100 Walks in Staffordshire E-Book

Paul Hunt

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Staffordshire offers a wide range of delights for the walker - from the windswept Peak District through riverside walks to picturesque villages. This collection of 100 walks ranges from between three to eleven miles in length, with routes to suit all walking abilities. Full-colour mapping is included which is sourced from the Ordnance Survey, with easy-to-follow directions, clear and detailed route maps, where to park and places to eat and drink and interesting sights along the way.

Leseprobe

100 WALKS IN STAFFORDSHIRE

THE CROWOOD PRESS

First published in 2017 by

The Crowood Press Ltd

Ramsbury, Marlborough

Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2017

© The Crowood Press 2017

All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 78500 348 6

Front cover: Shutterstock

Mapping in this book is sourced from the following products: OS Explorer OL24, 259; OS Landranger 110, 118, 119, 123, 127, 128, 138, 139

© Crown copyright 2016 Ordnance Survey. Licence number 100038003

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this book. However, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. The Publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or for the consequences of any reliance on the information given in this book, but should be very grateful if walkers could let us know of any inaccuracies by writing to us at the address above or via the website.

As with any outdoor activity, accidents and injury can occur. We strongly advise readers to check the local weather forecast before setting out and to take an OS map. The Publishers accept no responsibility for any injuries which may occur in relation to following the walk descriptions contained within this book.

Contents

How to Use this Book

Walks Locator

WALK 1

Oakamoor and Dimmingsdale

3 miles (5km)

WALK 2

Rudyard and Horton

3 miles (5km)

WALK 3

Dimmingsdale and Ousal Dale

3 miles (5km)

WALK 4

Hawksmoor Nature Reserve

2¼ miles (3.6km)

WALK 5

Ecton Copper Mines

3 miles (5km)

WALKS 6/7

Hollington Level

3½ miles (5.5km)

WALKS 8/9

High Shutt

3/5 miles (5/8km)

WALK 10

Great Gate and Bradley

3½ miles (5.5km)

WALK 11

Harston Wood and Foxt

3½ miles (5.5km)

WALK 12

Flash and Dun Cow’s Grove

3¾ miles (6km)

WALK 13

The Dove and Manifold Valleys

4 miles (6.5km

WALK 14

Wootton and the Weaver Hills

4 miles (6.5km)

WALK 15

Ramblers Retreat to Oldfurnace

4 miles (6.5km)

WALK 16

Hulme End and Brund

4 miles (6.5km)

WALK 17

The Manifold Trail

4 miles (6.5km)

WALK 18

Castle Ring

4 miles (6.5km)

WALK 19

Ipstones and Consallforge

4 miles (6.5km)

WALK 20

Froghall Wharf and Harston Wood

4 miles (6.5km)

WALK 21

Oakamoor, Farley and Churnet Valley

4 miles (6.5km)

WALK 22

Longnor and Hollingsclough

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 23

Three Shires Head

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 24

Alton and Brookleys Lake

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 25

Rakeway, Freehay and Winnothdale

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 26

Tittesworth Reservoir

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 27

Around Grindon

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 28

High Peak Trail

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 29

Dilhorne and Tickhill Lane

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 30

Wrinehill and Madeley

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 31

Ilam, Musden and Blore

4½ miles (7km)

WALK 32

Flash and Gradbach

5 miles (8km)

WALK 33

Wettonmill and Ecton

5 miles (8km)

WALK 34

Roach End and Danebridge

5 miles (8km)

WALK 35

Brewood and Chillington

5 miles (8km)

WALK 36

Circuit of Rudyard Lake

5 miles (8km)

WALK 37

Wrottesley Park

5 miles (8km)

WALK 38

Okeover, Blore and Coldwall Bridge

5 miles (8km)

WALK 39

Rushton Spencer and Gun End

5½ miles (8.8km)

WALK 40

Haughton and Berry Ring

5 miles (8km)

