Connect Lichfield with Slow Ways

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Lichfield

Staffordshire


Slow Ways linking Lichfield and Alrewas, Brownhills, Burntwood, King's Bromley, Rugeley, Shenstone, Tamworth

England / Staffordshire / Lichfield

Lichfield’s seven Slow Ways are 86% checked

Drawn: 7/7
reviewed: 7/7
verified: 6/7
and surveyed: 5/7

Help connect Lichfield

Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.

Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.

Give a hike and help get a for every one of Lichfield’s Slow Ways.

Walk to Lichfield from further afield

Slow Way Route To do
Brownhills—Lichfield
Brolic one Review me Distance 10km/6mi Ascent 52m Descent 118m
Brownhills—Lichfield
Brolic two Verify me Distance 10km/6mi Ascent 96m Descent 158m
Burntwood—Lichfield
Burlic one

Double check Distance 9km/6mi Ascent 63m Descent 146m
Burntwood—Lichfield
Burlic two Enjoy me Distance 8km/5mi Ascent 23m Descent 101m
Burntwood—Lichfield
Burlic three Review me Distance 9km/6mi Ascent - Descent -
Lichfield—Alrewas
Licalr one

Double check Distance 10km/6mi Ascent 73m Descent 42m
Lichfield—Alrewas
Licalr two Enjoy me Distance 10km/6mi Ascent 93m Descent 58m
Lichfield—King's Bromley
Lickin one Review me Distance 9km/5mi Ascent 90m Descent 65m
Lichfield—King's Bromley
Lickin two Enjoy me Distance 9km/6mi Ascent 86m Descent 56m
Lichfield—Tamworth
Lictam one Review me Distance 13km/8mi Ascent 128m Descent 147m
Lichfield—Tamworth
Lictam two Enjoy me Distance 13km/8mi Ascent 170m Descent 197m
Lichfield—Tamworth
Lictam three Pioneer me Distance 13km/8mi Ascent 127m Descent 153m
Rugeley—Lichfield
Ruglic one

Double check Distance 18km/11mi Ascent 174m Descent 164m
Rugeley—Lichfield
Ruglic two Survey me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 148m Descent 134m
Shenstone—Lichfield
Shelic one

Enjoy me Distance 6km/4mi Ascent 62m Descent 53m
Shenstone—Lichfield
Shelic two

Survey me Distance 6km/4mi Ascent 72m Descent 65m
Shenstone—Lichfield
Shelic three

Survey me Distance 6km/4mi Ascent - Descent -

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Lichfield and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Collective progress

68% of Lichfield’s seven route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

17/17

drawn

16/17

reviewed

5/17

surveyed

8/17

verified

7 people have contributed to Lichfield’s Slow Ways

2 people have pledged to walk and review a route

5 people have surveyed a route in Lichfield

163km out of 176km have been walked and reviewed

341km of reviews have been shared in Lichfield

Latest Updates

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....

Nigel Cull

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Starting in Brownhills along McClean Way, the old railway line from Lichfield to Walsall onto a short stretch of the Anglesey Branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal....

Nigel Cull

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The exit starts well but finding the signed path alongside two bungalows offered no guidance but perhaps that was just me. Building work at Hanch Farm had left a narrow path alongside the security fence. 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. 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....

Ken

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The path later follows a field edge before crossing to a stile along an invisible path. Leaving the road the path follows the field edge then enters the edge of a wood, not well used but clear and pleasant....

Ken

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Hugh Hudson surveyed Licalr two

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Hugh Hudson surveyed Shelic one

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The route out of Lichfield is easy to follow if you trust the GPX - Curborough Road has a good pavement, and the path from St Catherines Road to the underpass under Western Road is clear and well used, though not shown on the OS map. Beyond the underpass we go right on a good path through the trees then left over a little bridge onto another well used field path....

Hugh Hudson

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David Sanderson took this photo on Burlic three

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Overall though, if you're prepared to walk for an extra 15min or so, this is definitely the nicest way to get from Burntwood to Lichfield....

