The Roaches Guided Walk - Peak Walking Adventures

Description

The Roaches are spectacular rock formations which rise to 1657 ft/ 505m above the Staffordshire Moorlands. Our route includes ascents of Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks and a walk across the beautiful, less-frequented Gradbach Hill. A visit to a deep and legendary rock chasm called Luds Church precedes a walk along the entire length of the Roaches main ridge. This is a wonderful day’s hiking, and full of variety with history, wildlife, unusual geology and far reaching views across the surrounding countryside.

Additional information

The Walk	The Roaches are spectacular rock formations which rise to 1657 ft/ 505m above the Staffordshire Moorlands. Our route includes ascents of Hen Cloud and Ramshaw Rocks and a walk across the beautiful, less-frequented Gradbach Hill. A visit to a deep and legendary rock chasm called Luds Church precedes a walk along the entire length of the Roaches main ridge. This is a wonderful day’s hiking, and full of variety with history, wildlife, unusual geology and far reaching views across the surrounding countryside.

The Walk

What’s included?

Included

Qualified Mountain Leader or Hill and Moorland Leader with Outdoor First Aid Qualifications.
Guiding throughout the day with briefing advice and support to ensure your safety.
Narrative on local points of interest, wildlife, geology, history and culture.
Optional photography of your day which can be shared with you.
The option of a free, return lift from a station or bus stop to the start of your walk to encourage sustainable travel. We can only arrange this if we have spare space in our vehicle and the pick-up point is reasonably close to your walk. Ask us when you book.

Not Included:

Parking or transport costs associated with your walk.
Essential walking kit or food.
Navigation equipment and maps for Navigation Courses (we will help if we have spares).

What to Bring

Here’s an Essential Kit Kist for all our walks >

Meeting and Parking

We meet at the entrance to the Roaches Tea Rooms, Paddock Farm, Roach Road, Upper Hulme, Leek, ST13 8TY.

Please Note:

The postcode on Satnav may not take you all the way to the Tea Rooms.
The Tea Rooms are up the little lane that leads north west out of the village of Upper Hulme – please see a Google Map showing the location here.
There is parking in the layby opposite the Tea Rooms’ entrance or in the fields adjacent (please bring £5 in coins for parking in case needed).

Coming by Bus or Train?
We’re keen to support public transport use and reduce emissions. If you’re arriving reasonably nearby, we’ll give you a free lift. Ask us when you book.

Facilities

There are refreshments, light meals and toilets at the Roaches Tea Rooms. Leek, a traditional Staffordshire Market Town, is 5 miles / 9 kilometres away, with shops, pubs, hotels, restaurants, fuel stations and accommodation. See map here.

Walk Difficulty

This is a Harder Walk. Here is our walk difficulty guide >

FAQs

We have created a separate page of the most frequently asked questions here >

Accommodation

Click here to see a Google map of accommodation near this walk’s start.

Respect, Protect and Enjoy!

We all want to respect, protect and enjoy the fragile upland environments where we walk, so that they can be enjoyed by generations to come. Following The Countryside Code really helps…

Respect:

Be considerate to those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside
Leave gates and property as you find them
Do not block access to gateways or driveways when parking
Be nice, say hello, share the space
Follow local signs and keep to marked paths unless wider access is available

Protect:

Take your litter home – leave no trace of your visit
Do not light fires and only have BBQs where signs say you can
Always keep dogs under control and in sight
Dog poo – bag it and bin it – any public waste bin will do
Care for nature – do not cause damage or disturbance

Enjoy:

Check your route and local conditions
Plan your adventure – know what to expect and what you can do
Enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory

Want to know more?

Sustainability – our actions and fund raising to support the local environment, communities and economy.
Contact Us – ask a question or make a suggestion.