WALKING | Autumn Walks, Hen Cloud in the Peak District
We arrive at The Roaches late one morning on a crisp and warm autumn day despite my satnav choosing an absurd route, all winding and impossibly narrow single track lanes.
I’ve never been keen on the name. The Roaches conjures up the image of skittering bugs and certainly not a majestic ridge of gritstone crags, so despite living only 20 miles away, it took several years before we visited the region for the first time.
Towering high above Leek, just inside the Peak District national park, Hen Cloud is a prominent rocky ridge situated right next to The Roaches. Currently managed by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, the area is stunning and full of wildlife; we’ve seen Red Grouse when walking here previously. Peregrine Falcons can also be spotted here and The Roaches is actually designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest as it contains several important habitats.
Having walked up The Roaches and on to Lud’s Church in the past, this time we decide to head right, crossing a field filled with grazing sheep, then on up towards the enticingly steep rocky outcrop to the north, known as Hen Cloud. The short climb up The Roaches is always well worth it for some fantastic views, but the views prove even more expansive than on previous visits.
At it’s highest point the ridge rises to 505 metres which makes for an easy and quick ascent. Livestock graze all around, deftly clinging on to tiny, vertigo-inducing ledges and there’s Heather carpeting every open space, a beautiful delicate pink in colour.
With the weather on our side this time the view from the top of Hen Cloud was breathtaking, affording us fantastic views of Tittersworth Reservoir and right out over the Cheshire plains and well beyond. The perfect way to spend an Autumn day outdoors.
Find out more
- Visit the Roaches
- Things to do in the Peak District
- The Roaches Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
- The Roaches to Lud’s Church Peak District Walk
From open water swimming, snowboarding and kayaking to hill walks and meditation, Shell shares her travels and microadventures here on the blog and in various publications she's written for, Shell has a particular interest in promoting wellbeing and the many benefits of nature therapy.
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