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Staffordshire Way
Mow Cop Castle to Kinver Edge
147km/92 miles
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Across the county from north to south, setting out from gritstone hills on
the edge of the Peak District southeast via Congleton, Leek, the Caldon Canal
and the steep wooded slopes of the Churnet Valley ("Staffordshire's Rhineland")
to Uttoxeter. Here the route turns southwest via the Trent Valley, parkland at Shugborough
Hall and Cannock Chase. From Penkridge it turns south, passing to the west of
Wolverhampton through gentle pastoral scenery and parkland via Brewood to the
dramatic sandstone ridge of Kinver Edge. The Way was opened in three stages by
Staffordshire 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. The
76km/47.5-mile section
between Rushton Spencer and Cannock Chase is now part of European path E2.
The Leek to Rushton Spencer Greenway (8.5km/5.5
miles EASY), a multi-user route along a former railway line,
provides an alternative route between these two points, running parallel to
the Way.
The Oakamoor to Denstone Greenway (7km/4.5
miles EASY), uses another stretch of the same former railway
line to provide another parallel multi-user route along the Churney Valley.
No publication is available for either of the
greenways, but the routes are clear on OS maps and further information is
available from
Staffordshire
council.
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The Greenways provide easy and level walking,
with good surfaces between Leek and north of Rudyard Lake, and
between Oakamoor and Alton. The Leek to Rushton Spencer route has
wheelchair access via a RADAR key gate at Rudyard. For more
information contact
Staffordshire
council. |
Public Transport
Much of the Way passes close to major towns and cities
and is easily accessible by public transport, though note that many buses do not
run on Sundays. The principle points are:
Mow Cop: short distance from regular buses linking Hanley (Stoke), Kidsgrove
(rail services to Macclesfield, Stockport, Manchester, Stoke, Stafford,
Birmingham, Crewe), Congleton.
Congleton: rail services to Macclesfield, Stockport, Manchester, Stoke,
Stafford, Birmingham
Leek: numerous buses
Froghall: buses to Leek and Cheadle
Rocester: buses to Hanley (Stoke) and Uttoxeter,
Uttoxeter: trains to Stoke and Derby, buses
Abbots Bromley: infrequent postbus to Rugeley.
Rugeley (Trent Valley): trains to Tamworth, Stafford, Stoke, Hednesford, Birmingham, buses
Colwich, Little Heywood, Milford: frequent daily buses Stafford, Rugeley,
Tamworth
Cannock Chase (Chase Road): footpath link (5km/3 miles approx) to Hednesford for
trains to Rugeley and Birmingham
Penkridge: trains to Stafford, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, buses
Brewood: buses to Wolverhampton, Penkridge (daily), Stafford
Codsall: trains to Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, buses
Pattingham: buses to Wolverhampton (daily), Bridgnorth
Kinver: buses to Stourbridge (trains to Worcester, Birmingham)
More information: West
Midlands | National enquiry lines
Publications
- The Staffordshire Way. Staffordshire
County Council £5 + p&p.
Order here!
Spiral-bound official route guide with route description, background
information and detailed maps. [1996] - The Staffordshire Way & the Way for the Millennium. Accommodation and Information Leaflet,
free. Order here!
Contacts
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Regions
East Midlands
Northwest England
West Midlands
Local authorities
Cheshire
Derbyshire
Staffordshire
Connecting routes
Birmingham and
Aberystwyth Walk
Cheshire
Ring Canal Walk
Gritstone
Trail (E2)
Heart
of England Way (E2)
Limestone Way
Macclesfield Canal (see Cheshire
Ring Canal Walk)
Monarch's Way
North Worcestershire Path
Peak Forest Canal (see Cheshire
Ring Canal Walk)
Sabrina Way
South Cheshire Way
Shropshire Union Canal
Staffordshire and
Worcestershire Canal
Trent and
Mersey Canal
Way for the Millennium
(Staffordshire)
Worcestershire Way
Parks and countryside
Cannock Chase
Churnet Valley
Forest of Mercia
Highgate Common Country Park
Kinver Edge and Kingsford
Maps
Explorer
OL24,
218,
242,
244,
258,
259,
268
Landranger
118,
127,
128,
138
Path is shown on maps.
More about maps
Visitor
information
Burton upon Trent
Cannock Chase
Leek
Lichfield
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Stafford
Stoke-on-Trent
Tamworth
Accommodation
Bed and breakfast listings
Holiday operator
Old Furnace
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