It was at this point during our walk that we realised we’d need to head back to the car if wanted any chance of making it back on time. Looking at the map, we decided the quickest route would be to go down the Crowden Clough path, following the water down the hillside. You have to retrace your steps a little to get closer to the stream you crossed earlier, then look for a narrow path in the heather that leads downhill.

It actually ended up being one of the most rewarding parts of the route. It was a lot quieter than the paths we’d been on so far, and there were several small waterfalls on the way down. However, this downhill section is steep, and scrambling is necessary in some parts.

If you have large dog that likes to pull on the lead, you might struggle here if you decide to keep them leashed. We ended up taking Flynn off his lead (which we don’t normally do), because I didn’t fancy being dragged all the way down. Also, we barely saw another soul at this point, so I didn’t need to worry about Flynn running up to people and saying hello (which he normally does by planting two muddy paws on your chest). It was better for everyone if he was allowed to run free on this part!