[3] The source of the brook is at the base of Soldiers Knoll near Stainsborough Hall, from where it flows west until it reaches the upper end of Carsington Water near Hopton.

It reappears at the outlet of the dam, and flows in a south-westerly direction past the villages of Hognaston, Atlow, and Sturston until it reaches the town of Ashbourne.

Downstream of the town it passes the village of Clifton before reaching its confluence with the River Dove at Church Mayfield.

[2] There has been a long history of human presence and settlement in the Henmore valley, with many Palaeolithic sites both in the north near Carsington, with round barrows and standing stones, and other tumuli in the sandstone hills south of Ashbourne.

This was discovered during archaeological digs that took place beside the Scow Brook prior to the area being inundated by Carsington Water.