David Sanderson

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Burntwood—Lichfield

David Sanderson added Burlic three, a new walk from Burntwood to Lichfield

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Hugh Hudson surveyed Lictam two

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Hugh Hudson surveyed Burlic two

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We leave the diamond route and take Knox's Grave Lane, no sign of the grave only a large hole in the ground where sand has been extracted before we return to a pavement walk alongside the A51....

Ken

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This offers the first stretch of off road walking and is popular with locals. The final road side walk was improved by the company of Hugh and the cycle lane road marking which encouraged passing traffic to allow an additional space between them and the pavement....

Ken

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Eventually the main road heads right across the river at a roundabout where we go straight on along Lichfield Street and Church Street then right down Colehill to the meeting point on George Street (we then continued along George Street and Market Street past the castle to the excellent Old Bank House pub on Silver Street, and in retrospect this might have been a more interesting choice for the final part of the route)....

Hugh Hudson

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We turn right along Woodhouses Road and then straight on past Edail Farm onto a clearly marked and well used field path with more stiles.Just before the far side of a large field we take another well used path right which leads easily to Walsall Road (the only route finding issue is that most people seem to follow the near edge of the last field rather than the right of way line which is obstructed by a fallen telegraph pole and has no footpath sign....

Hugh Hudson

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The whole length of Claypit Lane is too dangerous for walking, narrow, twisting and fast traffic....

alanclare

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OK between Shenstone and Chesterfield....

alanclare

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It's only four miles so I devise a route that covers all the options. A sign directs me off road after the Toll road but initially I take the wrong track perhaps it's easier going north. No sign of the path across a field of carrots. I can see I'm heading wrong so at the field end I have to double back to find the stile into the next field. The Highway Act 1980 is clear, section 134 subsection (3) requires the occupier to make good the surface of the path and indicate the line of the path on the ground....

Ken

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Shelic-2 was perhaps an interim route while Claypit Lane was closed. It looks like most path users continue along the track but the Slow Way heads north so keep a close eye on the plot. The Highway Act 1980 is clear, section 134 subsection (3) requires the occupier to make good the surface of the path and indicate the line of the path on the ground. Watling Street was no busier than Claypit Lane and its wide so I had no issue with occasional passing traffic, I met dog walkers coming the other way....

Ken

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It looks like most path users continue along the track but the Slow Way heads north so keep a close eye on the plot. The Highway Act 1980 is clear, section 134 subsection (3) requires the occupier to make good the surface of the path and indicate the line of the path on the ground. Section 137A (1) (b) requires the occupier to prevent the crop from encroaching on any relevant highway. The grassy footpath across to Birmingham Road is the very best part of all three routes. Yes the best on offer but again spoilt by Birmingham Road and the inconsiderate farmer so unfairly Slow Ways loses a star....

Ken

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The path across to Claypit Lane is fairly easy to follow - the only slight doubt is how far left to go once the access road for Harehurst Hill is left, but since the answer is the first available gap it is easily resolved. This time I found the start of it and managed to get past Chesterfield more or less on it, but the only non-trampling line I could find across a vegetable field took me south and left me within easy reach of the lane, so I used that rather than finding the correct way out of the field round the edge....

Hugh Hudson

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Once on Watling street it is quieter although there is no pavement and you are sharing the road with vehicular traffic....

pddys

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The name of the lane reverts to Claypit Lane and in the year since I first reviewed this route, it does seem to have got busier. At the foot of the hill you join the pavement of Birmingham Road, and this takes you all the way to the meeting point at Lichfield City Railway Station. Beyond the mini roundabout, which I found easy to cross, but might be harder at busier times, the route is through a predominantly residential area of Lichfield although there is a pub "The Duke of Wellington" and just off the road "Trinity Brew" which is a brewery and eatery, open mainly at the weekend. What this route loses in directness by not following Claypit Lane for longer, it more than makes up for in safety, beauty, enjoyability, links to transport and pubs and shops....

