The Roaches, Hen Cloud + Lud’s Church Walk From Upper Hulme | 10-Mile Route

Ready for a fantastic walk in the Staffordshire Peak District? This route includes The Roaches and Hen Cloud, both with beautiful views of the area, then on to Lud’s Church for a completely different experience.

The Lud’s Church walk is one of those must-visit places in the Peak District and this walk is combined with two other beautiful locations. Lud’s Church is not an actual church building but it is known to have been a place of worship many years ago.

From the moment you step foot down the steps into the chasm of Lud’s Church, you’re greeted with the wow factor. It’s perfect for kids to explore and adults to marvel at the unique place that lies before them – photos don’t do it justice, but this is definitely a place to see with your own eyes.

This route starts in Upper Hulme and first takes you on a steep climb up to Hen Cloud, with views of the Tittesworth Reservoir to the west. From here you head down towards the Roaches and make your way along the top until you drop down and walk through some woods before reaching Lud’s Church. You then loop back and take a path parallel to the Roaches, but lower-level, until you reach Ramshaw Rocks then it’s back to the start at Upper Hulme.

Here you will find details on how to get to the start of the walk, route information, a map, a GPX file, plus a step-by-step guide of the walk.

Have you visited Lud’s Church? Let me know in the comments.

The Roaches + Lud’s Church Walk from Upper Hulme

gpx file

The Roaches + Lud’s Church walk map

© Crown copyright and database rights (2024) OS 002572460

Walk start point

Start grid reference: SK 00696 61258

Car parking address: Roach Road, Upper Hulme, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 8TY – Google location

There is free layby parking along much of this road, you may need to drive further down to find a space if you arrive later.

Public transport

Nearest train station: Buxton (10 miles/17 mins) or  Stoke-on-Trent train station (16 miles/35 mins)

The number 16 bus goes from the train station to near the start of the walk – D&G Buses from close to both train stations.

Facilities on the walk

There are no public toilets available at the start of the walk at Upper Hulme or on the walk.

At the start/finish of the walk, there’s a lovely tearoom, The Roaches Tearoom. they do amazing cakes so it is worth treating yourself at the end of your walk.

The Roaches patch

A classic design of the iconic gritstone rocks at the Roaches on our fourth charity patch. Order your patch here to celebrate completing the walk or buy as a gift for a friend or family member.

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The Roaches Patch

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Other useful information

The Roaches and Lud’s Church are both popular locations to visit in the Peak District, it’s worth getting there early or going during the week if you can.

Walking along The Roaches can be quite exposed so worth bringing an extra layer to keep warm. Also, the woods before Lud’s Church and walking through the woods can be muddy in places.

Would you know what to do in an emergency situation?

We have a guide with what to do, who you need to call and also some useful kit that should be in your backpack. Ask us any questions in the comments or via our social media.

Happy hiking + stay safe

read here

Peak District weather

Check the weather for your walk location and any hills before you set off.

• BBC Weather for Upper Hulme
• Met Office weather for The Roaches
• Met Office weather or MWIS for the Peak District

Ordnance Survey Walk Map

The map required for this walk is OL24 – Peak District (White Peak Area). And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition compass

Buy from Ordnance Survey, (a standard map or a waterproof one) or you might find cheaper deals on Amazon, but the Ordnance Survey website sometimes has discounts for buying more than one map!

And don’t forget your compass, I recommend the Silva Expedition or the Silva Classic compass.

For online maps, I recommend OS Online App (I have been using it for many years and it is worth getting if you want to start walking more). Check prices here for the one-month or annual option with OS Online App. All the walks on the website are created using OS Maps Online + you can download them to the OS Maps App.

Check prices here for the one month or yearly option with OS Online App. 

Want to read later? Save the walk to Pinterest

The Roaches + Lud’s Church walk route

Stage 1 – Upper Hulme to The Roaches (trig point)

Distance: 2 miles/3.3 km

Grid reference SK 00708 61270

Head north up the road from the layby near The Roaches Tearoom for a few hundred metres before you see a gate and track on your right. In front of you is the hill, Hen Cloud. Walk up the track then look for the smaller trails that head directly up to the top.

