Peak District
Ramshaw Rocks
460M
1509FT
About 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.
Key Statistics
Rank
86th Highest in Peak District
Parent Range
The Peak District
Prominence
?
31m
Nearest Town
Thorncliffe
Geology
You are walking on layers of tough sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. These rocks, part of the Millstone Grit Group, create the rugged, weathered crags surrounding you.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SK020624
Latitude
53.1584°N
Longitude
1.9701°W
Did You Know?
- •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.