6 mile medium route

Starting from the roadside take the gate straight up the the gritstone out crops of the Roaches. Walk North West Accross the ridge past Doxy Pool. Beautiful views of Tittersworth Resevoir to the left and moorlands to the right.

A few kilometers takes you to the road, cross over, go through the wall and imediatly right over style. Desend down the track into the mixed woodland of back forest.

When in the forest Follow the sign to Lud's Church which is just over a kilometere. On finding Luds church, desend down into the 50 foot cavern.

Lud's Church is a deep millstone grit chasm created by a massive landslip on the hillside.

History and legend

The Lollards, who were followers of John Wycliffe, an early church reformer, are supposed to have used this as a secret place of worship during the early 15th century, when they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. Lud's Church may have been named after Walter de Ludank or Walter de Lud-Auk who was captured here at one of their meetings. A wooden ship's figurehead from the ship Swythamley formerly stood in a high niche above the chasm, placed there by Philip Brocklehurst, then the landowner, around 1862. It was called 'Lady Lud' and was supposed to commemorate the death of the daughter of a Lollard preacher.

Ralph Elliott and others have identified Lud's Church as the Green Chapel of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' From the stories of King Arthur.

After Exploring Lud's Church follow the path to the left for a 100 meteres or so, Take a right at the way sign by Gritstone out crop. The path then desends down into the forest by Black Brook. A great place for a spot of dinner. Check out some sheep and then ascend up the path which will lead you back to the start of Back Forest. Make your way up to the road and follow the road right until you return to your car.

SWEET