David Sanderson

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David Sanderson took this photo on Shelic three

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Shenstone—Lichfield

David Sanderson added Shelic three, a new walk from Shenstone to Lichfield

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David Sanderson took this photo on Shelic one

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I walked it from Lichfield to Alrewas as the middle part of a longer three route walk from Shenstone to Burton. The approach to the Fradley industrial estate is interesting - at first sight the way forward seemed to be blocked by an enormous new warehouse building, but careful reading of the map shows that the right of way has been respected by the developers, and near the warehouse new fences keep you on the right line. The remainder of the route is mostly across clearly marked easy field paths, though beyond the A513 the way forward is almost obscured by overgrowth, and the line across the park is unmarked....

Hugh Hudson

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The track continues into the next field and turns left - here I hit my next minor snag - there is no visible path line continuing straight on across the vast crop field and no waymarker, and I didn't fancy trampling it, so I was eventually forced to accept that the road through Chesterfield was the easier option. The route within Lichfield also has minor problems - I can see what the route creator was trying to do using right of way paths rather than streets, but the path leaving Sainte Foy Avenue is not signposted or visible on the ground - there is a surfaced path round the other (east) side of the large gated building whose fences block the old path line....

Hugh Hudson

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I fully understand the reason to change to this route because of the closure of Claypit Lane but I would not recommend this route for two reasons (1) The long stretch along the very busy Birmingham Road and (2) the somewhat dangerous section along Watling Street. So would suggest Shelic One is a better route....

Paul McGill

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After the railway on the edge of Lichfield a steel traffic safety barrier obstructs the footpath stile then the fields had been heavy ploughed with no attempt to leave a path along the edge or mark out the cross field sections. Section 134 of the Highway Act 1980 requires the occupier to make good the surface of the path, make it apparent on the ground and keep it clear of crops....

Ken

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Fox Lane (which came at the end of my walk from Kings Bromley to Lichfield) was firm but very uneven and from local knowledge I know it get quite boggy....

David Sanderson

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The route out of Lichfield is far more direct than the route chosen by Shelic One, which is frankly puzzling as Birmingham Road has a good pavement even after leaving Lichfield's city limits....

David Sanderson

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Lichfield—Tamworth

Jonathan added Lictam three, a new walk from Lichfield to Tamworth

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The route out of Lichfield follows the pavement of Walsall Road past Festival Park and then along the main road. You turn left into a bridleway, Woodhouse Lane (10, 11 and 12) which takes you to the edge of Burntwood. It's all pavement from here, along Church Road, left into Rugeley Road and then right into Cannock Road which takes you up a gentle slope to your destination (15)....

David Sanderson

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David Sanderson took this photo on Burlic two

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The way around, which was to continue to follow the footpath was easy enough to do in this direction so this wasn't a cause for failure. I'd been unable to review this first time I tried because Claypit Lane was closed for the construction of a housing estate, thus extending Lichfield further. After passing under the M6 Toll and A5 bridges you leave the lane to follow the path across fields. On previous walks, I'd found this path to be really easy to follow but it had been planted with crops and I had to make my way around the outside....

David Sanderson

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Bishops Walk is temporarily closed in Lichfield (this should only be a problem until early June 2021) and more importantly a section of the walk at Armitage takes you along a footpath (marked on the OS map between SK 0804 1626 and SK 0837 1623) on the non-towpath side at the back of the Armitage Shanks factory which no longer exists and is impassable. The route then took me around Rugeley across field then via a sharp ascent up what appeared to be an old slag heap (mining was once the main industry) and brought me into the far side of Rugeley (from Lichfield)....

David Sanderson

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David Sanderson took this photo on Ruglic one

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Rugeley—Lichfield

David Sanderson added Ruglic two, a new walk from Rugeley to Lichfield

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The route to the canal is direct and easy to follow. The route leaves the canal in Armitage and delivers you to a bus route, cafe, pub and supermarket if you so desire....

