Walking Routes in Staffordshire

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Staffordshire Walks
Route Name	Pic	Distance	Description
Beacon Way		16 miles (25 km)	This is the section of the Beacon Way from Sandwell to Chasewater and takes in the nature reserves, canals and woodland around Walsall. You start by the restored, Victorian Sandwell Park Farm in West Bromwich and head through Sandwell Country Park and past the lovely Sandwell Valley RSPB nature reserve. You continue past Rushall Junction and onto Barr Beacon where there are splendid views of the surrounding countryside. Pleasant waterside sections along the Rushall and Wyrley and Essington Canals lead you to the finish point at Chasewater with its beautiful lake, and heritage Chasewater Railway.
Cheshire Ring Canal Walk		98 miles (158 km)	This nice easy walk follows six historic canals through Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire. The canal towpaths you will follow include: Trent and Mersey Canal - Kidsgrove to Preston Brook Bridgewater Canal - Preston Brook to Castlefield Rochdale Canal - Castlefield to Ducie Street Ashton Canal - Ducie Street to Portland Basin Peak Forest Canal - Portland Basin to Marple Macclesfield Canal - Marple to Kidsgrove The route passes through some lovely, peaceful countryside but also has some urban sections, making for a varied and interesting walk. The route is well waymarked with a blue and white disc. The videos below show the sections along the Rochdale canal in Manchester and along the Peak Forest Canal at Marple.
Gritstone Trail		35 miles (56 km)	This beautiful, challenging walk runs through the Peak District from Disley to Kidsgrove. The walk begins at the train station at Disley and soon comes to the wonderful Lyme Park (video below) with its mansion house and Medieval deer park. You continue south passing Bollington before coming to Tegg’s Nose Country Park. The views are truly dramatic from this former quarry site. The next section takes you on towards Rushton Bank before climbing 'The Cloud' - at 1,125 ft it's a challenging section but the views of Congleton, Macclesfield and Greater Manchester are magnificent. The path continues to Mow Cop with its ruined castle, before you join the Macclesfield canal and then the Trent and Mersey Canal taking you to Kidsgrove.
Heart of England Way		101 miles (163 km)	Follow the Heart of England Way through the Midlands of England. The walk starts from Milford Common on Cannock Chase and heads through Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire before finisihing at Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds. Major towns and cities on the route include Milford Cannock Chase Castle Ring Lichfield Drayton Bassett Shustoke Meriden Berkswell Balsall Common Rowington Henley-in-Arden Alcester Bidford-on-Avon Upper Quinton Mickleton Chipping Campden Longborough Bourton-on-the-Water Walk highlights include the delightful Cannock Chase Country Park at the start of the route, Kingsbury Water Park, the beautiful Arden Countryside and the Cotswolds AONB. The walk is well waymarked with a green and white disc.
Limestone Way		46 miles (74 km)	Travel through the beautiful Peak District National Park on this walk through Derbyshire and into Staffordshire. The walk starts at Castleton, passing through the scenic Cave Dale and past the remains of Peverill Castle. You continue south through the stunning Monk's Dale and Miller's Dale, where you cross the River Wye. The next stage takes you through Flagg, Monyash and Youlgreave, where you join the River Bradford for a pleasant waterside stretch before heading on to Brassington, Parwich and Tissington. Here you will find the splendid 17th century Tissington Hall and gardens which are well worth a visit. From Tissington you continue through Thorpe, crossing the River Dove and then following it to the finish point at Rocester.
Manifold Way		8 miles (13 km)	Follow the River Manifold and the River Hamps along the Manifold Way on this splendid shared walking and cycling path through the Peak District.
Millenium Way		41 miles (66 km)	Travel across the width of Staffordshire and visit Stafford, Colwich, Rugeley, Yoxall and Barton Under Needwood on this splendid walk. Much of the walk follows the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and the Trent & Mersey Canal making for a pleasant and fairly easy waterside walk.
Monarch's Way		615 miles (990 km)	This incredible 615-mile walk approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester. The Monarch's Way starts at Worcester then travels north to Boscobel and then south to Stratford upon Avon. It then continues south through the Cotswolds to Stow on the Wold before turning south west towards Bristol via Cirencester. The route then heads south through the Mendip Hills to Wells and then on through Somerset towards Yeovil and then south west to Charmouth. You then follow the Dorset coast before turning north again to Yeovil, before heading east across the Downs to Brighton and then onto the finish point at Shoreham-by-Sea. The walk also takes you through two World Heritage Sites, one National Park and six Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For those interested in the history of the walk there is ample opportunity to learn and discover more with a series of museums and historical sites dotted throughout the route. The walk is waymarked with a picture of the ship The Surprise, the Prince of Wales crown and the Royal Oak tree at Boscobel House. The route has been split into two separate gpx files. The first includes the section from Worcester to Bridport via the Midlands and Somerset. The second runs from Sandford Orcas to the finish point at Shoreham-By-Sea. Monarch's Way GPS 1 (right click save as) Monarch's Way GPS 2 (right click save as)
Newcastle Way		25 miles (40 km)	Starting at Mow Cop, follow the Newcastle Way through Staffordshire to Market Drayton. You will pass through rough Moorland scenery around Mow Cop, rich farming country near Madeley before heading along the sandstone ridges of Maer and Ashley and then across the wide open spaces of Blore Heath to Almington. There are some challenging climbs with views to the west of the Shropshire Hills and south as far as Cannock Chase.
Royal Shrovetide Football Challenge		19 miles (31 km)	This walk celebrates the Royal Shrovetide Football Match which occurs annually on Shrove Tuesday in the town of Ashbourne. The game is played on a 3 mile long pitch and takes place over two days. The walk starts and ends in Ashbourne and follows waymarked tracks and country lanes through Kniveton, Tissington, Thorpe and Mapleton. The route includes a delightful waterside section along the River Dove from Thorpe to Church Mayfield. Attractions on the route include the beautiful Jacobean Mansion at Tissington Hall. The mansion is set in lovely grounds and offers fabulous views of the Peak District.
Sabrina Way		203 miles (327 km)	This route is part of the National Bridleroute Network and primarily designed for horse riders but can be used by walkers and cyclists also. The trail starts at the deer park at Great Barrington and heads north to Hartington. The route passes through the Cotswolds, the Malvern Hills, the Wyre Forest and Cannock Chase Forest, before finishing in the Derbyshire Peak District. For cyclists a mountain bike or hybrid is advised. The route is waymarked with a blue arrow.
Staffordshire Way		95 miles (153 km)	Travel through Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire and enjoy canals, lakes, country parks and a series of pretty towns and villages.

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