Fwd: The Roaches, Staffordshire

Inside Lud's Church, which has been linked
to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Photograph: Alan Novelli / Alamy

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Difficulty

Easy

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Distance

8.6 miles/14km

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Typical duration

4 hours 30 minutes

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Start and finish

Roaches Gate car park, 1 mile west of Upper Hulme

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Map

OS explorer OL24

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In a nutshell

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This route on Staffordshire's Roaches follows in the footsteps of Sir Gawain from the 14th- century tale Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. First you head along the ridge's high tier and down the far side through a magical tract of oaks and beech trees.

Hidden in the depths of this fairytale forest is Lud's Church, a miniature gorge covered in ferns and moss, which many scholars have identified as the inspiration for Sir Gawain's Green Chapel. From Lud's Church, loop back up to the ridge to the foot of Hen Cloud, the Midlands' answer to the Rock of Gibraltar, which offers the perfect grand finale to this breath-taking walk.

Why it's special

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The unusual landscape and weird rock formations, coupled with stunning panoramic views make this a truly memorable walk. The mighty gritstone cliffs of the Roaches strike an imposing profile, guarding the southwest approaches to the Peak District, and also offer the perfect platform to admire one of the most dramatic landscapes in Britain.

Look to the west and you take in green pastures, low wooded hills and the Cheshire plains stretching for miles. Look in the other direction and you see dark, moody moors with red gritstone walls. The hidden cleft of Lud's Church is well worth lingering at. Although it looks like a stream gorge, it was formed by a landslip and has its own microclimate.

In the summer months it holds cascades of ferns, mosses and grass that glow a luminous green when viewed from below. There's also spectacular wildlife to be spotted here, with peregrine falcons swooping over the crags and, if you look carefully, red grouse roaming through the heather. They can be difficult to see, so listen out for their very distinctive call, which you may hear as they take off.

Although strong walkers could easily complete this circuit in an afternoon, it is a route that is definitely best explored over a full day, giving you plenty of time to take in the vistas from the Roaches' edge.

Reward yourself

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Refuel with a homemade lunch or selection of just-baked cakes at the Roaches Tea Rooms and Restaurant in Upper Hulme. Try a traditional cheese-filled Staffordshire oatcake or sumptuous, slap-up cream tea – though they've got a licence if you prefer something stronger (roachestearooms.co.uk).

Get there

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First Potteries 118 bus, between Leek and Buxton, stops at Upper Hulme, 20 minutes from Roaches Gate car park. The nearest station is Stoke-on-Trent, 12 miles away. See traveline.org.uk. By car take the A53 and pass through the village of Upper Hulme until you reach the parking area.

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For step-by-step details and maps go to
ramblers.org.uk/theroaches

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Fwd: Rhossili Bay, Gower

RHOSSILI GOWER, WALES

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The dramatic wreck of the Helvetia in Rhossili bay
Photograph: Alamy

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Difficulty

Easy

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Length

4.3 miles/7km

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Duration

2 hours

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Start/end location

Rhossili village, from the car park opposite
the Worm's Head hotel

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Map

OS Explorer 164

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In a nutshell

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Starting in Rhossili village, this route heads uphill to follow the undulating ridge of Rhossili Down, dropping back to sea-level down a steep, grassy slope. After heading across the dunes you'll reach the sea to begin a magnificent mile-long stretch along sand and surf to the foot of the cliffs, where you'll climb back to the start. Visit when the sun is shining and you'll be treated to sparkling blue-green water and radiant straw-coloured sand; no wonder TripAdvisor rates it one of the top 10 beaches in the world.

Why it's special

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The real highlight is the world-class coastal scenery on this far western tip of the Gower peninsula. Featured on countless postcards and tourist brochures, the view from the low cliffs at the southern end of the beach is one you will likely recognise. What can hardly be missed are the rotting remains of the Norwegian barque Helvetia, which foundered in 1887, sticking out of the beach like jagged teeth. From here, the sands arc north, bounded on one side by a gracefully sloping moorland ridge and on the other by ranks of breakers.