David Sanderson

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David Sanderson took this photo on Ruglic two

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A tiny unnecessary detour starts the journey from Lichfield going along the busy Birmingham Road rather than following the pavement straight up from the station (this might be a product of automation when the meeting points changed)....

David Sanderson

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David Sanderson took this photo on Lictam one

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Lichfield—Tamworth

David Sanderson added Lictam two, a new walk from Lichfield to Tamworth

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This route uses the scenic Heart of England Way to deliver you to Knox's Grave Lane which then takes you over the hill to the pavement of the Lichfield Road. A descent through the village of Hopwas crosses the Coventry Canal and then more spectacularly the River Tame. The road follows the north bank of the river into the centre of the town after which it is named: Tamworth...

David Sanderson

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David Sanderson took this photo on Lictam two

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Lichfield—King's Bromley

David Sanderson added Lickin two, a new walk from Lichfield to King's Bromley

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I think this route has the edge over Lickin One, especially as part of Lickin One is shut until June 2021. A safer flatter more open route between Lichfield and Elmhurst and then the same route to Kings Bromley...

David Sanderson

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Shenstone—Lichfield

David Sanderson added Shelic two, a new walk from Shenstone to Lichfield

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Brownhills—Lichfield

David Sanderson added Brolic two, a new walk from Brownhills to Lichfield

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The final section in Lichfield takes you past a number of restaurants and pubs along with 15th century buildings...

David Sanderson

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As a consequence the route as far as Minster Pool takes you in the wrong direction to start with and takes you up Upper John Street, a busy road, frequently full of cars, lorries and buses with a narrow pavement....

David Sanderson

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Lichfield—Alrewas

David Sanderson added Licalr two, a new walk from Lichfield to Alrewas

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The route was clear and walking through Fradley, back on pavements is simple. This is the half way point of the route and Fradley South has a supermarket and a raft of shops....

David Sanderson

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Lichfield

David Sanderson surveyed Lichfield

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Lichfield

David Sanderson surveyed Lichfield

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Lichfield

David Sanderson surveyed Lichfield

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Lichfield

David Hartley surveyed Lichfield

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Good direct route. A descent via steps then takes you down to the north end of the marvellous McClean Way, the old railway line from Lichfield to Walsall that has been spruced up for walkers....

David Sanderson

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The route is certainly not direct and travels a long way north east to pick up the Heart of England Way when there are safer more direct footpaths linking the two settlements....

David Sanderson

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Burntwood—Lichfield

David Sanderson added Burlic two, a new walk from Burntwood to Lichfield

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Brownhills—Lichfield

Slow Ways added Brolic one, a new walk from Brownhills to Lichfield

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Burntwood—Lichfield

Slow Ways added Burlic one, a new walk from Burntwood to Lichfield

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Lichfield—Alrewas

Slow Ways added Licalr one, a new walk from Lichfield to Alrewas

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Lichfield—King's Bromley

Slow Ways added Lickin one, a new walk from Lichfield to King's Bromley

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Lichfield—Tamworth

Slow Ways added Lictam one, a new walk from Lichfield to Tamworth

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Rugeley—Lichfield

Slow Ways added Ruglic one, a new walk from Rugeley to Lichfield

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Shenstone—Lichfield

Slow Ways added Shelic one, a new walk from Shenstone to Lichfield

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1

Lichfield, Fri 29 March

13°

Cloudy

Lichfield’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

SK1186909179

Lat / Lon

52.68020° / -1.82587°

Easting / Northing

411,869E / 309,179N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Lichfield and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?

This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!

Facilities

Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Lichfield's meeting point

Public toilet

Wheelchair accessible toilet

Supermarket or convenience shop

Restaurant, cafe or pub

Accommodation

Accommodation for under £50 a night

Campsite

Bothy

Free wifi

Mobility scooter hire

Off-road wheelchair hire

Disabled Parking

Train station

Bus stop

Ferry

Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town

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