WALK 41

Milldale, Stanshope and Alstonefield

5 miles (8km)

WALK 42

Six Lane Ends and Turner’s Pool

5 miles (8km)

WALK 43

Calf Heath and Shareshill

5 miles (8km)

WALK 44

Betley and Heighley

5 miles (8km)

WALK 45

Farley, Longshaw and Ramshorn

5 miles (8km)

WALK 46

Madeley and Aston

5 miles (8km)

WALK 47

Upper Longdon and Flaxley Green

5½ miles (8.8km)

WALK 48

The Carry Lane Track

5 miles (8km)

WALK 49

The Caldon Valley

5 miles (8km)

WALK 50

Cheddleton Station and Consall Forge

5 miles (8km)

WALK 51

The ‘Ha-Ha’ Walk

5 miles (8km)

WALK 52

Tixall and Hanyards

5½ miles (8.8km)

WALK 53

Ordley Brook and Stanton

6 miles (9.5km)

WALK 54

Gnosall and Shelmore Wood

6 miles (9.5km)

WALK 55

Ramshorn and and Weaver Hill

6 miles (9.5km)

WALK 56

Snareshill and Laches

6½ miles (10.5km)

WALK 57

Denstone and Alton

6 miles (9.5km)

WALK 58

Abbots Castle and Trysull

6 miles (9.5km)

WALK 59

Kingsley and Booth’s Hall

6 miles (9.5km)

WALK 60

Denford and Ladderedge

6 miles (9.5km)

WALK 61

Alstonefield and Hall Dale

6½ miles (10.5km)

WALK 62

Oakamoor and Hawskmoor Woods

6½ miles (10.5km)

WALK 63

The Manifold Way

6½ miles (10.5km)

WALK 64

Alton and the Churnet Valley

6½ miles (10.5km)

WALK 65

Ellastone, Wootton and Stanton

6½ miles (10.5km)

WALK 66

Hilderstone and Leigh

6¾ miles (10.8km)

WALK 67

Middle MayfieId and Standlow

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 68

Weeford

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 69

Leek and Morridge

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 70

Wetton Mill, Butterton and Warslow

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 71

Cannock Chase

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 72

Freehay and Threapwood

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 73

Penkridge and Pillaton

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 74

Upper Hulme and Bearstone Rock

7½ miles (12km)

WALK 75

Kinver and the Million

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 76

Onecote, Butterton and Mixon

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 77

The Canal near Wombourne

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 78

Okeover and Ilam

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 79

Okeover Park

7½ miles (12km)

WALK 80

Hollinsclough and the Moors

7 miles (11.2km)

WALK 81

Bradley and Coppenhall

7½ miles (12km)

WALK 82

Upper Ellastone and the Weaver Hills

7½ miles (12km)

WALK 83

Longnor and Reaps Moor

7½ miles (12km)

WALK 84

Wall and Packington Moor

8 miles (13km)

WALK 85

Alstonefield and Damgate

8 miles (13km)

WALK 86

Around Blackwell

8½ miles (14km)

WALK 87

Brindley Valley

9 miles (14.5 km)

WALK 88

Kings Bromley and Alrewas

9 miles (14.5 km)

WALKS 89/90

Froghall and Consall

9/11 miles (14.5/17.5km)

WALK 91

Wheaton Aston and Mitton

9 miles (14.5 km)

WALK 92

The Trent and Mersey Canal

6½ miles (10.5km)

WALK 93

Alstonefield to Ecton Hill

10 miles (16km)

WALK 94

The Roaches

10 miles (16km)

WALK 95

Ilam and Grindon

10 miles (16km)

WALK 96

Trysull and Claverley

11¼ miles (18km)

WALK 97

Bramshall and Loxley Hall Parkland

8 miles (13km)

WALK 98

Longnor, Hollingsclough and Pilsbury

10 miles (16km)

WALK 99

Ilam and Alstonfield

9 miles (14.5 km)

WALK 100

Kidsgrove Circular

8 miles (13km)

How to Use this Book

Each walk in this book begins with an information panel that shows the distance, start point, a summary of route terrain and level of difficulty (Easy/Moderate/Difficult), OS map(s) required, and suggested pubs/cafés at the start/end of walk or en route.

