Lud's Church from Gradbach

The walk starts from the Gradbach car park. It follows the lane and the riverside path past Gradbach Mill to the footbridge over Black Brook, then climbs through the Back Forest to Lud's Church, a chasm more than 100 metres long and 18 metres deep, opened by a landslip in the gritstone. The route goes on along the wooded hillside, climbing gently to the open moor and the road end at Roach End, below the northern tip of the Roaches. The return drops beside a wall, then down through the wood above Black Brook to the footbridge, and back along the river.

It is 6.3 km with 213 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: short, with a steady climb to Roach End.

The paths are steep in places, muddy and uneven, with steps and tree roots, and the floor of Lud's Church is wet at any time of year. Dogs must be on a lead, as animals graze the reserve. Lighting fires is against the law on the Staffordshire moorlands. Lollards are said to have worshipped in the chasm in the 15th century.

The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's car park is small and free. There is no station nearby.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.