Lud's Church & the Roaches 

from  Danebridge

9.5miles 2000ft

Setting off along the banks of the river Dane from Danebridge on the Cheshire/Staffordshire border

The Wincle brewery in the hamlet of the same name

The unmistakable conical shape of Shutlingsloe fell

The sun rises over the frosty fields

Looking into the Dane gorge

Sunlight now shining through Back Forest

Gradback cafe's tables by the river now closed for the winter

I then climbed away from the river to visit Lud's Church, not a church at all but a deep chasm.....

....which the path passes through....

....climbing to Roaches End

The Roaches ridge is reknowned for its gritstone outcrops....

....spread out along its ridge

They offer great view points into the valley below

The summit trig point stands at 505m 1657ft

Looking south down the edge of the ridge....

.....with Tittesworth reservoir just visible on the horizon

At the north end of the ridge is the impressive Hanging Stone

Looking straight down to the path below from the overhang

The local squires dog 'Burke' is buried beneath the stone with this 'Ode to Burke' plaque mounted on the stone

On leaving the stone it was then just a short walk back to the river Dane and my car parked at Danebridge

Today I decided to head south down the M6 instead of north. The White Peak district affords some fine walking and is just as accessible as the central and northern lakes.

 Another excellent day