MAPS

There are 97 maps covering the 100 walks. Some of the walks are extensions of existing routes and the information panel for these walks will tell you the distance of the short and long versions of the walk. For those not wishing to undertake the longer versions of these walks, the ‘short-cuts’ are shown on the map in red.

The routes marked on the maps are punctuated by a series of numbered waypoints. These relate to the same numbers shown in the walk description.

Start Points

The start of each walk is given as a postcode and also a six-figure grid reference number prefixed by two letters (which indicates the relevant square on the National Grid). More information on grid references is found on Ordnance Survey maps.

Parking

Many of the car parks suggested are public, but for some walks you will have to park on the roadside or in a lay-by. Please be considerate when leaving your car and do not block access roads or gates. Also, if parking in a pub car park for the duration of the walk, please try to avoid busy times.

COUNTRYSIDE CODE

Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors

Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths

Leave no trace of your visit and take litter home

Keep dogs under effective control

Plan ahead and be prepared

Follow advice and local signs

WALK

1

Oakamoor and Dimmingsdale

START The car park near the Admiral Jervis Inn, ST10 3AG, GR 053447

DISTANCE 3 miles (5km)

SUMMARY Easy

MAPS OS Landranger 123

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK The Ramblers Retreat, T 01538 702730, www.ramblersretreat.co.uk: open Mar–Oct Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, weekends 10am–6pm; Nov–Feb Mon–Fri 10.30am–3pm, weekends 10am–5pm The Admiral Jervis Inn, Oakamoor, T 01538 702187, www.the-admiraljervis-inn.com: open 1200–2300 daily

A flat path through banks of trees by the River Churnet makes this a good family walk.

1 From the car park, go across the grassed picnic area to a footbridge over the river. Canoeists can often be seen here. This area is a credit to Staffordshire Moorlands Council, who created the picnic area from what was Bolton’s Copper Works in 1962. Stone gate pillars from the railway sidings on the stone bases for heavy machinery can still be seen on the other side of the river.

2 Cross the bridge and turn right on a wide path to a second car park. This was the site of Oakamoor Railway Station, and one of the old platforms can still be seen over on the left. Go to the end of this platform and follow a wide path marked by Staffordshire County Council as the Old Churnet Railway, which, as the name suggests, was once the railway line. Keep on this path for about 1½ miles in the Churnet Valley, passing first a local cricket field, then a football field, and finally a small lake where fishermen congregate. At the right time of year this walk offers a number of sporting scenes! Watch out for a stone bridge (Lord’s Bridge) crossing above the path, and immediately in front of it look out for a plank bridge over the ditch to the left. Cross this to a narrow path leading up to the bridge.

3 Turn right to cross the bridge and follow the path through to a minor road.

4 The Ramblers Retreat – which has been converted from a hunting lodge – is opposite, where refreshments may be taken either inside or out in the garden. The return is back the way you came – across the bridge and back along the Churnet Valley to Oakamoor.

WALK

2

Rudyard and Horton

START The Rudyard car park situated on the old railway embankment, ST13 8XB, GR 955579

DISTANCE 3 miles (5km)

SUMMARY Easy

MAPS OS Landranger 119

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK The Rudyard Lake visitor centre café; open summer 10am–5pm Mon–Fri, weekends until 6pm; Oct–Mar weekends only 10am–5pm, but check their website www.rudyardlake.com

A delightful and scenic short walk for all the family. Horton is particularly charming.

