Description
This is essentially the same route as HixUtt one and two, but plotted with more attention to detail, reflecting the waymarks on the ground and fixing a problem with the route into Uttoxeter, which used a non-existent path through a fenced off area rather than the obvious road route. We test walked it today - it is quite tough in places due to rickety and overgrown stiles, wet and boggy areas and lack of walkers, but it is walkable for anyone with enough determination. There are pubs en route at The Blythe and (just off route) at Kingstone. Shops and pubs at both ends
This is essentially the same route as HixUtt one and two, but plotted with more attention to detail, reflecting the waymarks on the ground and fixing a problem with the route into Uttoxeter, which used a non-existent path through a fenced off area rather than the obvious road route. We test walked it today - it is quite tough in places due to rickety and overgrown stiles, wet and boggy areas and lack of walkers, but it is walkable for anyone with enough determination. There are pubs en route at The Blythe and (just off route) at Kingstone. Shops and pubs at both ends
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 0
Surveys
What is this route like?
Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.
Grade 3X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
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Description | Note | ||
Grade 3: Route includes rough surfaces that may include small boulders, potholes, shallow ruts, loose gravel, short muddy sections. Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users. |
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys. | ||
Full grading description |
Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.
Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
The narrowest part of the path is 30.0cm (1)
The steepest uphill gradient East: no data
The steepest uphill gradient West: no data
The steepest camber: no data
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places (1)
Successfully completed
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Recommended by an expert
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Terrain
We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.
20.0% of the route is on roads (1)
2.0% of the route is lit at night (1)
2.0% of the route is paved (1)
100.0% of the route is muddy (1)
75.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)
50.0% of the route is through long grass (1)
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1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Hixon
Grid Ref
SK0044426027
Lat / Lon
52.83178° / -1.99485°
Easting / Northing
400,444E / 326,027N
What3Words
duck.juggled.muscular
Uttoxeter
Grid Ref
SK0921333646
Lat / Lon
52.90020° / -1.86448°
Easting / Northing
409,213E / 333,646N
What3Words
remarked.flamenco.cubic
Hixon | |
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Grid Ref | SK0044426027 |
Lat / Lon | 52.83178° / -1.99485° |
Easting / Northing | 400,444E / 326,027N |
What3Words | duck.juggled.muscular |
Uttoxeter | |
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Grid Ref | SK0921333646 |
Lat / Lon | 52.90020° / -1.86448° |
Easting / Northing | 409,213E / 333,646N |
What3Words | remarked.flamenco.cubic |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
David Sanderson
18 Apr 2024 (edited 19 Apr 2024)An easy route to follow from a map reading perspective but this is not a route for a novice. Marshy fields, overgrown entrances and dilapidated stiles made what might have been quite an enjoyable walk into quite a slog. Even some of the newer infrastructure seems to be designed for someone with the legs of a giraffe but the body of an ant. Is there a better alternative? Sadly, probably not. Some of the walking along the quiet lanes was rather enjoyable, particularly when you got views across the Blithe Valley. Public transport wise, there are buses at either end as well as trains from Uttoxeter. Some steps. Lots and lots of stiles.
Ken
18 Apr 2024An interesting and potentially enjoyable walk but after a wet winter it was very wet and muddy almost throughout. Lots of poor quality stiles, mostly pasture so potential for some cattle. The road sections are fairly quiet and safe. Two inns on route one at Kingstone where there are also seats at the church / village hall and children's play area, also a tap at village hall to top up on a hot day. This is a walk for the countryside enthusiast perhaps following in the steps of Alfred Wainwright as it’s very unlikely you will meet other path users.
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Hugh Hudson
18 Apr 2024 (edited 19 Apr 2024)Walked from Hixon to Uttoxeter, as a group with David and Ken. Not an easy route, because the footpaths are little used, wet and muddy in places and there are plenty of rickety or constrained stiles, but it is difficult to see any better options.
From Hixon, we start up the ominous sounding Puddle Hill, which becomes a farm lane once out of the fields, then we cross fields on a little used and (apart from waymarked stiles) unmarked path, with the first of many awkward stiles and a few wet sections. This path is typical of the field paths on this route. Crossing Lea Road, more field paths (which pass through a very muddy field churned up by horses) take us into Drointon, a small village with no facilities.
Beyond the houses, we carry on straight across fields where the road bends left. This path emerges at a farm - we go round a barn then cross into the farm yard to use its lane to reach the road. From here a long section on quiet lanes takes us over the Blythe, passing a pub and up the hill then down to Kingstone.
We turn right before reaching the village pub, following streets out to a playing field then right into a field subdivided into horse grazing areas. The right of way here is supposed to go almost straight on, but has been diverted further right to join the lane to the south just beyond the house. The lane offers easy walking, but ends as we enter a large arable field where there was no obvious visible path (aerial photos suggest that there is at least some of the time).
We cross the busy B5013 and go straight on along another little used path with more wet and muddy sections. A short section of quiet lane brings us onto the Staffordshire Way, which is better trodden and has some good new stiles, but also has a section that has been constrained between fences and is quite wet and muddy. Eventually we leave another lane to reach a field with fine views to the north. Here all difficulties end, though the path between the houses is still a little muddy in places. You can't go straight across Old Knotty Way because of barriers, but there is a pelican crossing to the right, then we go back left to cross a level crossing and follow Pinfold Street into Uttoxeter. Having walked from the Market Place to the bus station earlier in the day on the way to Hixon, we opted to miss this last short section and stop for a few beers.
Overall quite an enjoyable walk through quiet rolling country, but not one to be taken lightly.
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