On the border of the Staffordshire Moorlands, forming the skyline above the town of Leek, rises the striking profile of Hen Cloud and the Roaches. There is the look of the high hills about these summits and standing on the edge, with the valley of the River Dane spread out below, the view is indeed worthy of a mountain. A landscape of heather, bilberry and weather-sculpted gritstone rocks stretches away into the distance, a red grouse skims low over the moor with its gruff complaining call, and above is the constantly changing sky.
LOCATION: Between Buxton and Leek
START: Layby parking, off A53 on minor road from Upper Hulme
Grid ref: SK004621 Postcode: ST138UA
DISTANCE: 4.5 miles
GRADE: Moderate
TIME: 2.5 hours
MAP: Outdoor Leisure - White Peak Landranger 118&119
REFRESHMENTS: Take a flask
EN ROUTE: Hen Cloud, Rock Hall, Princess of Teck, Don Whillans
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News