1 Go down to the road and turn left, and at the mini roundabout take the left fork and walk for 300yd to the end of the built-up area and the speed-limit sign. At this point go up a lane and footpath, right, and cross a stile by a signpost to Horton. Follow the obvious footpath over stiles, and soon the church comes into view situated on the hill in the delightful hamlet of Horton. In the last field keep the hedgerow on your left, head up the bank and go through a gate on to a lane-cum-parking area.

2 Turn right alongside the churchyard to a road junction. Go straight across and diagonally right up a small lane past a magnificent old vicarage. Go straight ahead on a lane/footpath, and after 150yd turn right over a stile and into a field. Cross this to a squeezer and footbridge, beyond which head up another field alongside the road, following a hedgerow, until it is possible to leave by a stile on to the road. Turn left for 250yd, and at a footpath sign go right along a farm lane to Stone House. Continue in a similar direction for 300yd, past quarries in a wood, to reach a road.

3 Turn right here to go through Rudyard and back to the car park.

Points of interest

Rudyard is a Victorian inland resort that is enjoying a new lease of life. Kipling’s parents reputedly named him after happy memories of this place.

WALK

3

Dimmingsdale and Ousal Dale

START The public car park adjacent to The Ramblers Retreat café, ST10 4BU, GR 062432

DISTANCE 3¾ miles (6km)

SUMMARY Moderate

MAPS OS Landranger 119

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK The Ramblers Retreat, T 01538 702730, www.ramblersretreat.co.uk: open Mar–Oct Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, weekends 10am–6pm; Nov–Feb Mon–Fri 10.30am–3pm, weekends 10am–5pm; prices are moderate

A fine, rugged stroll, up and round the sandstone and Bunter pebble beds of the deeply incised Churnet Valley.

1 Facing the front of the café, take the path signposted Woodland Walk veering off to the right, to reach a gradually ascending sandstone track with woods on its right. Pass an old smelting mill, a fishpond and a small lake, all on the left. Keep to the right of Earls Rock, and continue following the track upwards until eventually you come to a track.

2 Turn right over a cattlegrid. Proceed along this lane past a pond, and follow it across several fields to meet a minor road. Turn left on the road for ¼ mile down to Oldfurnace, where a track comes from the left and a lane leads off right.

3 Go on for about 50yd, and cross over the style next to a farm gate on the left. Go diagonally right uphill, keeping to the left of a gully to reach a fence. Follow the fence along to the left, to a stile. Cross over the stile on to Carriage Drive, a wide track, and go left along it for a few hundred yards until it curves left.

4 Here take the path on the right, which runs upwards. Follow this path to a stile at the top, and cross it into a field; go straight over to the corner of a coppice to join a farm track.

5 Turn right along this track; there are fine views over the Staffordshire Dales.

6 Just before you reach a cottage situated on the right, go over a stile on the left next to the corner of a stone wall and into a field; take a path which almost comes back on yourself to cross the field diagonally to another stile. Cross the stile into a second field and cross to another, visible stile. In the third field turn right along the wall to a stile in a corner. Cross into a fourth, large field and go diagonally across it, passing to the right of a large oak tree. Go down to a stile in the right corner, by woods. Cross into a fifth field, keeping to the right edge to reach a stile.

7 Cross into woods, and in a few yards keep to the right and follow a gradually descending path. At a fork bear left, going more steeply down to reach Carriage Drive again.

8 Turn right to follow this wide track back to the Ramblers Retreat where the walk started.

Points of interest

An eighteenth-century lead smelting mill for the ores from Ecton.

WALK

4

Hawksmoor Nature Reserve

START The layby at High Shutt, ST10 3AW, GR 0333438

DISTANCE 2¼ miles (3.6km)

SUMMARY Easy/Moderate with a steep section

MAPS OS Landranger 119

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK Nowhere on route

A walk through part of a woodland nature reserve belonging to the National Trust.

Walk down the road B5147 towards Cheadle to reach The Grange. Opposite, take a footpath that leads across fields and comes out on Dark Lane. Turn left along the lane for ¼ mile to reach a stile on the right.

