Staffordshire Way
The Staffordshire Way is a long distance walk in Staffordshire, stretching 92 miles across the scenic parts of the county, between Kinver Edge in the south and the Staffordshire Moorlands in the north.
The path links with the Cheshire Gritstone Trail, the Heart of England Way and the North Worcestershire Path.[1]
The route
Starting in the north, the trail begins at Mow Cop Castle on gritstone hills of the Staffordshire Moorlands; the county's section of the Pennines. From here, the way heads south-west through the Staffordshire countryside, passing through Congleton, Leek, then along the Caldon Canal through the Churnet Valley to Uttoxeter.
The route then continues generally south-west through the Trent Valley, Shugborough Hall parkland and Cannock Chase (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) to Penkridge.
From Penkridge the route turns south passing near to Brewood and continuing south-west through the parkland of Chillington Hall and close to Weston Park. It then turns south again passing through Codsall, within half a mile of Perton and near to Patshull Hall and Pattingham.
South of Patingham the Staffordshire Way continues south near to Enville and Highgate Common before finishing at the dramatic sandstone ridge of Kinver Edge.[2][1][3]
Some sections of the route are poorly signposted. Parts of the route are frequented less than others and as such can become intensely boggy, especially after heavy and/or prolonged rainfall. As some parts of the route are across farm fields, expect the way ahead to be blocked by occasional herds of dairy cattle and itinerant horses.
Establishment
The Way was opened in three stages by the council between 1977 and 1983 and was resurveyed and refurbished with the assistance of the Ramblers' Association to mark the Association's 60th anniversary in 1995.[3]
Connecting paths
The path connects with the North Worcestershire Path and the Worcestershire Way at Kinver Edge, the Heart of England Way at Cannock Chase, and the Gritstone Trail in north Staffordshire.[4]
The 47½-mile section between Rushton Spencer and Cannock Chase is now part of 'European walking route E2'.[1]
Photographs along the Staffordshire Way
-
As a small path just before Uttoxeter -
As a track near Abbots Bromley -
Running through a field near Bagots Forest
Outside links
- Long Distance Walkers Association – The Staffordshire Way
- Staffordshire Way Overview
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Staffordshire Way". BBC Stoke & Staffordshire. July 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2009/07/01/staffordshire_way_feature.shtml. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ Long Distance Walkers Association – The Staffordshire Way
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Staffordshire Way". Ramblers. http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/name/s/staffordshire.htm. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ The Staffordshire Way Long Distance Footpath: Official Guide. Staffordshire County Council. 1995.