We are the East Staffordshire Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in the East Staffordshire area to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
A winter walk in and around the beautiful Churnet Valley, one of the most scenic locations in Staffordshire Moorlands.
Starting from Denstone, we follow the Staffordshire Way up to Alton, walking through part of the village admiring interesting old houses built using local gritstone, emerging at Alton Castle, a spectacular Gothic-revival building constructed in the 19th century by the Earl of Shrewsbury on a hill above the valley. We rejoin the Staffs Way and leave Alton, stopping to enjoy the viewpoint at Toothill before diverting through Rakes Dale and on to the Rambler's Retreat.
We cross the river via Lord's Bridge and turnabout, proceeding along the Churnet Valley Way as far as Alton Station from where we cross the river on the road bridge. We continue riverside and proceed over the footbridge near Crumpwood Farm, crossing the main track and climbing steeply through woods almost as far as the Alton Towers resort. We continue parallel to the resort boundary and past Ina's Rock, a notable gritstone climbing crag named after the legendary Anglo-Saxon King Ina who supposedly camped there before a battle. We pick up a narrow track close to the woodland boundary, proceeding south easterly and noting the great view of Crumpwood Weir on the river below. The track descends gradually, eventually joining Quixhill Lane which we follow back to Denstone and our starting point.
The walk starts and ends from Denstone Farm Shop car park. We have permission. Please park as far away from the shop as possible and consider using the shop cafe for refreshments after the walk.
