Stapen three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I walked this route from Penkridge to Stafford. Except for a few very short segments, it's almost entirely along lovely riverside or canalside paths. It's a gorgeous route; it's safe, direct, and off-road; it's extremely pleasant; and it was surprisingly joyful (for someone who doesn't love canal walking). Full marks.

This was a very easy and very pleasant walk. We started at Penkridge, passing shops, pubs, cafés and toilets. Access to the towpath of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal was via a wide sloping path. The route along here was very nice, with lovely bridges and locks, although there was some noise from the nearby M6. There was a section about 1k long, running alongside a B road, but there is a barrier between the road and the towpath. It got quieter after Acton Trussell, where there is hotel, and a bench on the towpath.
Some of the towpath is fairly narrow, partly due to late summer plants being quite high, but there is one particularly narrow section just south of the A34 bridge where I can’t help wondering if the car dealership has expanded a bit onto the towpath!
The route makes use of National Cycle route 5 to branch off from the canal and cross to the River Sow, starting with an elevated bridge over a field!
The last section of the walk, alongside the river, past some shops and pub, and through Victoria Park was pleasant and interesting and mostly car-free.

One of the easiest Slow Ways to follow. We started from Penkridge where the meeting place could maybe do with moving as it starts you on the wrong side of the busy A449. There are crossings so it wasn't a problem from a safety point of view, but the group I was walking with gravitated to outside a well maintained set of public toilets on Crown Bridge. There are pavements passing shops and pubs throughout Penkridge and the route joins the canal at the earliest possible occasion. The towpath of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal takes you most of the route. There are no steps, as there aren't throughout this route, but the towpath is very narrow in sections and doesn't seem particularly solid. The walk is calm and the surroundings relaxing although the sound of the nearby M6 could spoil it for some. If you need to stop for refreshments, you can cross the canal at Acton Trussell (at 7km from Stafford) to The Moat House Hotel. Even you just fancy a break, there is a bench at Acton Trussell on the towpath. On the last section of the canal before you leave, there are views of Stafford, including of Stafford Castle on the hill. The route follows a cycle path as far as the River Sow, this includes a raised section above the flood plain by where the Penk flows into the Sow.The walkway along the River Sow into Stafford is a paved, well used, and friendly stretch of walking which offers numerous opportunities for shops and refreshments. The final section is through the very pretty Victoria Park to the meeting point at the railway station. Overall this was a very enjoyable, safe, direct Slow Way. Full marks!.

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