Hixutt three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

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.

An 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.

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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