walking | The Roaches
What and where are The Roaches?
The Roaches is a rocky prominence near Leek and Tittesworth Reservoir fairly popular among walkers and climbers alike. With the added bonus of Lud's Church nearby we thought we would combine the two for one mega-walk around the hill.
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For those wanting a shorter walk you can cut this in two and leave sections out if required, but we highly recommend taking in both! This route takes you on a circular walk from Wincle through Luds Church and around to the Roaches.
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Remember to stick to The Rules and have fun!
3-5 hours
8.2 miles
Peak District
Get this route
Download our route and follow this yourself from either OS Maps or ViewRanger. OS Maps requires a subscription, which luckily you can get 10% off with Northern Stroll on any 12 month subscription. Check out our blog post for the code.
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ViewRanger is free and much like OS Maps doesn't require any data to work. All you need is a GPS signal, especially if you have downloaded your maps beforehand. It also has OS Maps available as a layer inside the app.
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Don't have ViewRanger on your phone yet? See our guide, or download it in your app store.
Route overview
Starting in Wincle, this route crosses over the Danebridge and takes a quick turn to the left, following a track through the woods and out the other side, before doubling back and heading up the hill to ascend the back towards Lud's Church.
Once over the top, walkers can either go through Lud's Church or head alongside and over the top to the saddle (middle low bit) with The Roaches out to your right. Once you have been over, double back and then take the other path back towards the start point. You'll cross over the top of the hill, down onto a road and then across two styles into an open field with a single rock in the middle.
Then, turning into the forest the route will take you back down towards Wincle, where food, beer and other non-alcoholic refreshments await. Enjoy!
Key things to know:
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Time: About 3-5 hours depending on your speed
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Distance: 8.23 miles
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Elevation: 1,339 feet
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How to get here:
Postcode: SK11 0QE for your start point (please park sensibly and respectfully of both the pub and residents).
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Parking is rather tight around the local area, especially if the weather is nice and the pub is busy. Make sure you keep close to the wall and out of the way.