The Sunday before Easter was the warmest day of the year. Tucked away behind Ramshaw Rocks off the main road to Leek is another impressive gritstone ridge,
the Roaches. Hen Cloud links the two and views were so good from the former that we lingered despite having walked only half an hour. One path was out of bounds in the
hope that peregrine falcons would nest in the area again. We pointed out the seat sculpted in the rock to a new member of the group where the Queen’s grandmother
picnicked in 1872. It’s likely that the steep steps to the viewpoint were also carved for the occasion. Doxey’s Pool, invariably bleak and grey, was a shimmering deep blue.
Many walkers were out and their good spirits infectious. However an exception was the chap who passed during our picnic addressing us thus, ‘Turning cold
next week ‘. We advised him to enjoy the moment. The cleft in the steep cliff face known as Lud’s Church never loses its fascination and it’s easy to imagine clandestine
worship having taken place.
Our prayers that the ice cream van would be in its usual spot were answered.
Helen Royle.