Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic recently visited Lud's Church, an 18-metre-deep chasm near the village of Gradbach in the Peak District, sharing photos of the family hike on Instagram.
The Croatian international posted four images of himself exploring the location with his wife Izabel and son Ivan, captioning them: “Family hike around Lud’s Church. Beautiful.”
A landslip-formed gorge
Lud's Church was created by a giant landslip thousands of years ago. It is a popular spot for its otherworldly landscape, which is frequently described on social media as something out of Jurassic Park, with towering moss-covered walls and a canopy of tree branches. The gorge is often cooler than the ground above, adding to the feeling of stepping into a different world.
In the first photo, Kovacic has son Ivan on his shoulders against a backdrop of heather, while the second shows the pair standing by a tree. The third image shows Izabel leaning against a rockface, and the last shows Mateo and Ivan inside the gorge.
History and legend
The name Lud's Church dates from the 15th century, when the site was used as a secret place of worship by the Lollards, followers of the early church reformer John Wycliffe. It is reputedly named after Walter de Ludank, or Walter de Lud-Auk, who was captured there at one of their meetings.
According to legend, the gorge was used as a hiding place by Robin Hood and his Merry Men. It is also said to be the setting of the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, with Gawain being one of King Arthur's legendary Knights of the Round Table.
Visiting Lud's Church
Lud's Church can be reached via a walking route from Gradbach car park, around 90 minutes' drive from Manchester. Parking spaces are limited, so it is worth arriving early. The walk through the gorge is not very long, but it can be muddy underfoot and is not accessible for those with limited mobility, as there are a few steps to climb.
