The Roaches and Lud’s Church Walk – Peak District

The Roaches and Lud’s Church are two very well known and visited parts of the Peak District in England. Day hikers, rock climbers and people seeking to learn about history and legends all come to visit these spectacular spots. 

Like many walking trails in the Peak District, The Roaches is a place that you can visit in any season and still go home wanting to see more. Since it’s easy to access and complete for any level of hiker, whilst providing many different walking trail options, most people (like me) do return on a regular basis.  

If you’d like to see our walk then make sure to watch our YouTube video linked below.

About The Roaches and Lud’s Church

The Roaches

Located in the Peak District National Park in England, The Roaches is a stunning ridge with many rock formations. The name ‘Roaches’ comes from the French word ‘roches’ which means ‘rocks’. At a height of 505 m (1,657 ft) it rises above the nearest town of Leek and Tittesworth Reservoir. Therefore, from the top on a clear day you can see much of Cheshire and even Snowdon in North Wales. 

Together with Hen Cloud, Ramshaw Rocks and Five Cloud they form a gritstone escarpment and have become well-visited by hikers, climbers and runners over the years. In 1980 the Peak District National Park Authority purchased The Roaches Estate which includes the Roaches and Hen Cloud in order to protect the area from development. 

Lud’s Church

Due to it’s close proximity to The Roaches, hikers who visit the area will definitely visit Lud’s Church too. Despite the name it’s actually an 18m deep chasm whose walls are covered in vivid green moss all year round. The moss-covered gorge has many secrets and legends associated with it.

Legends, myths and the history of Lud’s Church – The name “Lud’s Church” is often associated with the story that in the 15th century scholastic philosopher John Wycliffe’s followers, the Lollards, used this spot as their secret place of worship. It was to avoid persecution for their religious beliefs. 

Another well known myth associated with Lud’s Church is that of the ‘Green Chapel’. In the famous tale of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table travel to the Green Chapel (Lud’s Church) where they meet the Green Knight. The Green Knight challenges Sir Gawain to take a swing at him on the condition that in a year’s time the Green Knight will be allowed to return and take a swing at Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain accepted the challenge and cut the knight’s head from his shoulders. However, the Green Knight did not die, but promised to return the favour when the time came. Sir Gawain spent the year overcoming his own pride and confidence through rigorous challenges and in turn survived the Green Knight’s swing a year later with barely a scratch.

Local legend says that many famous figures like Robin hood and Friar Tuck used Lud’s Church as their hideout. In addition, it’s also been said that the devil himself created the chasm which explains why it feels so much cooler when walking through it even on a hot summers day. 

Whether you believe in any of the legends or myths, one thing is for sure: Lud’s Church is so different to The Roaches and any other area of the Peak District that it would be a mistake not to visit it!

 

How to get to the Roaches?

By Car

The Roaches and Lud’s Church are located approximately 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Leek and 11 miles (17 km) to the south-west of Buxton just off the A53. There are designated on-road parking opportunities along Roach Road.

If you don’t have your own car but would like to enjoy the freedom of a private vehicle, then you can always hire a car to get to the Roaches.

Please Note! – There are signs along Roach Road suggesting that you park in the dedicated parking bays so please obey these rules. Roach Road is very narrow, therefore, if you park on the side of the road or in passing places it could cause issues for others driving along this road. We also saw a patrol car driving past us  at one point so you might end up with an unwanted ticket!

Top Tip – Even though there are options for parking along the road, these fill up very quickly especially on the weekends. Therefore, arrive very early to secure yourself a parking spot.

By Public Transport

Unfortunately, public transport options to reach the Roaches are limited. The only way to reach it is by taking Bus 16 running between Buxton and Hanley. Disembark at ‘Old Buxton Road’ in Hulme and you can start your walk from here. You’ll have to walk along Roaches Road for a good 20 minutes before you start your climb. 

