Trail Running > Routes > Peak District Routes > The Roaches & Lud’s Church
A spectacular 20 km trail run in the South West Peak District featuring sandstone ridges, sweeping views and tumbling rivers.
Why run this trail?
Although the maximum elevation is a modest 505 m, this trail run in the South West Peak District feels anything but tame. The sandstone ridges of The Roaches and Hen Cloud rise dramatically from the moors, their craggy outlines and far-reaching views providing an almost otherworldly quality.
This trail running route has a bit of everything — steep woodland paths, riverside trails, boggy moorland single track and a huge expanse of boulders and gritstone edges to explore. It finishes with a tour of Lud’s Church, a deep, mossy chasm hidden in the woods above Gradbach — an atmospheric finale to a varied and rewarding run.
There’s no single big climbs, but the cumulative ascent and challenging ground conditions all add up. The middle section is extremely rocky and will test those ankles – especially if you opt for some off-piste crag hopping.
The Roaches are well-loved by runners, climbers and hikers, so you’ll likely share the trail with a lot of kindred spirits, particularly at weekends.
Wincle to Roach End
The run starts from the beautiful village of Wincle, on the fringes of the South West Peak District. After a short downhill section on the lane from the Ship Inn, a signed footpath (Gradbach via Dane Valley) directs you left just after crossing the road bridge. Shortly afterwards, turn right up the stone steps to climb steeply through forestry works at Danebridge.
The path is obvious and soon crosses a field to join a gravel track. Turn right and follow the track as it climbs gradually to join a lane past the farm under the Hanging Stone. Continue to Paddock Cottage and bear right where the track forks. This soon narrows to a boggy moorland path that hugs the wall at the foot of a rise.
At the top of the climb you will join a broad gravel track on the moor. Turn right – clearly signposted ‘Roaches’. You’ll pass a prominent copse of trees and eventually emerge at Roach End via a small gap in the wall. Cross directly over the lane and take the stone staircase opposite – the start of the rocks are silhouetted on the crest of the hill ahead.
The Roaches
As you crest the hill, large rock formations start to appear on your right, with expansive views across Staffordshire and the Cheshire plain.
These ethereal pillars of sandstone – created hundreds of millions of years ago by flood residue – create a mystical and elemental skyline. On a blustery November day with 40 mph gusts of wind, I was glad of the fleeting shelter they provided regardless of their geological significance.
The Roaches (from the French les roches – “the rocks”) form a 3 km spine of sandstone edges, rocky columns and precipitous drops. A well marked track weaves its way to the trig point – the apex of the route at 505 m. Fighting the gale through watery eyes, I could clearly see the dish of Jodrell Bank Observatory, the Clwydian hills of North Wales and the distinctive dark outline of Shutlingsloe hill towards Macclesfield Forest.
The track continues south with panoramic views in every direction. I hugged some of the edges to take photos, admiring the plunging columns of rock and skeletal trees clinging to the cliffs for their meagre existence.
Passing the tiny Doxey Pool, its waters choppy from the storm, I mused on the legend of Jenny Greenteeth – a mythical mermaid said to lure passers by to their fate. No sign of the dentally challenged nymph today – most likely enjoying a quiet floss below, well away from the howling wind.
At the southern tip of The Roaches, the trail fragments and offers plenty of options for exploration. I found myself slithering down small gullies, hopping between boulders and testing my imaginary gecko capabilities on big slabs of the gritstone before heading down to the base of Hen Cloud.
Hen Cloud
I have childhood memories of walking up Hen Cloud on a summer’s day. We called it “Cloud End” back then – no wonder I could never find it on a map afterwards!
Hen Cloud is a small but dramatic ski jump of rock that rises steeply to 410 m, its rugged crest resembling a breaking wave. It’s a short, punchy climb that provides another test for tired legs after all that rock-hopping.
From the top, it’s a short descent down the east side of the outcrop that ends in a small stand of pine trees and back onto moorland to begin the return leg.
Hen Cloud to Lud’s Church
Heading north involves climbing up to The Roaches one more time. I added some variety by sweeping round slightly below the southern tip of the range before climbing once more up to the ridge. From here, it’s simply a case of retracing your steps past Doxey Pool and the trig point, then back over the lane at Roach End to pick up the trail towards Danebridge and Gradbach.
After about 800 m, the track forks – the left fork will retrace your steps all the way back to Wincle if you decide to call it a day. For Lud’s Church, continue straight ahead on the wide moorland track for 1.5 km then turn right at the large T-junction of tracks.
The descent begins through the heather and you will shortly enter a lovely area of deciduous woodland that is rather unambiguously named Forest Wood. So good they (practically) named it twice.
I did a short loop of the woodland so that I could descend through the chasm of Lud’s Church from the southern end. The occasional sections of boardwalk in the woods (some of it rotten and slick with algae and moss) are a good indicator of the general state of the path underneath – the only point in the run where I wished I’d chosen some shoes with bigger studs.
Lud’s Church is a deep, vertical-sided fissure cut into the rock and nestled away deep in the trees. Its moss-covered walls and hidden nooks feel ancient and evocative – worthy of its historic reputation as a site of pagan worship and also a mythical hideout for Robin Hood and Friar Tuck. It’s only 100 m long, but well worth exploring slowly – watch out for the very slippery ground conditions after rainfall.
Lud’s Church to Wincle
The final leg back to Wincle drops through the trees and follows the twisting and tumbling River Dane, offering some short steep climbs that really empty the tank. It’s a fitting close to a great morning on the trail.
Your finish line reward? A visit to Wincle Brewery, where the post-run medal comes in two flavours — a pint of award-winning ale or a strong, syrupy coffee – choose your weapon!
[NOTE: neither products are free to finishers and the brewery must be remunerated in exchange for your refreshment of choice].
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Have you run this route? If you’ve discovered a better variation, noticed something that’s changed or have local knowledge to share, I’d love to hear from you.
More trail running routes in the Peak District
Trail Running Routes in the Peak District
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All routes and GPX files are provided as a guide only. Conditions, rights of way, and landmarks may change. Always carry an up‑to‑date map and use your own judgement. See the Trail Run Disclaimer page for details.