Stafford
Staffordshire
Slow Ways linking Stafford and Eccleshall, Hixon, Newport (Telford and Wrekin), Penkridge, Rugeley, Stone
Progress towards triple-checked route options for Stafford’s six Slow Ways: 63%
Help connect Stafford
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 Stafford’s Slow Ways.
Walk to Stafford from further afield
Slow Way | Route | To do | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eccleshall—Stafford
|
Eccsta one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 14km/9mi | Ascent 81m | Descent 67m | ||
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Newport (Telford and Wrekin)—Stafford
|
Newpsta one |
|
2 X |
|
Enjoy me | Distance 19km/12mi | Ascent 115m | Descent 113m | ||
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Stafford—Hixon
|
Stahix one |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 16km/10mi | Ascent 194m | Descent 168m | ||
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Stafford—Hixon
|
Stahix two |
|
3 X |
|
Verify me | Distance 13km/8mi | Ascent 76m | Descent 50m | ||
Stafford—Penkridge
|
Stapen one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 13km/8mi | Ascent 103m | Descent 97m | ||
Stafford—Penkridge
|
Stapen two |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 14km/9mi | Ascent 118m | Descent 113m | ||
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Stafford—Penkridge
|
Stapen three |
|
2 X |
|
Enjoy me | Distance 12km/8mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Stafford—Rugeley
|
Starug one |
|
|
U U |
|
Double check | Distance 18km/11mi | Ascent 80m | Descent 81m | |
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Stafford—Rugeley
|
Starug two |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 18km/11mi | Ascent 158m | Descent 158m | ||
Stone—Stafford
|
Stosta one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 17km/11mi | Ascent 90m | Descent 114m | ||
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Stone—Stafford
|
Stosta two |
|
U U |
|
Verify me | Distance 16km/10mi | Ascent 113m | Descent 137m |
Collective progress
52% of Stafford’s routes are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified
11/11
7/11
3/11
2/11
7 people have contributed to Stafford’s Slow Ways
0 people have pledged to walk and review a route
4 people have surveyed a route in Stafford
113km out of 171km have been walked and reviewed
205km of reviews have been shared in Stafford
Latest Updates
The route crosses the Sow unnecessarily at the Stafford end but that's minor. Stops and shops in Stafford and Milford if you leave the route....
David Sanderson
Mostly flat walk using riverside and canalside paths, many sections will be underfoot after rain, optionlly at the start you can walk thriough Victoria park (entrance opposite the station) rather than following the road. Good options for cafes / pubs just off the route at Little Haywood and Great Haywood and also at both start and finish....
simonalcock
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....
mtormey
After a very short stretch of road walking, there's a long bit along a former railway line....
mtormey
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....
David Sanderson
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....
Mary Oz
David Sanderson added Stapen three, a new walk from Stafford to Penkridge
Walk this routeThe descent into the Trent Valley is across a number of quiet fields and is easy to follow. As you get nearer the River Trent, the fields become wetter and as I got closer to Burston I encountered a herd of cows who seemed incredibly keen to get close to me. Having crossed the Trent via a footbridge at Burston, you join the Trent and Mersey Canal which you follow all the way to Stone....
David Sanderson
In the methodology of a Slow Way it's a definite 5 for directness and safety (in the road sense rather than the 24x7 as it's not lit). The only thing I thought it might fail on was somewhere to stop but almost miraculously at halfway (10km from in Stafford and 9km from Newport) the old railway reaches a spot where a bridge has been demolished and you have to descend and cross the road at Gnosall Heath, where there is a pub!...
David Sanderson
From the Walton-on-the-Hill area there is a very popular footpath that goes over fields via Jacob's Ladder to Lazar Lane (photo 1), then a bridleway to the main road (photo 2). At the bottom of the hill by the main road (A513), there is a gate (see photo 4) - grid ref 985211. Then cross the main road, over the railway line, a bit of not very exciting footpath through an industrial estate, and along the pavement by the road into Hixon. I would either stay on the canal towpath as far as Walton Bridge, then take the footpath up Green Gore Lane to cross the A513 and go up School Lane, which leads to the footpath over the fields to Milford via Jacob's Ladder. Alternatively, I would leave the canal at the footpath that leads up to Falmouth Avenue and then take the short footpath from Stockton Lane over the field to Bluebell Hollow and then onto the A513 up to Kitlings Lane or School Lane....
sarah711
Leaving from Rugeley you are asked to join the canal then leave the canal via a bridge and then rejoin the canal where there is no means to do so. The Stafford end is very vague in an area where you need to know whether you follow either of the two rivers or the canal. Unworthy of a Slow Way...
David Sanderson
David Sanderson added Starug two, a new walk from Stafford to Rugeley
Walk this routeIt was too early for it to be open, but I checked that the pub in Little Heywood is a short walk from the route. At Great Heywood you leave the Trent and Mersey and join the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. There's a strange bridge which crosses where the Penk should be which I've left the route crossing. After crossing a bridge and the road which crosses it, the route picks up the River Sow Leisure Route, a really enjoyable paved walk into the town centre....
David Sanderson
David Sanderson took this photo on Newpsta one
Walk this routeThere is a brief section at the Stafford end that appears to go along a private road and says ‘No Cycling’ but this is universally ignored....
Sukydee
Lots of walkers, runner, cyclists and the occational horse....
Doomzero
Slow Ways added Eccsta one, a new walk from Eccleshall to Stafford
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Newpsta one, a new walk from Newport (Telford and Wrekin) to Stafford
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Stapen one, a new walk from Stafford to Penkridge
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Stapen two, a new walk from Stafford to Penkridge
Walk this route
Stafford’s Slow Ways starting point
Grid ref
SJ9187022930
Lat / Lon
52.80388° / -2.12203°
Easting / Northing
391,870E / 322,930N
what3words
Facilities
Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Stafford's meeting point
Public toilet
Wheelchair accessible toilet
Supermarket
Restaurant
Accommodation
Accommodation < £50
Campsite
Bothy
Free wifi
Mobility scooter hire
Off-road wheelchair hire
Disabled Parking
Train station
Bus stop
Ferry
"Walkers are Welcome" town
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