Connect Stafford with Slow Ways

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Stafford

Staffordshire


Slow Ways linking Stafford and Eccleshall, Hixon, Newport (Telford and Wrekin), Penkridge, Rugeley, Stone

England / Staffordshire / Stafford

Stafford’s six Slow Ways are 83% checked

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

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 Pioneer me Distance 14km/9mi Ascent 81m Descent 67m
Newport (Telford and Wrekin)—Stafford
Newpsta one Enjoy me Distance 19km/12mi Ascent 115m Descent 113m
Stafford—Hixon
Stahix one Review me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 194m Descent 168m
Stafford—Hixon
Stahix two Enjoy me Distance 13km/8mi Ascent 76m Descent 50m
Stafford—Penkridge
Stapen one Pioneer me Distance 13km/8mi Ascent 103m Descent 97m
Stafford—Penkridge
Stapen two Pioneer me Distance 14km/9mi Ascent 118m Descent 113m
Stafford—Penkridge
Stapen three Enjoy me Distance 12km/8mi Ascent - Descent -
Stafford—Rugeley
Starug one

Double check Distance 18km/11mi Ascent 80m Descent 81m
Stafford—Rugeley
Starug two Enjoy me Distance 18km/11mi Ascent 158m Descent 158m
Stone—Stafford
Stosta one

Double check Distance 17km/11mi Ascent 90m Descent 114m
Stone—Stafford
Stosta two

Enjoy me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent 113m Descent 137m
Stone—Stafford
Stosta three Review me Distance 16km/10mi Ascent - Descent -

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Stafford 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

67% of Stafford’s six route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified

12/12

drawn

9/12

reviewed

6/12

surveyed

5/12

verified

10 people have contributed to Stafford’s Slow Ways

2 people have pledged to walk and review a route

7 people have surveyed a route in Stafford

146km out of 186km have been walked and reviewed

339km of reviews have been shared in Stafford

Latest Updates

Mary Oz surveyed Stosta two

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Mary Oz surveyed Stosta three

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The next 35% of the route was largely across fields, but with some quiet farm lanes too. There was boardwalk past a pond (more mud, potential flooding, and lots of birdlife) before the main section of Two Saints Way (another 20% of the route) which was a very easy path to walk. A small footbridge over the canal and a large, stepped footbridge over the railway led to the end of the route at the delightful Stone Station....

Mary Oz

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Sadly though, I couldn’t cross the River Trent at Burston (marked FB on the map) because the river had completely dislodged the metal footbridge....

Mary Oz

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The diversion to the pub at Burston is a matter of choice and doesn’t need to be included....

Mary Oz

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Stone—Stafford

Mary Oz added Stosta three, a new walk from Stone to Stafford

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This is a good direct route,mainly using the canal towpath.I walked from Stafford to Rugely ( using both the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal along with the the Trent and Mersey)Some sections of the both canal towpaths are quite muddy but the majority is a made up surface which allows for easy walking.Leaving Stafford and passing through Victoria park one comes to the Sow Leisure Route,this area before joining the canal towpath does have the potential to be very wet and be flooded.Joining the canal,plenty of activity can be seen,narrowboats on the move a variety of interesting bridges and historic buildings in the distance.After several miles and approaching Rugely make sure to cross the canal (approaching rail line indicates roughly where to cross)After a a small amount of pavement walking one is soon in the centre of Rugely.I used public transport (bus) at both ends of this walk train is also possible both being fairly reliable!Onroute there are plenty of stopping off points pubs/cafes shops etc .I enjoyed this walk,there were no issues regarding obstructions or access....

J w ollid

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Services just off route at Great Haywood junction, village, Little Haywood and Wolseley Bridge. Passing remains of the Mill and a short section of town it's then onto the Sow Leisure Route which has a good surface but close to the river level there was evidence of flooding after recent severe rain so hopefully not a regular issue. This area was still very wet and needed varied detours to avoid the wettest parts, in better conditions there could be cattle here and the link to the canal is the only stile on the whole route. Turn left under the railway for a short link to the village and Clifford Arms. The next, rather low bridge, offers access to Little Haywood and two more inns but the road under the railway has no pavement so take care, it may also flood. I missed this so was pleased to find that the bypass bridge does offer a cross link for those who ignore the plotted route....

Ken

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Nice woodland walk but can be muddy When it has rained...

Simon

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The path surface is good but very close to the water level and just a week after severe floods there was evidence that this route would have been impossible. The cycle track looks a possible alternative joining the relatively dry canal towpath at a different point. Once on the towpath, although muddy it was much easier going and at a turnover bridge where the towpath changes sides a new excellent surface has been laid. A track leads to the busy but not impossible to cross road then a severed road allows a peaceful walk to a footbridge over the railway which provides a good view of either countryside to the north or industrial buildings south. If shops are required avoid the village footpaths stay on the road to pass the chip shop, post office and convenience store all missed on the plotted route....

Ken

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Approaching Stafford it's a cycle path along a old rail route offering easy walking. I walked from Stone, the path link to the canal is narrow, fenced and has a stepped bridge over the railway so a road route might be better and would offer shops to stock up for the service free route. Once on the towpath the surface starts good with a bit of heritage cobbles but the surface does eventually become a well walked field path....

Ken

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David Sanderson took this photo on Stahix two

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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

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simonalcock surveyed Stahix two

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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

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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

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After a very short stretch of road walking, there's a long bit along a former railway line....

mtormey

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Mary Oz surveyed Stapen three

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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

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David Sanderson took this photo on Stapen three

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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

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Stafford—Penkridge

David Sanderson added Stapen three, a new walk from Stafford to Penkridge

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The 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

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David Sanderson took this photo on Stosta two

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Stone—Stafford

David Sanderson added Stosta two, a new walk from Stone to Stafford

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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

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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

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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

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Stafford—Rugeley

David Sanderson added Starug two, a new walk from Stafford to Rugeley

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It 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

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David Sanderson took this photo on Starug two

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There 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

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Lots of walkers, runner, cyclists and the occational horse....

Doomzero

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Stafford

mistyoptic surveyed Stafford

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Eccleshall—Stafford

Slow Ways added Eccsta one, a new walk from Eccleshall to Stafford

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Newport (Telford and Wrekin)—Stafford

Slow Ways added Newpsta one, a new walk from Newport (Telford and Wrekin) to Stafford

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Stafford—Hixon

Slow Ways added Stahix one, a new walk from Stafford to Hixon

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Stafford—Hixon

Slow Ways added Stahix two, a new walk from Stafford to Hixon

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Stafford—Penkridge

Slow Ways added Stapen one, a new walk from Stafford to Penkridge

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Stafford—Penkridge

Slow Ways added Stapen two, a new walk from Stafford to Penkridge

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Stafford—Rugeley

Slow Ways added Starug one, a new walk from Stafford to Rugeley

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Stone—Stafford

Slow Ways added Stosta one, a new walk from Stone to Stafford

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1

Stafford, Fri 29 March

12°

Light rain

Stafford’s Slow Ways starting point

Grid ref

SJ9187022930

Lat / Lon

52.80388° / -2.12203°

Easting / Northing

391,870E / 322,930N

Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?

If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Stafford 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 Stafford'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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