Yet again a fast and busy road crossing dictates a Slow Way route. Passing the disused portal of Brindley’s tunnel our route climbs up the access road. Our path winds around the Travelodge to meet the road which allows a safe crossing of the busy dual carriageway. We pass Dean’s Lane turning right along a footpath signed road that becomes a path alongside a school. The recorded path continues to the road but we can bear left over the grass to follow the narrow lane safely segregated by a strip of trees and bushes....

Ken

Yet again a fast and busy road crossing dictates a Slow Way route. It continues on road up Boathorse Road, as the name records this was the way the boat horse went while men legged the boat through he tunnel. Our path winds around the Travelodge to meet the road which allows a safe crossing of the busy dual carriageway. The road into Bignall has a pavement which would be improved with some cutting back and where it crosses sides at the road to Megacre it’s not the safest pavement design, done by a roads person, I guess....

Ken

If you’re looking for spectacular views, this isn’t the walk for you....

Kabutomushi

Nice route: canals, hills and plain. Great views over the Staffordshire and Cheshire plains from Mow Cop. Mostly easy to follow except one part near Kidsgrove....

Kabutomushi

In view of this we took a different route into Congleton to avoid the route across the golf course and fields....

Ian Morton

Lovely walk almost all on quiet canal towpaths (not always paved). Some unexpectedly nice countryside, peaceful views and a load of kingfishers! It was so good I wrote about it – and Slow Ways – for The Guardian ( https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/03/slow-ways-app-map-140000-miles-footpaths-walking-pedestrian-friendly-england-wales )...

Patrick Barkham

We even saw two kingfisher's within a few minutes of walking down the canal! The route is mostly on the canal and is easy to follow. Photos and some more words to come later.....

danravenellison

Crossing the busy and fast railway on the level also needs close attention with eyes and ears then we continue along a farm track....

Ken

On the way I noted under the rail bridge more of that orange water that coloured the canal. We leave the summit of the canal at the junction with the Caldon canal which brings a supply of water from the distant Rudyard Lake (reservoir). A couple of bottle kilns hide among modern development before we pass under the railway by canal then again on the road....

Ken

The towpath gets boggy so I'd recommend wearing boots....

David Sanderson

The route is reasonably direct and from a safety point of view there is a section of road walking down Dean's Lane which has a reasonably wide verge....

David Sanderson

This route involves some road walking, but it is difficult to find a good combination of direct, and off-road....

Mary Oz

It's not far from the meeting place in Biddulph to the old railway track, leading to Stoke, popular with dogwalkers and cyclists as well as fellow walkers. The route across the fields is pleasant and it eventually leads to Birchenwood Country Park where you join another old railway line....

David Sanderson

A short walk from the bus station start point in Biddulph took us to a former railway line cycle track route to Brindley Ford, which was very pleasant and had benches and a picnic table along it. By the time we arrived at the next railway line cycle track we needed torches. Unfortunately, in the dark, we took the wrong footpath for KidBid Two at Valentine Road (and thus unintendedly created KidBid Three), so we revisited this end on a subsequent day....

Mary Oz

Not walked, but based on Iain's review, and on looking carefully on Google Street View, I agree, this route is dangerous and should be failed....

Mary Oz

It's not far from the meeting place in Biddulph to the old railway track, leading to Stoke, popular with dogwalkers and cyclists as well as fellow walkers. The route across the fields is pleasant and it eventually leads to Birchenwood Country Park where you join another old railway line....

David Sanderson

A short walk from the bus station start point in Biddulph took us to a former railway line cycle track route to Brindley Ford, which was very pleasant and had benches and a picnic table along it. By the time we arrived at the next railway line cycle track we needed torches....

Mary Oz

Please do then share your findings via review and or create a better gpx file and upload using suggest a better route....

Slow Ways Cristie

A varied walk taking in the back streets and fields around Kidsgrove. Potential to wander off course in the field as the path is not well trodden. Sad to see some parts of the trail have been used for fly-tipping....

planroutematt

Some parts of this route are on risky roads and poorly signposted. A couple of parts of the path are overgrown....

planroutematt

A number of sections on this walk were overgrown (looked like they hadn't been walked for a long time)....

Matthew Axford

Some navigation needed midway but otherwise a comfortable easy to follow route...

Matthew Axford

At the end of this the public footpath and this route cross to the south of the brook via a wooden bridge. The route goes under the railway, then under the road bridge then up some steps to the station car park....

Mary Oz

This route is inaccurate as a section of it needs to be on the other side of the canal. It would cause problems particularly if walking from Stoke-on-Trent northwards....

Mary Oz

The main road bridge it uses for crossing the canal north of Etruria has no access to the canal, the correct one is footbridge a short distance further south. See KidSto Three for correction. Other than that, fabulous route!...

Mary Oz

From Kidsgrove Station car park a flight of stairs takes you to the towpath, then along to the north entrances to the historic Harecastle Tunnels (the current one designed by Telford, and the now derelict one designed by Brindley). Here it is necessary to leave the towpath and head up above it, alongside roads to the north car park for Bathpool Park....

Mary Oz

I've done this walk a few times in the past, but always in the opposite direction, so when I started following the pavement of Boathorse Road I thought I would be following it all the way to the other end of Harecastle Tunnel. To get back on to the canal you follow the pavement of a main road. The route leaves the canal before you reach Stoke Town and puts you on the road to Stoke City Centre (Hanley Town Centre) if you so require....

David Sanderson

Some sections off road were challenging (vegetation growth, minor flooding) but otherwise a relatively easy and interesting walk...

Matthew Axford

As you get to the edge and have to cross Linney Lane you are faced with the only major road crossing of the walk, and although it requires care, I managed it easily enough. The path on the other side of the road takes you across along a footpath over a wooden bridge to the south side of a brook which you follow as far as a level crossing, where you cross the railway....

David Sanderson

I walked this from Kidsgrove and managed to follow it as far south as Etruria but then sadly between SJ 8670 4792 and SJ 8686 4751 it wanted to put me on the wrong side of the canal. This wasn't quite so critical from the north as it is obvious that you can not continue along the west bank and need to move across. However, I know from bitter experience that if you approach from the south you can follow the towpath on the wrong side and then have to go back on yourself or have to leave the canal completely....

David Sanderson

I've done this walk a few times in the past, but always in the opposite direction, so when I started following the pavement of Boathorse Road I thought I would be following it all the way to the other end of Harecastle Tunnel. To get back on to the canal you follow the pavement of a main road. The route leaves the canal before you reach Stoke Town and puts you on the road to Stoke City Centre (Hanley Town Centre) if you so require....

David Sanderson

This route is dangerous, it crosses the A500 a motorway standard dual carriageway , A better route would be to use the Newcastle Way from Kidsgrove to the Wedgewood monument then drop down into Bignall Hill, picking up the route past Diglake. I would not use this route under any circumstances....

IAIN CHIPPENDALE

Coming from Stoke and going towards Kidsgrove, and a mile after Middleport Pottery, there is the beautiful Westport Lake and, if you're lucky, the oatcake boat may be there and it will be their pleasure to sell you this very local delicacy....

Eve Donnadieu