Yoxbur two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

A thoroughly enjoyable Slow Way comprising of countryside walking, a small section of road, a park, and canal towpath into Burton. Definitely one to wear boots for and if you want to stop, bring your own refreshments as the only pub is a mere 3.74 km from the Burton end. The Yoxall end starts well, using the National Forest Way and a series of paths to bypass a highly dangerous section of the B5016. This section is a gentle climb and offers great views across the Trent Valley towards Cannock Chase. It rejoins the B5016, and this is probably the least relaxing section of the walk, but there is a verge. The next part connects to Dunstall and the high up well marked paths offer views in all directions. The grounds of Dunstall Hall is a well tended, popular and friendly place to walk. Beyond Dunstall is a short section of lane walking, but the lane is quiet and open and the local drivers seem considerate. You soon leave this to go cross country via a series of paths around old quarries to eventually reach Branston Bridge where you join the Trent and Mersey Canal as far as Shobnall Marina. The last section is highly functional, involves crossing a busy road and is not so pleasant but does get you straight to the meeting place outside the station. There could be scope for a route which remains on the canal for slightly longer. If it is at no major cost to your arrival then I'd be interested to walk it. Saying that, this was a direct, safe, enjoyable walk and I'd do it again.

A good country walk so, mud, stiles, sheep perhaps cattle and deer. Good views but poor services. Dunstall church could offer a picnic spot in fine weather. Bridge Inn at Branston also possible. A minor amendment at Burton end recommended see Yoxbur3

We had been warned on pain of death not to use Yoxbur one and the bus to Yoxall was very good conformation of this advice. Yoxbur 2 avoids this and took us instead through the pleasant Yoxall Community Allotments and Woodland. The path climbs moving into a ploughed field from where good views could be had back across the Trent valley to Cannock Chase.

A short section of road then a quiet lane and more fields, a mix of plough and grass. Signs requiring dogs on leads, but it appears the farm dog is exempt and comes to ensure perhaps that we remain on the path. A brief sharing with the Cross Britian Way then a track leads to a large area of sheep grazed pasture. Here we are suddenly not alone the paths here are popular and busy, well not Dove Dale busy but the most folk we see all day. Hardly surprising as the walk through Dunstall Park passing the Old Hall is a delight for the eye and feet. The church is passed then a glimps of the hall and porteco plus an array of impressive essential outbuildings. A road walk alongside the tall garden wall before we enter fields which fencing suggests are grazed by deer, but no sightings today.

From here we leave the gentle hills and enter the flat Trent valley and the almost inevitable gravel workings which perhaps help pay for the maintenance of the parkland. The path has been diverted and runs alongside the road but in the field, it was unsigned when we passed. Meeting the canal at Branston, once an independent village, now a suburb of Burton with the relocated Rugby Club and houses galore, where will it stop?

The canal towpath offers easy walking and we even see two boats on the move in late February. Leaving the canal after Shbnall Wharf the roads are busy and difficult to cross so a revision is suggested, see Yoxbur-3.

Gentle walk of 2 parts, but boots are still required and the 1st part has many styles. Leaving Yoxall via allotments rising to give views over Trent valley behind you, a stretch of straight road walking follows then small lane to regain rolling fields to Dunstall park and hall, this along with the church is perhaps the high spot of the walk. Upon passing the old Hall on a lane the walk enters the deer park cutting across this to a road. This really marks the beginning of the 2nd flat part of the walk the more commercial and urban, gravel pits first then forward to the Trent and Mersey canal and a pub beside the bridge gaining access to the towpath taking the walk towards Burton.
The canal is at the edge of the every expanding A38 corridor and new buildings line it almost all the way to where we leave the canal at Snobhall marina, I see it may be possible to remain by the canal a while longer this I feel would be an improvement. The end of the walk to the station shows clearly Burtons brewing heritage with many old brewery buildings and new plants interweaved finally passing the old Midland grain store before the station is reached. The walk could be done in reverse as Yoxall does have a shop and pubs but obviously Burton has more choice.

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