Bear in mind that whilst there are two hourly services on weekdays, there are only a few services running on Saturday and no services on Sunday. If you’re arriving from further afield, I recommend travelling to Buxton first by train. Make sure to plan your journey with Trainline which also provides information on bus fares.

By Bike: Whilst obviously you can’t cycle along the Roaches, there are a few National and Local Cycle Routes you can cycle on in the vicinity.

Useful to Know Before You Go

Length of the Route

The route we chose to do was about 10 km (6 miles) long. Depending on your speed and how long you are spending taking photos or stopping for a picnic, this route could take at least 3 to 4 hours. 

We started the walk from Roach Road and headed straight up to the Roaches then walked along the ridge. After descending, we carried on along the trail towards Lud’s Church.  From there we circled back through Back Forest to the Roaches. There’s a footpath running along the Roaches (or you can also walk along Roach Road) to get back to your car.

If you’d like to extend your walk, Hen Cloud is located just next to the Roaches which is another popular spot for both walkers and climbers. You can also extend your walk towards Three Shires Head which is a beautiful waterfall at the meeting point of three counties: Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Of course, you can also shorten your walk by only walking along the Roaches.

Top Tip – Make sure you start your walk as early as possible if you come on a weekend. Alternatively, I suggest coming on a weekday if you can. Since it’s an easy walk with stunning views its become a popular area, so expect it to be packed with people especially on a nice day. I always feel more connected to nature if I don’t have to pass a constant stream of walkers. 

Level of Difficulty

I think the route is relatively easy and you can complete it with a basic level of fitness. I recommend wearing the right footwear like trainers or boots. It’s slightly steep and the path can be slippery and muddy when wet. You’ll also have to cross and/or walk along the road and cross some fields with livestock in them.

Obviously, you’ll be exposed along the Roaches so wear appropriate clothing. If you do the full circle like we did, you’ll be covered in the forested section around Lud’s Church. I think this walk could be a great activity even on a slightly windy or rainy day. (I wouldn’t suggest doing it in the pouring rain though!)

Facilities Within the Roaches and Lud’s Church

Cafés and picnic spots: This walk is slightly limited in terms of facilities. Roaches Tea Rooms and Restaurant is the closest place to grab something to eat or drink. (Highlighted on the map.) Therefore, I highly recommend packing your own lunch, water and hot drinks. If the weather is lovely you can stop for a picnic. You can definitely stop anywhere along The Roaches and find a little shelter with a view between the rock formations.

Toilet facilities: There are no public toilets along the trail so you’ll need to find a private spot somewhere along it. It might be a bit challenging, since it’s pretty open and popular. The best section is somewhere within the forested section of the walk towards Lud’s Church. However, Roaches Tea Rooms and Restaurant might have customer toilets.

What to Wear and Bring With You?

You are in the north of England so weather conditions can change quickly. (On the day we climbed the Roaches we had the most amazing morning before thick fog surrounded us out of nowhere!) 

Since you’ll be climbing hills, I highly recommend wearing proper walking shoes. Also, you’ll be exposed for most of the trail so wear weather appropriate clothing. Make sure you check the weather forecast before you set off and have a few layers with you.

Since there are not many facilities in the immediate vicinity, pack some snacks and have plenty of water with you.

The Roaches and Lud’s Church Walking Route

The area around the Roaches and Lud’s Church is full of amazing walking routes. Since they are relatively easy trails which provide visitors with stunning views it attracts a lot of people. If you’d like to follow the route we did, I divided it into 3 main sections.

1. The Roaches

The Roaches and Lud’s Church walk starts between Hen Cloud and The Roaches. Depending on where you manage to park along Roach Road, you might need to walk along the road a bit to reach the sign that leads up to the Roaches. 

You’ll walk through a small field to begin with before the path turns to the left and you’ll begin your short but steep ascent. The path is well defined and very easy to follow. Make sure to look back and admire Hen Cloud and Tittesworth Reservoir if the weather allows it.

