, i think it will have to get penciled in for the next dry weekend. Only got a flatland BMX, it would take me a long time on that.

Do both paths take about the same time?

[Bonjoy]

Sounds like it.
You've got more faith in weather forecasters than me if you're making decisions about the weekend on a Monday! With unsettled conditions like this you wont get anything really meaningful until Thursday I reckon.

[Falling Down]

I've walked in and out from the Longendale side up Farside or Torside (can't remember which) clough (the one with some trad routes in with a track that runs up the side and top) and it didn't take too long. 1.5 hours maybe....

[andy_e]

Far Back Clough FD? Did you park at the old Woodhead Tunnels entrance?

[Bonjoy]

Since posting above I've also walked in from the north off the Woodhead road. Parked in a layby on the Eastbound side at 53.493622, -1.816367 and walked in via Far Small Clough on recommendation of a fell runner who knows all the land well round there. It took less than an hour to get to Barrow Stones and didn't involve any big uphill slogging. It would take a further 15mins to get to Grinah. Barrow Stones is well worth a visit - less of it and scrittlier than Grinah but the lines make up for it.
This would deffo be my preferred Grinah approach if I was driving in from the North. It's less clear cut for Sheffielders though as the extra driving time might be greater than the walking time saved.

[andy_e]

Nice one Bonus. Would it not make more sense to park at  53.493868°,  -1.804716° for Far Small Clough? Or did you walk along and up Rose Clough to get to Far Small Clough?

[Bonjoy]

Sorry wrong layby coordinates - it was a longer one further east at 53.493622, -1.816367

[webbo]

It's still a two tee shirt job.

[Falling Down]

Far Back Clough FD? Did you park at the old Woodhead Tunnels entrance?

Gosh, that was a long time ago.  Yes, we went up Far Back Clough but I can't remember where we parked.  We went early in the Spring and on the walk over dropped down into a large depression which was chock full of dozens of Mountain Hare's in their winter coat against the dark moorland.  A remarkable sight.  I love it up there.  It's been years...

[andy_e]

Good spotting skills Ben! Cheers for the info. All we need now is a prolonged warm weekend in a few months' time and it's on!

[mark20]

I went up at the weekend from the layby andy_e suggests, which was a fairly pleasant walk. At the top of the stream follow the vague path along the fence. Lots of cloudberries up there. Took about 1h 15 steady walk to The Barrow Stones and another 15 to Grinah.
But I think if I was going up from Sheffield and more interested in the Grinah Stones then I'd go from the reservoir side.