{"id":58076,"title":"UK Hike Spotlight: Luds Church","description":"Looking for an easy(ish) hike this weekend with stunning scenery and an ancient woodland feel? Luds Church, near Buxton, in the Peak District might be just what you\u2019re looking for.","content":"

Difficulty: Easy(ish)<\/strong><\/p>

Looking for an easy(ish) hike this weekend with stunning scenery and an ancient woodland feel? Luds Church, near Buxton, in the Peak District might be just what you\u2019re looking for. Rarely are UK hikes more iconic - or accessible. Aside from a short steep climb of no more than 20 metres at the beginning, this hike climbs gently towards the viral moss covered chasm. (Note there is uneven terrain and steep stone steps inside the chasm).<\/p>

\"goa1h7r2cofrkytaf9qmdldvtlmko4zyads7efkt8kixcgvn.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"Starting Point for Luds Church<\/h3>

Park in one of the two carparks along Gradbach Mill Lane (Gradbach, Buxton SK17 0SU) - the smaller is free but fills up quickly - and then turn right as you leave the carpark to follow the road to the right turning down to the mill. <\/p>

Pass directly through the mill grounds and leave via the small wooden gate atop a set of stone stairs to the left of the coffee kiosk and toilets. You will then follow the track through narrow gaps in two stone walls and cross over a small bridge. <\/p>

Luds Church: The Ascent <\/h3>

Continue directly forward from the bridge, straight up the hill past the tree to continue along the path. Do not follow the river.<\/p>

The path here will climb gently all the way to a small clearing with a wooden fence in front of you and a rock formation on the right. The rock formation is well worth checking out if there aren\u2019t too many people around. <\/p>

\"xoyswfzlfbk6w9iclz6pw4uc8adlbu47emrku9zx4vttruy5.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"Second coffee club hoodie<\/u><\/a><\/p>

The Church<\/h3>

Leave the small clearing to the left and follow the path round to the left following the rope fence. You will find the opening to the chasm on the right between two stone walls. <\/p>

Luds Church was formed by a natural prehistoric landslip and supposedly used by The Lollards who worshiped in secret, performing their mass in English opposed to Latin, in direct violation of the Catholic Church. The site gets its name from Walter de Ludank, a preacher who held his ceremonies there. It is also said to be the eternal home of Lady Lud\u2019s ghost - a local noble woman who tragically died there and appears to visitors at dusk. <\/span><\/p>

The chasm creates a microclimate that is several degrees cooler than the rest of the forest and very damp. This results in the perfect conditions for the iconic mossy walls and overhanging ferns. It does mean, however, that the bottom of the church is often muddy and sometimes under an inch or two of water. Water proof hiking boots are recommended, even in the summer.<\/span><\/p>

Homeward Bound<\/span><\/h3>

The easiest route is to turn back the way you came, but there is an exit at the far end of the chasm via some steep stone stairs. At the top you can follow the path round, keeping left to circle back to the entrance and the clearing, you can then follow the path back down. Alternatively, at the fork, take the right hand turn, follow the path across some novel boardwalks and keep left at each turning to find your way back to the river and the bridge. This way is steeper and more uneven and considerably longer.<\/span><\/p>

\"wabwgdsw7ttjo8ou9ijaisctmmmeyxnk7iyylvgvy2tdusja.jpg.jpg?w=1140&project=earth-and-aura-389381&v=2\"Ancient woodland? Moss covered stone walls? Deep Dark Chasm? For the perfect pairing, check out our Fantasy T-shirts and Hoodies<\/u><\/a><\/p>","urlTitle":"uk-hike-spotlight-luds-chruch","url":"\/blog\/uk-hike-spotlight-luds-chruch\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/uk-hike-spotlight-luds-chruch\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/earthandaura.co.uk\/blog\/uk-hike-spotlight-luds-chruch\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1788290868,"updatedAt":1788341185,"publishedAt":1788341184,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":380373,"name":"Earth and Aura"},"tags":[{"id":4680,"code":"hikes","name":"Hikes","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/hikes\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/s8xmg1bsefz3bol4kdvthi0kr4yoyeof3iyncinziqpbvhyh.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/s8xmg1bsefz3bol4kdvthi0kr4yoyeof3iyncinziqpbvhyh.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/s8xmg1bsefz3bol4kdvthi0kr4yoyeof3iyncinziqpbvhyh.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"UK Hike Spotlight: Luds Church | Earth & Aura","metaDescription":"Luds Church, near Buxton, in the Peak District: An easy(ish) hike with stunning scenery and an ancient woodland feel","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":49017,"title":"Our Fav 3 Sweatshirts for Women","url":"\/blog\/our-fav-3-sweatshirts-for-women\/","urlTitle":"our-fav-3-sweatshirts-for-women","division":380373,"description":"We make a whole lot of fuss about how cool our t-shirts are, and they are, but if you're just secretly just a forest witch with a tendency to get a wee bit chilly - well check out our favourite 3 sweatshirts for women.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/iu18wl3v8eeq4hv2qew5wuomwattlgteycnjbdsjgpk9za4u.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/iu18wl3v8eeq4hv2qew5wuomwattlgteycnjbdsjgpk9za4u.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":48676,"title":"Why are we so obsessed with the black t shirt?","url":"\/blog\/why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-the-black-t-shirt\/","urlTitle":"why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-the-black-t-shirt","division":380373,"description":"Let\u2019s admit it, all our wardrobes have so many black t shirts you don\u2019t really know what\u2019s what until you take them out and turn them the right way round (why are they always inside out?). But why do we own so many? What\u2019s the obsession with a cute black t shirt?","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/mcuhnudg6ok2lfftohv2gvrbbmgcj76sdrsilmarhogncym4.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/mcuhnudg6ok2lfftohv2gvrbbmgcj76sdrsilmarhogncym4.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":53591,"title":"The best Outdoors t-shirts in the world","url":"\/blog\/the-best-outdoors-t-shirts-in-the-world\/","urlTitle":"the-best-outdoors-t-shirts-in-the-world","division":380373,"description":"Carlsberg don\u2019t make t-shirts, but if they did, they still wouldn\u2019t be the best outdoors t-shirts in the world, because that\u2019s what we do.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/61rckxcbt6kq5cigiqvgwesqdmtby1tqbr49g04rqsgpezr7.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/61rckxcbt6kq5cigiqvgwesqdmtby1tqbr49g04rqsgpezr7.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}