Lud’s Church and The Hanging Stone 8km Walk
- Jennifer Kozyra
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Tucked away in the beauty of the Staffordshire Peak District, there is a walk taking in Lud’s Church and the Hanging Stone. It is one of those routes that feels steeped in mystery, history and breathtaking Peak District. This corner of the Roaches is full of contrasts: the dark, moss-covered chasm of Lud’s Church, where legends of outlaws and secret worshippers linger in the shadows, and the exposed gritstone perch of the Hanging Stone, offering sweeping views across the Cheshire Plain and beyond.
The walk is a circular route around 8km (2.5 hours) with a mix of clearly marked and well trodden flat paths and craggy rocky paths that test your stamina and agility.
Book Guide - We used the Cheshire - 40 Favourite Walks Book for this route, it is a great book and i have done many walks using it. If you would like to purchase your own copy here is a link
Aff Link} https://tinyurl.com/DOMOCheshireWalkBook
Top Info
🥾 8km Circular Walk
🥾 Paths are rough & rocky
😃 Wow moments on walk
⚠ Not suitable for pushchairs
⚠ No toilets on route
🐕 Dog friendly
🍺 Places to visit for a drink after your walk
🚗 Park at Danebridge, Wincle, Macclesfield SK11 0QE
🚗 Car Parking
Parking is along the road between the Ship Inn and the bridge at Danebridge, opposite the Wincle Brewery.
☕🍰Post-Walk Refreshments🍺🍔
🍺The Wincle Brewery
Right by the start for homemade ale
Tap room is open daily from 10 - 4.30pm and until 5.30pm at weekends
🍰 The Roaches Tearoom
It is about an 18-minute drive away and well worth the detour. Serving toasties, omlettes and homemade pies with a brilliant view
🥾 Starting Out in Wincle
The walk begins at a small roadside parking spot by the bridge below Wincle, a little scattered village with a church, brewery, and a pub. From here, the path follows the River Dane along the Dane Valley Way. With the river on your left, the trail soon winds through woodland, across fields, and past working farms like Back Dane Cottage and Back Forest Farm. It’s an easy-going start, with the sound of the river as your walking companion.
✨ The Magic of Lud’s Church
After crossing a footbridge and climbing steadily through the trees, you’ll find the turn-off to Lud’s Church. We found it a little tricky to find as it's hidden within the landscape. You will already be in Lud's Church before you even realise you have found it. And what a place it is! A mighty chasm formed by a landslip, its moss-draped rock walls and cool, damp air make it feel like stepping into another world.
Our guidebook notes that it’s steeped in legend: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Robin Hood, and even Bonnie Prince Charlie are linked to the place. More historically, it was used by Lollards in the 14th century as a secret meeting spot, followers of John Wycliffe who risked their lives for worship. Standing inside, it’s easy to imagine ghosts of the past haunting its shadows.
Top tip: it doesn’t take long to walk through, so don’t rush. Turn around often as the view looks completely different depending on your angle.
🥾 On to the Ridge and the Hanging Stone
Climbing out of the chasm, the route carries you uphill to the Back Forest ridge. This section really shows off the gritstone edges and outcrops typical of the Peak District. On a clear day, the views are honestly outstanding and are another reason why this walk is worth doing.
As we walked along, there are a number of smaller outcrops, we questioned each other if these were the famous Hanging Stone as were actually pretty big and impressive and got photos climbing on them, but then we found the real Hanging Stone which made the others go from amazing to small fry in comparison.
Eventually, you reach the Hanging Stone, an enormous, isolated rock that juts out of the hillside as if dropped there by a giant hand. Our guidebook mentions a memorial here to the Squire’s dog. For us, the rock was the ultimate photo stop. We couldn’t resist climbing onto it (with care!) for an unforgettable shot.
Returning to Wincle
The final stretch descends steadily past Hangingstone Farm, across fields and back through woodland, before rejoining the river at the start point. By this stage, our legs were grateful for the downhill finish and we were ready to go and find something tasty to eat as a reward.
Final Thoughts
This is a walk brimming with highlights with gentle riverside paths, atmospheric woodland, legends of knights and rebels, the chilling atmospheric Luds Church and dramatic rocks that feel straight out of folklore. It’s varied, rewarding, and never dull. Even if you wander slightly off course (like we did), you’ll end the day with memories of one of the most magical corners of the Peak District.
Visit Sept 2025
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