1 Go over and then through a pedestrian gate and down through fields towards woodland. It can be very muddy after rain. Proceed down, keeping Gibridding Wood on your left, and follow round sharp right, then left, and continue downwards and through a kissing gate.

2 Go left into a gully, and General Martin’s Stone can be seen to the right within a stock-proof fence on a hillock; continue downwards with woodland still on your left, and over stiles to pass a small lake on the left before reaching East Wall Farm.

3 Do not go over the stile in front of the farm, but go right and around the farm; shortly afterwards turn left along a track to go into the woodlands of Hawksmoor Nature Reserve.

4 Shortly after entering the woodlands the track forks; take the right fork and soon on the right take a footpath marked by waymarks on small posts. This ascends steeply and can be followed back to the B5417 and car park.

Points of interest

General Martin’s Stone was erected to the memory of General William Reid Martin who died on this spot following a fall from his horse on 31 December 1892.

Hawksmoor Nature Reserve is a fine reserve created during the late 1920s at the suggestion of J. R. B. Masefield. A plaque at the main entrance gate records his keen interest and great love for the natural history of the area.

WALK

5

Ecton Copper Mines

START The Peak District car park at Hulme End, SK17 0EZ, GR 103593

DISTANCE 3 miles (5km)

SUMMARY Short with a steep section

MAPS OS Landranger 119

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK The Manifold Inn, Hulme End, Hartington T01298 84537; Hulme End Tea Junction T01298 687368

Pleasant family walk skirting early industrial remains.

1 Leave the car park along the surfaced Manifold Trail for about 150m, then go left over a stile and diagonally right across a field to another stile in the boundary fence. Head in a similar direction to a footbridge over the river. Cross the footbridge to a road and farm.

Go right along the road for about 300m, following the river, then turn left by the cottage.

2 Follow the lane past a fishpond and boathouse where the road bends sharply right and uphill. After 100m go right up a lane that contours the hillside, rising gradually to a squeezer by old mine shafts.

3 Go through the squeezer and follow the field boundary down the hill to a stile in a wall by some buildings. The landslip on your left is a result of ancient mining. Go over the stile and turn right down the lane past a Gothic building, and down to the road. At the road pick up the Manifold Trail again, which will take you back to the car park.

Points of interest

Mine shafts – some mine shafts are inadequately fenced, so great care must be taken. The shafts are part of the derelict Ecton mines, closed in 1873; they were once the largest in Europe.

WALKS

6

Hollington Level

7

START At the parking area next to the junction of the Cheadle to Hollington road, GR 036398

DISTANCE 3½ miles (5.5km)

SUMMARY Easy

MAPS OS Landranger 128

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK The Raddle Inn, ¼ mile up the Hollington lane from Great Gate, www.raddleinn.com (T01889 507 278)

A walk over fields and country lanes.

1 Across the road from the parking area a stile leads into a field. In the distance can be seen the Weaver Hills, which form the southern part of the Pennine chain. Walk down the field and emerge on to the Winnoth Dale to Great Gate road, and turn right along it towards Great Gate. In spring and summer lovely birdsong may be heard in the woodland to the left of this lane.

2 About ½ mile further on, Locker’s Lane joins it from the right, but you keep straight ahead and soon come to the small village of Great Gate. On entering the village, turn right and proceed up the hill towards Hollington.

3 At the first sharp corner take a public footpath that goes off right into a field; it follows a winding track and eventually reaches the road at the west end of Hollington village. Turn right along the road to reach the parking area at the start. This section is known as Hollington Level, and the Weaver Hills again come into view to the right. On the opposite side and much further away, The Wrekin in Shropshire and the hills in Wales can be seen in exceptionally clear weather.

