Welcome to the website for the Roaches. Where Buzzards fly.....
More will be added as time progresses-updated 14th May 08
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Walks
Wallabies
Bob's Gallery
Gallery
Climbing
Villages
For the Locals
Places of Interest
Things of Interest
Where to Stay
Things to do
Map
Links
Contact us
Want to know the weather on the Roaches? click here This weather station is about 2.5miles from the Roaches
Want to know what you are looking at from the Roaches? From Long Mynd to Shuttlingslowe. check this website. click here
See Pictures of the scarecrows around Meerbrook. Winners are marked click here
Peregrine falcons are nesting on the Upper tier of the Roaches. These are schedule 1 protected birds and are easily driven from their nests. A prohibited area is in force around the nest which will be in place for a few weeks. Climbs between Dawn piper and Easy Gully Wall are prohibited as is bouldering on the Upper Tier. Walking along paths in this area should be done quickly and quietly.
It would be good if these birds could breed here. They tried last year on Five Clouds but left the nest without sitting.(posted 23/4/08)
Wallaby seen on Sunday 25th Nov near Hangingstone!
For pictures
click here
More information has been found on the mysterious circular carving found at the top of the Roaches stone carving
What's New on the Website
-Some wallaby memories
-Stone
Carving more information
-Google Earth Map of how to find the Roaches
-Bob's gallery, photos around the Roaches
-A New Place of Interest. Cottage on Roach Rd
-Walk 5 to top of Roaches
The Roaches where Buzzards fly and Wallabies used to roam. The Roaches (or Roches) is a wind-carved outcrop of gritstone rocks straddling the parishes of Leekfrith and Heathylee in the Peak District National Park about 4 miles north of Leek, Staffordshire and 8 miles south of Buxton, Derbyshire. See Google Earth image
The name Roaches has evolved recently from 'Roches' as the area used to be known only 100 years (or less) ago. 'Roches' is the french word for rocks.
To get to the Roaches take the A53 road from Leek, Staffordshire towards Buxton. After about 4 miles and about half a mile past the Three Horseshoes pub take a left turn signposted Upper Hulme. After a hundred metres take the left fork. Follow this road for about one and a half miles. Park in the lay-byes - you can not miss the Roaches! To avoid a ticket make sure you park as signed!
The only two centres of a sparse population are the Villages of Meerbrook and Upper Hulme. Facilities include a tea room, a village hall, garden centre, holiday cottages, furniture maker, vehicle repair and a visitor centre.
The Roaches are particularly popular with climbers because of the diversity of the climbing routes there. Also there are many miles of paths to satisfy the most seasoned rambler. see the Walks page
The Roaches area includes Hen Cloud, so named because with a little imagination it looks like a roosting hen and Ramshaw Rocks which includes the weird rock formation called the Winking Man.
For many years, from the 1930's to the early 2000s, Wallabies roamed the Roaches. Some say they are still out there. They had been released from a private zoo. There was also 3 Yaks released at the same time but they died out in the 1950's. I am trying to build up a library of memories of the Wallabies and Yaks. See the Wallabies page.
Picture provided by Diane Collier