🌤The Roaches🌸Lud's Church🌼Ramshaw Rocks🌸10 mile Walk🌤

This spectacular walk starts near Upper Hulme, a tiny Hamlet clustered around an old mill on the River Churnet. The houses are unusual, built from a rose coloured local sandstone.
There's a historical pub called the Rock Inn our designated pub after the walk.

Our scenic walk starts with the Roaches, a magnificent gritstone escarpment.
As you walk along this rocky escarpment, the views are spectacular all around.
The Roaches consist of two edges, a lower and upper level with a set of rock-steps connecting them. The highest point marked by the trig point, is 505 metres high. Built into the rocks of the lower edge is Rock Cottage, a tiny primitive cottage once the gamekeeper's residence but has now been turned into a climbing hut. We'll explore Rock Cottage before we walk along the escarpment.

Coming off the upper level of the Roaches, the route continues towards Lud's Church.
The path goes through an enchanted looking wood before entering the mysterious Chasm of Lud's Church.
Lud's Church is a moss covered Chasm, (cleft or fissure) 18 metres deep and 100 metres long. It's possible to walk the length of it, in places the Chasm is only 2 metres wide.
It was formed by gritstone of the Roaches which was caused by a great landslip.
Over the ages, the walls have become covered in vibrant green dripping moss ferns and grasses.
Arching above the Chasm are trees that have grown from both sides and meet in the middle to form a beautiful twining roof.
As well as a wonderful natural formation, it also has a lot of history.
In the fifteenth century, it was used as a secret place of worship. The Lollards, reforming Christians, were opposed to practices of the Roman Catholic Church and persecuted for their beliefs. This was a place they could worship without danger of being caught.
It is believed that the 'Lud' came from Walter de Lud Auk who was captured at Lud's Church during one of their meetings. For at least a century, a wooden ship's figurehead stood high in a niche within Lud's Church. It was known as the 'Lady Lud', supposedly placed there in memory of Alice, the daughter of Walter de Lud Auk. It is said that her ghost haunts the ravine..
This is a place of myths and mystery.

The route leaves this wondrous place and joins the Danes Valley Way Walking along a pretty stream, the perfect place for lunch.
Our route continues through moorland and edges, it goes through Blackbrook Nature Reserve before joining a lane below Ramshore Rocks, the views are spectacular.

Our route descends a path alongside the Roaches with an optional choice of joining the short path up onto Hen Cloud before descending to the road and back to the Layby where we started..

A moderately challenging walk with some gentle ascents

Expect rocky paths along the edges and muddy slippery paths through woodland

Catching up points as always and plenty of breaks along the way

Bring a picnic lunch, water and plenty of snacks to keep you going

Toilets at the Tearooms off the Roach Road

Walking boots are essential, a walking pole is also helpful

As always check the weather and dress accordingly

Do message me if you have any queries 07505143980

Look forward to seeing you all on our epic adventure..🚶‍♀️🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐑🐄🚶‍♂️👨‍🦯🌳🚶‍♀️