The Roaches 2021

Saturday 15th October 2021.

With Harry, 7.5 miles, but it felt rather longer. This is the walk we have done a couple of times before. This time we gave Hen Cloud a miss.

The start of the walk is the tricky part - we missed the turning, and ended up heading across country to where we could see the path on the other side of Black Brook. 

After that it was straightforward enough though boggy in places. 

This was the view of the Roaches as we drove up on Friday. 

Unfortunately Saturday was not sunny, but it was pleasant enough, though the wind was brisk.

Gib Torr, one of the many monster shaped rocks in the area.

We walked down the entrance track from Anroach Farm where we stayed. A right turn took us along the quiet road past GibTorr Rocks, and Moss Top farm. We continued after the cross roads and a junction from the left. Where the road bends to the right we took the track straight ahead - we should have turned left towards Moss End Farm.

The sound of a helicopter accompanied us for most of the walk - delivering rocks for path improvements and erosion control.

However once back on track we headed for the Roaches School building at Roach End. Lots of people around, and even a coffee and ice-cream van.

We crossed over to the Roaches path. 

Instead of going ahead to Hen Cloud we turned left along the path which joins the track from Summerhill Farm, before joining the road climbing up past Hazel Barrow Farm and Newstone Farm. 

Strange heads?

The path leads through more boggy bits and downhill towards Gib Tor Farm, where we met the road, and turned left to return to base.

Just over 1000 feet of ascent and descent.

Anroach Farm to the Roaches and Hen Cloud

Sunday 7th May with Harry.

A circular walk of around 8 miles with around 1000 feet of ascent, on a fine sunny day, with a strong wind. It was warm enough to cast a few clouts in sheltered spots warmed by the sun.  The recent dry weather has left the sometimes boggy ground dry and springy, and very pleasant to walk on.
We followed the same route as on Saturday 19 November 2016, with one difference. Half way through instead of going down to the road we climbed Hen Cloud instead. 

Anroach Farm 

Gib Tor

Water Avens

On the way we saw and heard a stonechat, a chiffchaff, lapwings, and several green hairstreak butterflies.  A cuckoo or two were vocal all day. 

Higher up on the ridge

Pano from the ridge

Hen Cloud

Looking back over Tittesworth Reservoir, near Leek

Along the Roaches

With Harry. Saturday 19 November. Very cold and windy, snow on the ground, sun in the sky. Some very boggy sections on lower footpaths, but a very satisfying walk all the same.
About 8 miles, with about 1000 feet of ascent, to a high point of around 1657 feet (505 meters).

When we woke up on Saturday morning there was plenty of snow on the ground, and the moon was playing hide and seek through the mist. After breakfast the mist had gone, and there was a hint of sunshine. 

We were staying at Anroach Farm, and set off along the drive/track, then turned right along a boggy footpath.

Clouds mimicking the shape of the rocks

A hardy horse

Across the boggy path

We headed southwest toward Gib Tor Rocks. 

From the rocks we followed the road west to a junction where we took the track to Moss End farm. Just before the farm our path branches off to the left going downhill between two walls. It was very muddy - not great!  When we reached the valley we found the footpath sign "To Roach End" - but still the conditions were not easy.

Onwards and upwards

We crossed the brook and climbed gently up to Roach End, (403 meters high)  where we met the road, crossed over and began the walk to the summit (505 meters). This part of the walk was cold and windy in parts, but underfoot conditions were much better, and the views were magnificent, with Tittesworth Reservoir to the south, and the dish of Jodrell Bank Observatory to the west on the Cheshire plain.

Tittesworth reservoir

 We even found a sheltered spot behind a large rock for our coffee break. 
Plenty of people up here on such a fine day to be out. There's parking space at the other end.

Up on the ridge is Doxey Pool - I was not tempted to dip my feet in today!

Legend has it that this pool is inhabited by a mermaid called Jenny Greenteeth , also known as the blue nymph. She fell in the pool on a foggy day whilst walking along the top of the Roaches. Ever since that day she has been enticing unsuspecting victims down to the pool and to their watery grave. . .

Looking down southwards

From the southern end of the Roaches

We passed groups of rock climbers, groups of walkers and the odd group who didn't look quite prepared for the conditions and were finding it tricky. If you wandered from the path the terrain was pretty rough and steep. 

Once on the path the way down to the road was straightforward. There is a tea room about half a mile towards Upper Hulme but we didn't visit it today.  

Hen Cloud - to the south of the Roaches

Instead we decided to head back following a footpath north and slightly east which meets a minor road where we turned right. We passed a couple of footpath signs and another road joined us from the right. At the junction with yet another road, near Newstone Farm we picked up a footpath which took us pretty well north all the way to Gib Tor Farm.

The terrain was rough, and boggy in places, but I have rarely met a patch as boggy and impossible to avoid as the last few yards before we reached the road at Gib Tor Farm.
Luckily it was less than a mile back to base from there, but it has taken two days for my boots to dry out! I'd do it all again, but would take spare socks next time.