This is roughly a 7 mile walk with 1,217 ft elevation
This walk is considered Moderate but beginners are welcome.
Please arrive at 9.45, we will be leaving for the walk at 10
There is a very small free carpark but this fills up quickly. Just uo from this is another that charges £5 and has a toilet, please allow time for parking as it can be very busy.
Please note that appropriate footwear is a must!
It will be very muddy and there are slippy rocks.
Afterwards we will have a drink at a pub- please note it's unlikely we will get seating it's a Saturday! The pub is the Lazy Trout which is a 14 minute drive from the Gradbach Carpark. They do serve food but I can't guarantee you will be able to eat- it's a Saturday and likely to be busy so I would bring lunch just incase.
Lud’s Church
The incredible Lud’s Church was created by a massive landslip in the gritstone that characterises this part of the Peak District, most probably as a large mass of rock slipped slightly downhill into the Dane Valley along a fault line in the stone, resulting in an open ravine.
It’s possible for explorers to venture inside and walk the length of the chasm. At over 100 metres long, 18 metres deep, and in places only a couple of metres wide, it towers above those within, dwarfing them with its steep sides.
Inside is green as far as the eye can see. The walls are covered with dripping mosses, ferns and grasses, and arching above the chasm, forming a natural roof, are trees that have grown from both sides to meet in the middle. You don’t need much imagination to picture Lud’s Church as a place of myths and mysteries.
We really encourage carpooling so that we can keep car numbers down both for the environment and the carparks. It's also a great way to get to know some people.
Please make sure to bring:
• Sturdy, waterproof walking boots. It can get very muddy and slippy on these walks
•Waterproof clothing, it is England after all
•Warm/cold weather layers. Prepare for all weather
•Enough water for the duration of the walk
•Lunch and snacks as needed. There won't often be places to buy things en route
Etiquette - If you can no longer attend the event, please remember to cancel yours and / or your guests rsvp as we often have people on the waiting list and it means we won't wait around for you either
Please note that the organisers may not have walked these routes before, so bear with us whilst we navigate.
You are joining these walks at your own risk and are fully responsible for yourself and the choices and actions you choose to take at these events.
Meetup charge organisers to run these groups, and therefore, we would appreciate a £1 donation to help toward the cost of the group. Anything extra will go toward maps, apps, and first aid. Please bring £1 on the walk or pay as a friend payment via PayPal
https://www.paypal.me/STholema
Dogs are welcome to join, but please act responsibly and if walking near livestock, ensure they are on the lead.
