Rock Hall is a stone house built in front of a cave in the Roaches. Docksey Pool is a small tarn high on the Roaches ridge reputed to be bottomless.
Total time about 1hr 15 mins - about 21/2 miles.
For those who want to use GPS on their phone or other device Matt Vokes provided this .gpx file. You will have to have to sign in to your Google Drive account or register to download it.
If you prefer to get the file from Dropbox then click here
You can view Walk 2 in Google maps here
Directions to Roaches gate
Take the A53 Buxton Road from Leek. After about 3 miles you'll pass the
Three Horse Shoes Inn on your left. Continue for about another 0.5 miles
until you start to climb a steep hill, take the left turn signposted Upperhulme.
After about 100metres take left fork. If you reach the Rock Inn you've
gone too far. Follow the road through Upper Hulme with the waterfall on
your right. Keep to the road as it twists through the factory units for
about 1.5miles until you come to lay-bys on your right. Continue round
the bend until you come to a bus stop. This is Roaches Gate. There is
parking for about 50 cars.
Click on the image for a bigger picture
1.Start the walk by going through the gate and taking the path straight
ahead.
2.After about 2 minutes take the rough steps towards Rock Hall. Have a
good look around Rock Hall it's quite an odd place.
3.Take the path to the left of Rock Hall into the wood and make for the
stone steps. Climb the steps to the upper tier of the Roaches and turn
left at the top and take the well worn path through the boulders. At the
top of the steps on your left is the Queen's chair.
It is right at the edge of a cliff so watch the kids!!
4.After about 5-10mins the path turns up to the right, with a way marker,
and more rough steps take you to the top of the Roaches.
5.At the top turn left along the ridge path for about 5-10 mins until
you come to Docksey Pool. According to legend this pool is bottomless
and its level does not seem to vary however dry the weather.
6.Retrace the path back to the top of the path but then carry on along
the ridge until you reach the end.
7.After you've had a look over towards Hen Cloud you need to choose your
path down. About 20 metres back from the end there is a path down, this
is quite tricky and you need to be fairly agile to jump from rock to rock.
A further 20 metres back along the ridge is another path leading down
- this is not so obvious as the other path. This path is far easier but
still has a couple of challenges. With both paths it is a matter of picking
your way down until you reach the path that runs along the valley. You
should see a derelict house in the distance at some point.
8. Follow the path towards Hen Cloud until you reach a tee junction with
a better path at this point there is a gate in the wall which leads to
Hen Cloud. Don't go through the gate but turn right along the path with
the wall to your left. After 5-10mins you're back at Roaches Gate.