Due to the pretty amazing and unusual rock formations The Roaches also has its share of ancient legends. Probably the most well-known one is the story of Doxey Pool. Doxey Pool is a small pond on top of the Roaches. You can’t miss it because the trail will lead you to it. According to legend Doxey Pool is inhabited by a mermaid called Jenny Greenteeth. Jenny took a walk on a foggy morning (just like us) and, not seeing the pond in front of her, she fell in. Apparently she has been luring victims down into the pool ever since. 

Do you believe in legends? – Ironically, we walked in a thick fog too and the pond came into view at the very last moment. So, I can see how Jenny could easily fall into the water. Luckily, Doxey Pool was frozen on the day of our visit so nobody was lured by the water spirit.

From Doxey Pool just follow the trail all the way to Roach End. You’ll constantly be walking past and through many unique rock formations. So I recommend taking your time and enjoying both the view (if you picked a nice day) and the cool formations. Take many photos, stop for a picnic and don’t forget to look back to see the area from a different perspective. 

2. The Roaches to Lud’s Church

You’ll come to a crossroads when you reach Roach End. From here follow the sign to carry on towards Lud’s Church. You can either go straight ahead or to your right. We went straight ahead and walked through some fields before we reached Back Forest. If you take the path to your right at the fork you’ll walk through Back Forest first.

The path leading to Lud’s Church is very easy to follow and many sections will have wooden walkways so you can avoid getting too muddy. The woodland itself is very beautiful, so just take it all in when you’re walking through.

You’ll instantly know that you’ve reached Lud’s Church, because you’ll see the vivid green of the moss that covers the whole chasm. Even on a sunny day the temperature drops here significantly. The 100 m long chasm only takes a few minutes to walk through but I recommend you spend a little longer there. This place has a magical feel to it and you can understand why there are so many legends and myths built around this place. 

3. Lud’s Church to the Roaches

Depending on which way you approached Lud’s Church, I recommend taking the other path on your way back. I enjoy doing a circular walk where I don’t have to walk back the same way I came. So you’ll either be walking through Back Forest for the majority of the way or making your way back through the fields. 

Whichever trail you decide to take on your way back, you’ll come back to Roach End crossroad. From there you can either walk along the path that runs underneath The Roaches or alternatively you can just walk along Roach Road. (This could also depend on where you managed to park.) If you take the road then be cautious as vehicles will be passing you regularly. 

Additional Walks in the Peak District

There are many amazing places and trails located in close proximity to the Roaches and Lud’s Church. So, if you’d like to see more of the Peak District then make sure to check out some of my other blog posts that are either walkable or less than 30 minutes’ drive away from the Roaches: 

Three Shires Head Walk – A picturesque waterfall, located at the meeting point of three counties in the north of England: Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill – A 10 km circular route with a good mixture of trails, fields and ridges with some magnificent views of the surrounding area and beyond.

Macclesfield Forest –  A 10 km circular route filled with unique features from dense pine forestation to an abandoned farmhouse, and even a miniature Matterhorn. 

Dovedale Stepping Stones – A 6-mile circular route with beautiful views, stepping stones and the coolest limestone formations.

Monsal Dale and Wye Valley Walk – A 10 km circular route in Monsal Dale and the Wye Valley along the River Wye and Deep Dale, stopping at Monsal Head and Ashford-in-the-Water.

Final Thoughts on the Roaches and Lud’s Church Hike

Even though the thick fog stopped us from seeing the views of the area I still very much enjoyed our foggy winter wonderland walk. Despite the weather the trail was still busy, but at least the fog made us feel like we were the only ones on the trail. I’ll definitely be returning to the Roaches in spring to actually enjoy the view and take a closer look at the amazing rock formations. 

Have you ever been to the Roaches or Lud’s Church before? If so, which season did you go in and how much of the area did you manage to explore? Let me know in the comments below.