The rain howled around the tent. Wind whistling whipped around us rattling the tentbox. We emerged from the tent, visibility low and began to get ready for the day ahead. As we drove, mist descended on us and the surrounding hills. Whilst Rob and I both knew these were not our ideal conditions, we drove on, hopeful that the hike ahead could still be a fun one.
We parked the car just below the Roach Quarries and began our circular walk. Mist clinging to the rocks, masking the views out ahead.
The Roaches Circular walk is a famous walking route in Staffordshire, reaching 505m above sea level, checking a trig point and offering some of the most spectacular views across Tittesworth. In this blog post, I take you through a personal account of my time hiking the roaches along with offering a step by step guide of what to expect.
Quick facts
The word "Roaches" stems from the French word for rocks, Roches. The impressive ridge line is formed of Gritstone, which is a form of sandstone.
The Roaches dramatic shapes are a result of wind carving its way through the valleys and ridges, softening the edges of the jagged rocks that jut out of the ridge.
The Roaches is a hotspot for hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and bouldering enthusiastics alike!
Whilst the hike is relatively easy, please remember that this route is slightly boggy and involves a relatively steep ascent at the start- good walking shoes are a must.
How to get there
To get there from Leek, you will need to take the A53 north east then take a left onto Roches Road for another 1.2 miles. Start postcode ST13 8UA
Hiking Route
Elevation gain: 212m
Length of trail: 9.77KM
Time taken: between 2.5- 3 hours, depending on pace
The Roaches Circular Route begins as you ascend from your parked car towards the ridge line of the roaches. The climb is relatively easy and shouldn't take too long. The path is sandy and easy enough to follow. As you climb, the jagged rocks protruding from the hillside become more and more visible.
You will follow the ridge line for some time. Take this opportunity to marvel at the scenery and enjoy climbing up the various rocks, looking out at Staffordshire. As you get to the top, be sure to make your way to the trig point. Continue to follow the path past a lake and several other viewpoints until you begin to make your descent where you will follow the trail past moss farm towards the road before heading back towards Goldstitch house, following the trail down until it loops round back to your starting spot. Take this time to marvel at the surrounding farmland and quintessentially English scenery!
As Rob and I continued to make our way to the top, the fog remained relentless. We climbed, played and snapped away at the fascinating landscape that stood before us. Eventually, we found a rock to sit and enjoy a snack.
As we sat and chatted, the fog cleared. We couldn't believe our eyes. Lush, green rolling hills emerged in the distance, lit by pools of sun beaming through the fog and clouds.
We continued the trail looping around back towards the car, all the while marvelling at the scenery that surrounded us. The sky cleared and the sun peaked through endless rolling clouds. As we returned to the car to have our obligatory post hike peanut butter sandwich, Rob and I both agreed the afternoon had been the most unexpected pleasure.
Map
To complete this hike, I downloaded the OS maps app. Whenever I use tech instead of a paper map to navigate, I ALWAYS make sure that I pack a phone battery charger as a safety measure. See screengrab of the map we used:
Have you been. to the roaches? Leave your experiences on the trail in the comments below, or if you have any recommendations I'd love to hear about them!
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