Ramshaw Rocks

Rising above the Staffordshire Moorlands near Thorncliffe, this striking gritstone escarpment offers a more rugged, less-crowded alternative to the nearby Roaches. Characterised by weather-beaten rock formations and a narrow, windswept crest, it provides an exhilarating high-level walk with panoramic views toward Hen Cloud and the Cheshire Plain.

• •The name likely stems from the Old English 'hramsa', meaning wild garlic, and 'sceaga', a small wood or thicket, suggesting the lower slopes were once more heavily wooded than today's exposed moorland.
• •The ridge is home to 'The Winking Man', a natural rock outcrop that appears to blink its 'eye' at motorists travelling along the A53 road below due to a specific perspective trick.
• •Ramshaw Rocks forms a natural continuation of the Roaches and Hen Cloud; a popular circular route links these three gritstone giants to provide some of the best edge-walking in the Peak District.
• •Looking north from the 460m summit, the distinctive sharp peak of Shutlingsloe is clearly visible, standing out against the rolling hills of the Macclesfield Forest.
• •Navigating the narrow, craggy crest in a high wind offers a masterclass in balance, usually performed for the benefit of unimpressed sheep and white-knuckled drivers on the road directly below.