Sunday, 8th September 2013

 

Walk: Gradbach Youth Hostel, Dane Valley, Hanging Stone, Lud's Church, Back Forest, The Roaches, Ramshaw Rocks, Cloughhead
Start Point: Car park near Gradbach Youth Hostel Grid Ref: SJ 998 662
 
Distance: 13.5 miles Ascent: 2,400 feet
Weather: Sunny spells Time: 7 hours
Comments: The walk started alongside the River Dane, passing through the dappled shade of the woodland. This eventually gave way to open countryside and a climb up to the Hanging Stone where we stopped for a morning break. Another section of woodland brought us to the chasm known as Lud Church - see below for more information. It was then on to The Roaches, a prominent rocky ridge situated above Leek and Tittesworth Reservoir. The ridge with its spectacular rock formations rises steeply to 505 m (1,657 ft). Exploring the rock formations along the ridge was great fun, before descending to watch some rock climbers test out their skills on the rock face. A short walk through fields brought us to Ramshaw Ridge and more rock formations. From here field paths and a road section brought us back to the Youth Hostel from where we retraced our steps back to the car. A very enjoyable walk.

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

Not an easy car park to find, but eventually we are already to set off . . .

 

and find the BBQ going at the nearby Youth Hostel - for a Charity walk!

 

A pleasant walk in the woodland . . .

 

where Kath tries out the rope swing

 

John tempts the goats with a little grass . . .

 

but these prefer to choose their own

 

John points out an amazing mass of exposed tree roots . . .

 

below which the clay soil almost looks like bricks

 

Our first view of the Hanging Stone a precarious rock outcrop
on Back Forest Ridge overlooking Swythamley Hall . . .

 

    The plaque reads:

    LT COL HENRY COURTNEY BROCKLEHURST 10TH ROYAL HUSSARS
    AND PILOT IN THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS 1916-1918
    GAME WARDEN OF THE SUDAN
    BORN AT SWYTHAMLEY MAY 27TH 1888
    KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN BURMA
    ON COMMANDO JUNE 1942

    "Horses he loved and laughter, the sun, with spaces and the open air.
    The trust of all dumb living things he won and never knew the luck too good to share.
    His were the simple heart and open hand and honest faults he never strove to hide.
    Problems of life he could not understand but as a man would wish to die, he died.
    Now though he will not ride with us again, his merry spirit seems our comrade yet,
    Freed from the power of weariness and pain, forbidding us to mourn or to forget....

    Erected by his devoted brother 1949"

 

Kath checks out the view from the top . . .

 

before peering over the edge

 

Ascending . . .

 

and descending . . .

 

into Lud Church . . .

 

 an immense natural cleft in the rock on the hillside above Gradbach . . .

 

in a forest area known as the Black Forest.

 

The feature has been formed by a landslip which has detached a large section of rock from the hillside,

 

thus forming a cleft which is over 15 metres high in places and over 100 metres long,
 

though usually only a couple of metres wide.

 

Which way?

 

Kath checks out the view at the beginning of the rock formations along the Roaches ridge . . .

 

where there are lots of opportunities . . .

 

to explore around . . .

 

and over rocks

 

The group gathers at the trig point . . .

 

from where there are good views . . .

 

over the surrounding countryside . . .

 

and the nearby reservoir

 

Dropping down below the ridge . . .

 

we find lots of rock climbers . . .

 

testing out their skills . . .

 

in finding . . .

 

the best foothold . . .

 

to reach the top . . .

 

of the climb

 

The it's on to Ramshaw Ridge . . .

 

as John checks out the rock stack . . .

 

while the rest of the group continues along the path

 

Looks like 'The Sorting Hat' . . .

 

but not from this angle

 

The heather is nearly in full bloom

  Return to top

Return to 2013 Diary