![\""Atmospheric\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2022\/02\/The-Roaches-eec5d1e.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C412"\" "\\"\"The\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The Roaches walk<\/h2>\n
5.8 miles\/9.3km | 4 hours | moderate<\/em><\/p>\n 1. Red grouse on the hill<\/strong><\/p>\n Start at The Roaches Tea Rooms<\/a> (or park in a lay-by nearby) and walk north along the lane. The outcrops of the Five Clouds and The Roaches to your right have long been a favourite climbing location; the renowned mountaineer Don Williams was one of many climbers who trained here.<\/p>\n The crags and moorland are home to a great range of wild birds; listen for red grouse chuckling in the heather and watch out for birds of prey such as buzzards and sparrowhawks. More elusive residents are Bennett\u2019s Wallabies. During WW2 a local\u00a0private zoo released its exhibits into the wild, among which were these Tasmanian marsupials, the descendents of which are still occasionally seen. Keep ahead for Royal Cottage.<\/p>\n 2. Gritstone chasm<\/strong><\/p>\n Some 100m past a gate across the road, fork left along a grassy track for Clough Head.\u00a0At the next lane, turn\u00a0left, then right in 100m at the cattle-grid along a signed footpath. Drift right beneath telephone wires to rejoin a lane and bear left. At a left bend, fork ahead-right to a stile in a wall. Keep ahead on a path for The Ridge and pass through a gate. Carry on for Lud\u2019s Church then down the path into woods. Within the trees, turn left for Lud\u2019s Church and follow a path into this dramatic gritstone chasm.<\/p>\n 3. Into the gorge<\/strong><\/p>\n Lud\u2019s Church is allegedly named after Walter de Ludauk, leader of the local Lollards (15th-century religious dissenters who secretly worshiped here). The fern and moss-covered gorge is more prosaically said to be the Green Chapel where Sir Gawain slew the Green Knight. From the mouth\u00a0of the gorge turn right along a woodland path. Fingerposts guide you to a lane at Roach End.<\/p>\n 4. Oatcakes for all<\/strong><\/p>\n Cross to the main path as it rises to the crest of The Roaches ridge. The views of the uplands, dappled with renovated and derelict farmsteads, are stunning. For centuries, this area has been used to graze sheep \u2013 the remote farms were self-sufficient, and the major crop was oats, which grew well in the poor, damp climate. Rolled, mixed with milk and cooked on a bakestone, the oats were transformed into a staple foodstuff, the Staffordshire oatcake.<\/p>\n Written records mention them in the 17th century and they were a common, nourishing meal enjoyed by pottery workers until the 1960s. Filled with cheese, they remain a tasty treat \u2013 try one at The Roaches Tearooms<\/a>.<\/p>\n Continue along the ridge, passing Doxey Pool, apparently haunted by a terrifying 10m tall water sprite. Shortly after this, turn right down a wide gully, then left along a path through the woods below the crags, eventually reaching Rockhall, a crenulated cottage-cum-cave built into the cliff.\u00a0Turn right to the road. The Roaches Tea Room<\/a> is situated at Paddock Farm, on the way back to Upper Hulme.<\/p>\n The Roaches walking route and map.<\/a><\/p>\n![\""Red\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-147025295-66f5c6d.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"Red\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Eurasian\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/GettyImages-186621163-8a51be6.jpg?quality=90&resize=577%2C413"\" "\\"\"Eurasian\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The Roaches map<\/h2>\n
![\""The\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Screenshot-2020-02-14-at-15.26.28-d3b567f.png?quality=90&resize=620%2C404"\" "\\"\"The\\"\/")
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