Walks and Events

 Printer-friendly Programme

Sunday, 5th February 2012   MONSAL TRAIL    10 miles  6 hrs   Grade 1
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SK104726. Take the A6 from Buxton for about 3 miles until you come to Wye Dale car park on the northern side. The walk starts from this car park (note there is a charge).
A relaxing walk along a disused railway line known as the Monsal Trail. This is a linear walk through splendid countryside and the now reopened tunnels. Bring some money approx £2.50 for the return bus fare from Bakewell. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Paul H 07791 469071 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 12th February 2012   ILAM AND DOVE DALE    11 miles  6 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SK146508. Turn off the A515 just outside Fenny Bentley near Ashbourne down a small road signposted Ilam. Follow the road and the Ilam signs until you arrive at a right turn, marked 'Car Park and Izaak Walton Hotel'. Take the turn and follow the road for a short distance to the car park, £2.50 all day. (NOTE; Don't turn left into the Izaak Hotel, the car park is the public one further on.)
Starting at Dove Dale car park we head off through Ilam, and Ilam Park estate to the hamlet of Rushley. Here we follow a valley path through deciduous woods to the Manifold Way. Following this north, we leave the Way at the old Larkstone Lane, after passing a rather unusual campsite, and head down through Hall Dale into Dove Dale. We then follow this across Lover's Leap back to the car park. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Lee 2 07773 930315 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 19th February 2012   HEDNESFORD HILLS AND CASTLE RING    8 miles  4 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SK012120. We start at Hednesford Hills car park. Take the A460 from Rugeley towards Hednesford. Go straight over the first set of traffic lights and at the second set (by Woodys Music Bar), turn left up the hill. Follow the hill to the top, past St Peter's church and turn left at a crossroads by St Peter's School where it is signposted Hednesford Hills Raceway. Follow the road past the few houses and the car park is on your left.
Starting at Hednesford Hills, we walk to the world famous (yes, really!) Hednesford Raceway where views across Staffordshire can be seen on a clear day. We head down to Beaudesert Golf Course and through the Rawnsley Hills. We head north-east towards Wandon and then south through Beaudesert Old Park towards the iron age hill fort at Castle Ring. We walk around Castle Ring and then return through Hazelslade (the home of famous racing stables which produced some Grand National winners) back to Hednesford Hills for the return leg of our walk. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Beckie 07714 404237 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 26th February 2012   FROGHALL WHARF AND THE CHURNET VALLEY RAILWAY    7 miles  4 hrs   Grade 1
Start Time: 10:30am    Grid Ref: SK026476. Frghall Wharf is signposted on the north side of the A52 Stoke to Ashbourne road. Walk starts from the free car park
Walking through beautiful countryside we do have a few steep climbs and descents but there is an easy canal stretch at the end of the walk. Points of interest are the Churnet Valley steam railway, views across the county to Shining Tor, and an old fashioned railway station Lunch required.
Walk leader: Stuart 07890 308845 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 4th March 2012   CHEEDALE    10 miles  5 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SK112724. Follow the A6 eastwards out of Buxton, going straight passed the Wye Dale pay and display car park opposite Topley Pike Quarry. A little further up the hill there is a layby on the left where you can parking is free. We'll start the walk from this layby.
Navigating the stepping stones in this beautiful dale is a magical experience and always worth the visit. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Phil H 07890 144047 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 11th March 2012   WOLFSCOTE & BERESFORD DALES    8 miles  5 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:30am    Grid Ref: SK131556. Leaving Ashbourne on the A515 towards Buxton; turn left after about 5 miles (signposted Alstonefield). Follow the road all the way into Alstonefield. Turn right after the village green and the car park is on the left (the one with the toilets!).
A charming walk from Alstonefield: dropping down to Wolfscote Dale to follow the river Dove to Hartington, before heading back down Beresford Dale, then a steady climb across fields back to Alstonefield. This walk offers both outstanding sweeping views as well as stretches of glorious riverside walking through the dales themselves. Although not a long or demanding walk there is a long, steep and slippery decent into Wolfscote Dale - and at various sections the potential of mud! Lunch required.
Walk leader: James 07888 136069 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 18th March 2012   LONG MYND    10 miles  5 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SO454936. Turn of the A49 onto the B4371 into Church Stretton. Turn left into Easthope Road and we'll mee in the car park by the Co-op. There is however free parking on the road by the car park.
We start by walking to Little Stretton, then climb up to Pole Bank, a long but not too steep climb, hopefully to be rewarded by views of the Welsh Hills. We then walk the length of the Mynd before dropping into All stretton and return Church Stretton no doubt for a well earned pint!
Walk leader: Susie 01785 253071 / 07531 649650 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 25th March 2012   MOW COP AND DANE IN SHAW    10 miles  6 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SJ856574. Come out of Stoke on the B5049 going through past Smallthorn, Burslem, Little Shell, Grest Shell, Packmoor, Newchapel & Harriseahead to eventually reach Mow Cop. Head towards Mow Cop Castle where there is a car park off High St Lane (just called High St on maps; nearest postcode for SatNav is ST7 3PA)
Starting from the Castle we head north eventually coming onto the Staffordshire Moorlands Way (coupled with the Staffordshire Way) eventually coming to the outskirts of Dane in Shaw for a wel derserved pint at the Castle Pub. We head round Dane in Shaw into the south part of Congleton and then start to head south along the Cheshire Ring Canal back down to Mow Cop (for another pint!!) Lunch required.
Walk leader: Sam 07798 763732 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 1st April 2012   DEEP HAYES COUNTRY PARK    8 miles  4 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:30am    Grid Ref: OS961533. Starting at the Deep Hayes Country Park Visitors Centre, Park Lane, Nr Cheddleton, ST13 7JS.
This interesting walk follows the Staffordshire Way along the Caldon Canal to Cheddleton before climbing out of the valley to a viewpoint at Tompkin. The route then follows an old track way down towards Stanley Pool and Stanley village before crossing the high ground once more to return to the canal near Hazlehurst Aqueduct. Lunch required. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Maxine 07730 683103 Area Map    Start Point Map