It’s a scramble in some places as you steeply ascend but a fun way to start the walk (you can go the long way around if you prefer by continuing on the track and taking a more gradual route up).

At the top of Hen’s Cloud, turn left and walk on the path heading down towards The Roaches, through a gate and on to the base of the rocks. Keep to the path bearing left to take the lower path, past the iconic Roaches gritstone rocks. You might see rock climbers here.

Then head through the woods and turn right and up the steps to the edge of The Roaches. Shortly after you’ll go past a small tarn – Doxey’s Pool on your right. Keep walking and after about 1 km you’ll reach The Roaches trig point.

Stage 2 – The Roaches to Lud’s Church

Distance: 1.5 mile/2.4 km

Grid reference SK 00119 63890

Continue walking past the trig point, and the path starts heading downhill towards a small road. Cross over, go through the gate, then another small one and turn right, following the boundary wall leading into a wooded area.

Stay on the upper path through the woods which winds through the area and then brings you out to Lud’s Church. Descend the steps into the chasm and explore the path leading in between the rocks. It can get pretty muddy in places down here.

Stage 3 – Lud’s Church to Roach End

Distance: 2.2 miles/3.5 km

Grid reference SJ 99276 65794

Once you’ve explored and made your way out of Lud’s Church, follow the path, shortly after there’s a small grassy area with some rocks that makes a good picnic stop.

Keep walking along the path heading in a westerly direction, at the end you’ll reach a footpath on your left heading uphill. Turn left and head up along this short section of the edge.

The path then drops back down back to the road at Roach End where you initially turned off to go to Lud’s Church.

Stage 4 – Roach End to Ramshaw Rocks

Distance: 2.7 miles/4.3 km

Grid reference SJ 99562 64485

This time, turn left and follow the track down towards the farm and past a small school. Keep walking on the path, across a small bridge of Black Brook.

Keep walking alongside Black Brook, keeping it on your right and follow it all the way until you reach some farm buildings. Go through the gate and turn right, continue on the path then bear left heading up towards the road.

Turn right and walk down the road until you reach a T-junction, cross here and then pick up the footpath heading towards Ramshaw Rocks.

Stage 5 – Ramshaw Rocks to Upper Hulme

Distance: 2.1 mile/3.4 km

Grid reference SK 02010 62564

Follow the path along Ramshaw Rocks, then down where you reach the road again. On the opposite side of the road, look for a footpath that heads downhill, running parallel to the road. Then turn right through Naychurch and continue as the track winds down towards another farm, Well Farm.

Go through the farm, then turn right onto the footpath that will bring you out to the base of Hen Cloud and The Roaches. Continue walking until you reach the road. Turn left and you’ll be back at the layby.

Let me know if you have any questions about this walk in the comments.

Other options for this walk

Shorten the walk

An option to not shorten, but make this walk slightly easier is by missing out on the climb up Hen Cloud at the start of the walk, instead, carry on up the road and take the footpath a few hundred metres up on your right.

You can also do the walk as a linear walk and return back via The Roaches instead of looping around and via Ramshaw Rocks. View the map here. This would make it an 8-mile/13-km route.

We also have a new shorter route on the website – The Roaches Walk + Hen Cloud From Upper Hulme | 7-Mile Route

More walks in the Peak District

Looking for more 10-mile walks in the Peak District, you might like some of these walks

• Mam Tor Via Jacob’s Ladder Walk From Edale | 10-Mile Route
• Alport Castles Walk From Ladybower Reservoir (Fairholmes) | 10-Mile Route
• Derwent Edge Walk From Ladybower Reservoir (Fairholmes) | 10-Mile Route

Or check out all our Peak District walking routes here

View walks directory here

Lud's Church patch

Lud's Church is a wonderful hidden spot in the Peak District. Our patch captures the view exploring Lud's Church.

Order your patch below.

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Lud’s Church Patch

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Mam Tor Patch

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Kinder Scout Patch

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Thorpe Cloud Patch

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The Roaches Patch

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Win Hill Patch

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Peak District Walks Patch

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