As you walk along the crest of Rhossili Down, just inland you'll reach another feted viewpoint and also see one of the great landmarks of the peninsula, Worm's Head, a weirdly-shaped promontory that runs into the sea at the southern perimeter of Rhossili bay. From dry land, it looks incredibly like a coiled snake, particularly when a spray of seawater blasts through the blow-hole in its nose. The Worm's Head is composed of two rocks, which you can reach by walking along a tidal causeway at certain times of the day, a worthwhile detour if you time it right. (Check the safe times at the National Trust Visitor Centre in Rhossili).

If you look hard you may see grey seals basking on the rocks. There is an abundance of birdlife; choughs and peregrine falcons, and in mid-winter migratory purple sandpipers, great northern and red-throated divers and other rarities.

Reward yourself

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The Bay Bistro & Coffee House is a friendly, laid-back place with magnificent views, great coffee and freshly-prepared food (it's licensed too) and a favourite with surfers who love the beach here (thebaybistro.co.uk).

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Get there

Buses run from Swansea to Rhossili (travelinecymru.info). If you're coming by car, take the A4118 from Swansea and use the car park opposite the Worm's Head hotel.

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For step-by-step details and maps go to
ramblers.org.uk/rhossili

Fwd: Stackpole Pollaidh

Stackpole Pollaidh

Stac Pollaidh, the most visited peak in the north-
west Highlands. Photograph: Andy Sutton / Alamy

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Difficulty

Moderate

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Distance

2.5 miles/4km

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Typical duration

2 hours

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Start and finish

Stac Pollaidh car park on the Achiltibuie road

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Map

OS Landranger 15

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In a nutshell

Nothing can quite prepare you for the stark beauty of Scotland's far north-west, and climbing Stac Pollaidh shows off this area at its very best, treating you to panoramic views over Britain's great wilderness. Other than a very steep climb to the ridge, the rewards far outweigh the effort, with relatively straightforward terrain to negotiate.

Be prepared for a short, simple scramble to reach the ridge (easily manageable, just take extra care), from which you'll enjoy the kind of views that you'd expect to have to climb for miles to experience – and you might even spot a golden eagle or red deer.

Why it's special

Rising from a maze of small lochs and rocky outcrops, the mountains in this region possess a surreal quality that owes as much to the other-worldly emptiness of their surroundings as the suddenness with which they rise from them.

Photograph: Graham Uney / Alamy

Stac Pollaidh is a colossal ice-smoothed lump with a distinctive spiky-topped ridge. It has been of fascination to geologists for years. Consisting of chocolate-red sandstone, it rests on the Precambrian metamorphic bedrock of Lewisian Gneiss, formed 1,500 million years ago.

As this is the most visited peak in the north-west Highlands, Stac Pollaidh saw a lot of erosion, its surface being worn away by the footsteps of the people who flocked here seeking the beautiful views. These days, the mountain has a constructed path, making the climb up much easier and helping with navigation too.

This route heads up steadily, the final ascent is very steep, well worth the effort to reach the ridge. Gaze south and west and you'll be looking over Loch Lugainn to the Summer Isles in the mouth of Loch Broom. Look north and you'll see the staggeringly beautiful Inverpolly Nature Reserve and the peaks of Assynt beyond.

Word of warning: the weather can deteriorate rapidly, making the path more difficult to follow, so be sure to check the forecast in advance and ensure you've adequate clothing in case the weather does turn.

Reward yourself

There's no pub or cafe in this remote location, but Am Fuaran is a gem of a bar, tucked away on the tip of the Coigach peninsula in Altandhu. Famed for its seafood, it's worth a short drive to enjoy the sunset over a quiet pint and a plate of local poached salmon or prawns (amfuaran.co.uk).

Get there

Scotbus 811 runs from Ullapool to Reiff, passing Stac Pollaidh car park. Unfortunately, the gap between the outward and return services doesn't always leave enough time to climb the mountain. Check the timetable at travelinescotland.com. By road, Stac Pollaidh is off the A835 from Ullapool.

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For step-by-step details and maps go to ramblers.org.uk/stac

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