Friday, 6th April 2012    CONWY    3 nights    Grade 2
See Weekend Programme for details

Sunday, 15th April 2012   ALSTONEFIELD    12 miles  6 hrs   Grade 3
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SK132557. Starting from the car park with toilets in the center of Alstonefield, just off Lode Lane (approx. postcode DE6 2FY).
We cut across the dales and valleys of the high country, between Hamps and Manifold, and along the way are rewarded with stunning distant views, and sights of familiar places from a different angle! Lunch required.
Walk leader: Lee1 07552 906194 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 29th April 2012   BURBAGE AND GOYT'S MOSS    10 miles  6 hrs   Grade 3
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SK012748. From Leek take the A53 to Buxton, then travel along the A5004 for approx 2 miles before turning left along Goyt's Lane. Parking is at the Errwood Hall car park at the southern end of Errwood Reservoir.
Starting at the reservoir we'll make out way towards Wild Moor (aptly named) via Bunsal Cobb. Travelling over the moor past Burbage Edge we'll continue on to the outskirts of Buxton, before turning for Goyt's Moss. Traversing the Moss we'll ascend Stakeside, at 525m the highest point of our walk. We'll then return to the reservoir via Shooter's Clough and the ruins of Errwood Hall. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Adrian 07976 049422 Area Map    Start Point Map

Friday, 4th May 2012    PATTERDALE IN THE LAKES    3 nights    Grade 4
See Weekend Programme for details

Sunday, 13th May 2012   STAFFORDSHIRE & WORCESTER CANAL AND SHUGBOROUGH ESTATE    9 miles  6 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SJ984205. Park at The Punch Bowl car park just off the A513 approx 1/2 mile from Milford Common heading towards Rugeley.
We will leave the car park following the Staffordshire Way on to Cannock Chase heading up into Brocton Coppice, leaving the ancient oak trees behind we will head down into the village of Brocton and over rolling countryside into the adjacent village; Walton on the Hill. Leaving Walton we will head down to the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal, where there will be ample opportunity to observe the local wildlife - otters included - if you're lucky! We will leave the canal at Great Haywood and cross Essex Bridge to enter Shugborough Estate and rejoin the Staffordshire Way back to The Punch Bowl. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Zoe 07969 077341 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 17th June 2012   THREE SHIRES HEAD AND AXE EDGE    10 miles  5 hrs   Grade 2
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SJ997662. The easiest way to the start point carpark (nearest postcode SK17 0SU) is to get to Flash on the A53 Leek Buxton Road. Head through the village, past the New Inn pub, and continue along the road out the other side of the village. After about a mile there will be the turning on the lest signposted for the Gradbach YHA and camp. The carpark, although fairly large can fill up quickly, hence the early start time.
A real gem of a walk taking in the high Peak District. Leaving the Gradbach car park we head up through the Dove Valley to the impossibly scenic waterfall and stone bridge at Three Shires Head. We then continue on over Axe Edge before looping back through England's Highest village- Flash, and then around Gradbach hill to the car park. Although this is a hilly walk, most of the climbs are fairly gentle. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Stuart 07890 308845 Area Map    Start Point Map

Sunday, 24th June 2012   KERRIDGE HILL AND WHITE NANCY    10 miles  6 hrs   Grade 3
Start Time: 10:00am    Grid Ref: SJ975753. To follow
A walk from Lamaload Reservoir, to the ridge of Kerridge Hill, hopefully providing some excellent views over Staffordshire and Cheshire, and also taking us to the unusual 'White Nancy', a summer house built by the Gaskell family in 1815. Lunch required.
Walk leader: Lee 2 07773 930315 Area Map    Start Point Map

Points to Remember:
1. Please call the walk leader before the walk in case any details have changed.
2. Make sure that you are suitably dressed for the weather. Remember that some walks are on exposed high land and the weather can be cold and wet. Denim jeans are not suitable for high-level walks.
3. Dogs are welcome but only with the prior agreement of the walk leader
4. If the walk leader decides to shorten the walk then that decision is final and is not open to negotiation. The leader will only do this when there is a good reason for doing so.
5. Even if a walk does not state packed lunch, it is always advisable to bring something to eat and drink.
6. If transport is shared, please provide the driver with a share of the fuel costs.
7. Non RA members are welcome to join us for 3 walks before being asked to join the RA. There are no exceptions to this.
8. Regrettably, due to the nature of the programme, we are unable to accept children on our walks.
9. Web site address: www.staffs-walkers.org.uk
10. You are responsible for your own safety at all times.

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This site was last updated on 12 January 2012