The Roaches and Lud's Church
Two of the most distinctive bits of the whole Peak District back to back. The Roaches ridge has proper exposure and Lud's Church is one of those places that makes you stop and look twice.
Effort: Good distance, solid climb
Underfoot: Some uneven or off-path ground
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Mostly runnable, with some steep sections you'll likely walk.
A gritstone circuit in the Staffordshire Peak District linking the dramatic rock escarpment of The Roaches with the hidden chasm of Lud's Church. Vivid terrain packed into 12km.
Two of the most distinctive bits of the whole Peak District back to back. The Roaches ridge has proper exposure and Lud's Church is one of those places that makes you stop and look twice.
The route
From roadside parking on Roach Road, the route climbs onto the Roaches escarpment — a gritstone ridge with big views west to Cheshire and east across the Staffordshire moorlands. Descending through moorland, the route enters the narrow chasm of Lud's Church: a natural moss-covered gorge carved into the millstone grit.
Lud's Church
Not a church — a deep natural cleft in the gritstone formed by a landslip. Up to 18m deep, 100m long, and perpetually damp. Local legend links it to the Green Chapel in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. One of the stranger places in England.
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Rocky and slippery on the Roaches escarpment when wet. Steep descent into Lud's Church. The gorge is narrow with loose rock on the sides.
Summits on this route
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
- Most runners complete The Roaches and Lud's Church in 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 25 minutes, depending on pace and conditions.
GPX checked· last checked June 2026
Distance, ascent and grade are calculated from the GPX file. Nobody has run this one for us yet, so treat the description as a plan rather than a report. How we check routes
About the author
Runner reports
Nobody's logged a run here yet. If you get out on it, a few lines about how it went helps the next person plan their day.
Races on this ground
All Peak District races →Races starting within 20 km of the The Roaches and Lud's Church start, nearest first. If you are entered for one, this route is the rehearsal.
3
Oct
2026
Goyt Valley Challenge
Buxton Community School, College Road, Buxton · LDWA High Peak · 7 miles away
A 26.2 or 14.3 mile loop of the western Peak from Buxton over Axe Edge, the Goyt Valley, Shining Tor and Lamaload. Moorland, so carry the kit for it.
Entries open
£17–£23
7
Nov
2026
Six Dales Circuit
Biggin Village Hall, near Hartington, Derbyshire · LDWA Staffordshire · 9 miles away
Twenty-five miles of White Peak dales from Biggin: Biggin, Wolfscote and Beresford Dales to Hartington, Monyash, Lathkill and Bradford Dales, and Long Dale home. Two hundred places.
Entries open
£12–£20