It works, but the pavement walk along the main road into Leek is tedious. We soon leave the track to follow a fairly well signposted path through fields, crossing the infant river Manifold via cow pastures and climbing a little to Leek Road. I was attempting to follow LeeLon one at this point but the footpath to Upper Hulme has no clear exit across Leek Road and is also boggy, so I retreated and followed the track down to the main road. By this point the pavement of the main road seemed the simplest way into Leek - there is a pavement of sorts all the way but you will have to cross from the east side to the west midway, and parts of the pavement are getting overgrown and you may have to duck under tree branches....

Hugh Hudson

Firstly I couldn't see how to follow the path from the river Churnet bridge up to Leek Road - having crossed some ground that was still boggy even after a long dry spell and a few hours rain, there is a path around the edge of the field the right of way is supposed to cross but it doesn't lead to a stile - only to locked gates protecting a tunnel path under the main road. I gave up and returned to the farm track, followed it down to the main road and used a viable alternative path up to Upper Hulme....

Hugh Hudson

The most problematical part of the walk are the paths both south and north of Werrington where the footpath furniture, especially the stiles are in a very poor condition....

Matthew Axford

This is an excellent canal walk connecting the moorland town of Leek with the city of Stoke on Trent. The path is very clear throughout and largely level (short ascent and descent where the canal goes through a tunnel). Other reviewers have mentioned The Sportsman pub at Stockton Brook, I would also recommend the Hollybush at Denford which can be reached with a very minor detour where the Leek branch meets the Caldon canal....

RGW

A short walk through an industrial estate brought us to a footpath to the towpath of the Caldon Canal at the current end of the Leek Branch. The canal route was very pleasant and easy to follow, and made up 85% of the entire route....

Mary Oz

We attempted to walk this route from Leek, but soon found that the former railway line route heading south towards the canal has been fenced on the west side so that we were able to walk along the path southwards, but were unable to turn westwards across the south of the industrial park. We had to backtrack and walk through the industrial estate to reach the canal. This alternative has been uploaded....

Mary Oz

A very easy route to follow from Leek to Stoke. Mainly following the Caldon Canal, the route was relaxing and with barely any climbs....

David Sanderson

A brilliant route in principle but comes a cropper to the south of Leek where building on an industrial estate has blocked off the right of way. I have submitted a similar route that I was able to walk...

David Sanderson

This route appears to be exactly the same as Leeche one which I have reviewed....

mstyles

This is a good point to stop if you had enough - follow the canal to the bus stop on main road in Cheddleton and take a bus to Leek. From Leekbrook, the route stays on a main road which is very busy and not at all pleasant to follow. I'd suggest the following change: After leaving the footpath at Leekbrook, follow the main A520 Leek Road until just before the viaduct....

mstyles

Mostly on cross field paths, apart from some short road sections and the approaches in Leek....

Matthew Axford

I walked this route in two parts - in April 2023, between Flash and Leek (15 km of the total 24 km) and the rest in August, between Buxton and Flash. However, it is difficult in places: there are steep steps from a road below Flash, areas of stony scramble and the section between Flash and Ramshaw Rocks is generally very boggy....

mstyles

1 Route should be easy to follow: Some of the plotting was vague to put it mildly and as a consequence we found ourselves deciding which footpath to take rather than letting the plotting guide us. 2 A Slow Way is not a tour: Faced with a 13km walk, it's a bit grieving to be able to see a 300m section of pavement which will take you to the same place that the plotted route will take you to in 1500m....

David Sanderson

The route out of Leek is along an old railway which makes for a dry, raised, enjoyable and relaxing walk to the cafe of the railway at Rudyard Lake. The route leaves at the station for a short walk along the pavement of Rudyard Road....

David Sanderson

There were good views in the vicinity of the road crossing just east of Biddulph Moor (Top Road), including across to Mow Cop, and a bit later down into Biddulph....

Mary Oz

There were good views in the vicinity of the road crossing just east of Biddulph Moor (Top Road), including across to Mow Cop, and a bit later down into Biddulph....

Mary Oz

However a key section of the route between Biddulph and Biddulph Moor is both obstructed and in poor condition with no easy diversion. Bidlee Three would be the preferable alternative...

Matthew Axford

However a key section of the route between Biddulph and Biddulph Moor is both obstructed and in poor condition with no easy diversion. Bidlee Three would be the preferable alternative...

Matthew Axford

A mix of urban road walking at each end with a mix of rural cross country in between, including a section adjacent to Rudyard Lake and a section along a disused railway line. Attractive vistas throughout...

Matthew Axford

Please note message on the Ship Inn (Danebridge / Wincle end of the route) website, Aug 2025: "The Ship Inn is Temporary Closed until further notice"....

Matthew Axford

Approaching Waterfall, the grass gets longer and the footpath is more difficult to identify. It gets easier through Waterfall going through country lanes but soon enough it's into footpaths that appear not to have been walked for years, knee-high grass, nettles and brooks and ditches which can only be navigated by jumping over....

mstyles

There is a long but a reasonably gentle ascent over about 3 km and 180 m from just outside the Abbey Inn to the top of the hill. From there, there is a gentle descend towards Danebridge and a view over the dramatic Dane Valley....

mstyles

The walk is ok but some of the footpaths are a bit difficult to follow and not particularly accessible.The fields between Cat's Edge and Tompkin can be quite wet. Also walking into Stoke involves an extended walk through housing estates. I would recommend an alternative route....

andrewdcresswell