Description
Route from Rugeley's main shopping area past old buildings to the tranquil Trent and Mersey Canal. You follow this as far as Armitage where you cross the canal and follow a path from which you can see the famous Armitage Shanks Factory. You leave the canal following a path which then takes you across the A513 adjacent to a supermarket, a pub and a cafe. The route then takes you south to Longdon (where you will find the last pub before Lichfield). A short climb out of the village takes you to a point of the route which has great views in all directions (including your first view of the spires of Lichfield Cathedral). Heading east, the path then takes you across Lichfield Golf Course (where it heads south) and delivers you to peaceful meadows to the north of the city (worth looking out for deer here!). You turn east and after a gentle ascent, at the top of the hill, you cross the A515 and climb a style into the fields adjacent to the village of Elmhurst. You pass along the edges of the fields and then enter a lane in a short wooded stretch past the appropriately names Rookery Cottages (you can see the nests above you). This lane then arrives at a path which passes through a field which is surrounded by the backs of the houses of the village on Fox Lane. You then turn right onto Fox Lane before leaving the village on a track to the left of an ornamental garden. This path takes you gently down via an open track with views right across the Trent Valley as far as Derbyshire and Leicestershire. As you get to the bottom you turn right along the wooded path to meet an underpass on the left which will avoid crossing the often very busy bypass. A walk across the foot of a small field brings you to an alleyway which having opened into a green space in a residential area then takes you down to Curborough Road. You follow this road (past a supermarket) as far as Stowe Pool. You then follow this round to just by the Cathedral. The last section takes you past historic sites, shops, pubs and restaurants to the meeting place outside Lichfield City Railway Station
Route from Rugeley's main shopping area past old buildings to the tranquil Trent and Mersey Canal. You follow this as far as Armitage where you cross the canal and follow a path from which you can see the famous Armitage Shanks Factory. You leave the canal following a path which then takes you across the A513 adjacent to a supermarket, a pub and a cafe. The route then takes you south to Longdon (where you will find the last pub before Lichfield). A short climb out of the village takes you to a point of the route which has great views in all directions (including your first view of the spires of Lichfield Cathedral). Heading east, the path then takes you across Lichfield Golf Course (where it heads south) and delivers you to peaceful meadows to the north of the city (worth looking out for deer here!). You turn east and after a gentle ascent, at the top of the hill, you cross the A515 and climb a style into the fields adjacent to the village of Elmhurst. You pass along the edges of the fields and then enter a lane in a short wooded stretch past the appropriately names Rookery Cottages (you can see the nests above you). This lane then arrives at a path which passes through a field which is surrounded by the backs of the houses of the village on Fox Lane. You then turn right onto Fox Lane before leaving the village on a track to the left of an ornamental garden. This path takes you gently down via an open track with views right across the Trent Valley as far as Derbyshire and Leicestershire. As you get to the bottom you turn right along the wooded path to meet an underpass on the left which will avoid crossing the often very busy bypass. A walk across the foot of a small field brings you to an alleyway which having opened into a green space in a residential area then takes you down to Curborough Road. You follow this road (past a supermarket) as far as Stowe Pool. You then follow this round to just by the Cathedral. The last section takes you past historic sites, shops, pubs and restaurants to the meeting place outside Lichfield City Railway Station
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 - 8
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Rugeley
Grid Ref
SK0442917971
Lat / Lon
52.75935° / -1.93580°
Easting / Northing
404,429E / 317,971N
What3Words
units.rots.asks
Lichfield
Grid Ref
SK1186909179
Lat / Lon
52.68020° / -1.82587°
Easting / Northing
411,869E / 309,179N
What3Words
slug.gallons.career
| Rugeley | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SK0442917971 |
| Lat / Lon | 52.75935° / -1.93580° |
| Easting / Northing | 404,429E / 317,971N |
| What3Words | units.rots.asks |
| Lichfield | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | SK1186909179 |
| Lat / Lon | 52.68020° / -1.82587° |
| Easting / Northing | 411,869E / 309,179N |
| What3Words | slug.gallons.career |
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reviews
Nigel Cull
09 Feb 2024A lovely Slow Ways Route. Taking you from Rugeley via the Trent and Mersey Canal a very pleasant waterway. Then along footpaths with great views over the Staffordshire country side and moorland.
Arriving into Lichfield via Stowe Pool.
Ken
21 May 2023This route is a real mixed bag. The canal section is excellent and easy but the field paths are not well walked so can be a challenge to locate. There will be stiles and the possibility of cattle. Equally there are some great views and enjoyable walking but limited refreshments along the way so go prepared.
The canal was busy with boats on the bright May day of my walk. The dancing reflection of ripples on the underside of the bridge was hypnotic and needs a video to appreciate. Having explored the path through the sanitary ware works I made a detour to the church where I found seats and a useful tap.
The exit starts well but finding the signed path alongside two bungalows offered no guidance but perhaps that was just me. The rickety stile in the bottom of the field was overgrown which set the tone for many more along the way.
The path out of Longdon was unsigned between the houses until reaching a gate. Approaching from the church was a group of lads, perhaps Duke of Edinburgh, struggling to locate their route.
The trig pillar offers a good view along with the noise from frequent passing trains. Building work at Hanch Farm had left a narrow path alongside the security fence. The plot correctly marks the departure point from Lysways Lane but impressive security gates prevents access. The unsigned stile is hidden a little further along the lane in the adjacent field.
Likewise the stile onto the golf course was hidden in vegetation. The path across the manicured grass is not well signed and the exit point provided is not on the definitive or plotted route and again well camouflaged by undergrowth. A decent headland path offers the best route along the field edge and then tram lines made by the tractors provide the only crop free path to the road.
Elmhurst still has it's walled garden and gate lodge. I read that the house built in 1808 passed through various hands including Henry Mitchell of brewing fame. After his death and failed attempts to sell, it was demolished in 1921.
From here the paths have more use so are easy to follow although once into the fringe of Lichfield initial care is needed. The walk alongside Stowe Pool is rightly very popular, we miss a close encounter with the cathedral to take a direct route to the meeting place so if this is a first visit a detour around the city is a must.
An enjoyable walk but care and determination may be required especially during the spring and summer seasons when vegetation hides gaps, stiles and waymarks.
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David Sanderson
16 May 2021I walked this in light drizzle having just completed Ruglic One. The route to the canal is direct and easy to follow. The Trent and Mersey Canal is a very pleasant waterway to follow, popular with boats and walkers. As you leave the town centre the opposite bank becomes a gallery of manicured lawns and well maintained houses. The route leaves the canal in Armitage and delivers you to a bus route, cafe, pub and supermarket if you so desire. After a short climb you pick up a well marked path that runs to the south of the village. The route takes you over hills through fields to the village of Longdon where there is the last pub on the route before Lichfied. You go through a residential street to a footpath which takes you scenically up to a triangulation point. More countryside and views before a descent to Lichfield Golf Course which you cross and then make your way to the village of Elmhurst. The track from there to Lichfield's northern edge has great views. The route into Lichfield is gentle, clear and full of shops pubs and restaurants. This route is direct, easy to follow, has multiple stops and is beautiful.
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