A short version of the walk can be taken, by following the route to 2. Where Locker’s Lane joins it from the right, about ½ mile further on, turn up this lane to reach the Hollington to Cheadle road near Paradise Cottage. Turn right along the road to reach the parking area at the start, and the Weaver Hills again come into view to the right. On the opposite side and much further away The Wrekin in Shropshire and hills in Wales can be seen in exceptionally clear weather.

Points of interest

Great Gate: It is said that the name comes from it having been the ‘Great Gate’ or main gateway to Croxden Abbey, situated to the south; the abbey is now a ruin, cared for by English Heritage.

WALKS

8

High Shutt

9

START Inside the entrance to Hawksmoor Nature Reserve, ST10 3AW, GR 039443

DISTANCE 3 miles (5km) or 5 miles (8km)

SUMMARY Easy/Moderate

MAPS OS Landranger 119

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK Nowhere on route

A fine walk through this National Trust nature reserve.

Cross over the B5417 and go down Green Dale lane for a little over ¼ mile, passing cottages on the left. Shortly afterwards go over a stile on the right which leads into fields, and pick up a farm track following a wall up to Highshutt Farm. The path goes through the farmyard and emerges on to a lane; here, turn right up a track and follow it for ¼ mile to reach the B5417. Turn left along the road for 120yd and take a path in the right corner of the layby to enter Hawksmoor Nature Reserve.

1 Once in the reserve, take the path to the left, which eventually leads down to a track. Off to the left is a junction of tracks.

2 Turn along the right branch, and follow this through woodlands all the way until it reaches the B5417, where you turn right along the road to return to the start.

A very fine, longer walk can be made by continuing Walk 4 with this walk. From Highshutt Farm go right out of the farmyard, but instead of taking the track to the right, go down the minor road to the B5417, and turn left down to The Grange.

Points of interest

Hawksmoor Nature Reserve is a fine reserve created during the late 1920s at the suggestion of J. R. B. Masefield. A plaque at the main entrance gate records his keen interest and great love for the natural history of the area.

WALK

10

Great Gate and Bradley

START The small parking area at the triangular junction, S10 4HE, GR 053400

DISTANCE 3½ miles (5.5km)

SUMMARY Easy

MAPS OS Landranger 128

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK The Raddle Inn, ¼ mile up the Hollington lane from Great Gate, www.raddleinn.com (T01889 507 278)

A walk over fields and country roads, taking in the ruins of an abbey.

1 Walk over the footbridge beside the ford, and go through the village in the direction of Alton. At the far end of the village, where the road to Croxden and Rocester goes off to the right, there is a stone stile in the wall on the left. Go over this and walk up the fields towards Bradley; the route eventually crosses the farm track that goes up to Wood Farm. Just beyond this the path passes a bungalow, from where the hamlet and church of Bradley come into view ahead. The way leads down the field, across a stream and up the fields to Bradley.

2 On reaching the lane at Bradley, turn right. Go right again at the junction, back in the direction of Great Gate.

3 Not far along this lane there is a stone stile on the left in a section of holly hedge. Cross this into the field, and keep to the ditch on your right. At the bottom cross the footbridge and walk about 30yd up to the corner of the hedge ahead. Go over the stile into the next field and walk up the field with the hedge on your right. At the top of this field is a ridge of ground from where, tradition has it, Cromwell’s cannons were fired at during the Civil War. As you go down the field the ruins of the abbey lie ahead.

4 The ruins are on private land but are open to the public: if you wish to visit them, turn left along the road, and retrace your steps afterwards; if you do not, turn right along the road back to Great Gate, and return through the village to the parking area at the start.

Points of interest

The name ‘Great Gate’ is said to derive from the fact that it was the main gateway to Croxden Abbey, situated to the south (see below).

Bradley church was built in 1750 and stands on the site of an earlier church. In the churchyard is the tomb of Anne Snape, who is said to have died of a broken heart. The inscription on the stone records that her death broke a true lovers’ knot, and that she died as long ago as 25 March 1307.