Great Haywood Canal Walk

4.3 miles (7 km)

This route uses sections of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and the Staffordshire Way to create a circular walk from Great Haywood. You will first head east along the towpath to Tixall Bridge, before returning via Milford Common and Shugborough Park.
This attractive circular walk explores a beautiful corner of Staffordshire, combining peaceful canalside walking with historic parkland and countryside trails.... The route begins near the meeting point of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and the Trent and Mersey Canal at Great Haywood Junction, one of the most important canal junctions in the county.
The towpath section follows the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal through tranquil countryside, passing wooded banks, open fields and historic bridges on the way to Tixall Bridge. The canal is a haven for wildlife, with herons, kingfishers, swans and other water birds often seen along the route, while the surrounding landscape offers fine views towards the Cannock Chase area.
The return leg follows the Staffordshire Way across Milford Common and through the grounds surrounding Shugborough Park. The estate is one of Staffordshire's finest historic landscapes, with its grand hall, formal gardens, woodland, parkland and the River Sow creating a memorable finish to the walk.
Great Haywood itself is a popular destination for walkers and boaters, with the nearby canal junction, marina and waterside facilities providing a pleasant place to explore before or after the route.
The Trent and Mersey Canal also runs past the village so its easy to continue your waterside walking here.