Staffordshire Walks
Walking Routes & Hiking Trails

Find Staffordshire walks from the list below which features the best walking routes in the area. Most of routes are circular walks although there are a few linear hikes. The walks are listed from the shortest and easiest to the longest more challenging routes. The walks are divided into sub areas so you can find specific walks.

The Staffordshire walks listed below cater for walkers of all abilities from easy low-level routes to harder routes involving more ascent. All walks are free to download and print and all routes have GPS files. The county has much to offer walkers from the Peak District National Park in the north, to Cannock Chase AONB and Kinver Edge further south. In between these well known areas pleasant walking can be enjoyed throughout most of the county.

White Peak - Manifold Valley & Dovedale Walks

Peak District National Park

Walking highlights - Dramatic Dovedale and its sister dales are typical of the White Peak with limestone outcrops a character of the landscape. The Manifold Valley, lying to the west of Dovedale, also has much to offer walkers including Thor's Cave perched high on the valley side. Between the Dove and Manifold valleys lies high ground, including Ecton Hill and the villages of Alstonefield and Wetton which provide a good base for Peak District walks in this area.

Where to stay - Hartington, Alstonefield, Wetton, Grindon and Ashbourne are all convenient for this area.

White Peak - Upper Dove Valley & Chrome Hill Walks

Peak District National Park

Walking highlights - Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill (the Dragon's Back) are the main attractions in this area. As you head up towards the source of the River Dove the scenery gets wilder and more dramatic.

Where to stay - Hartington and Longnor are convenient for this area.

Western Moors - Three Shires Head & the Roaches Walks

Peak District National Park

Walking highlights - The Roaches offer great views with little effort, Three Shires Head where the counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire meet at a picturesque packhorse bridge and lonely Axe Edge Moor, which is the highest point in Staffordshire.

Where to stay - Leek, Buxton, Gradbach and Danebridge are convenient for this area.

Cannock Chase Walks

Cannock Chase AONB is an area of heathland and forestry plantations lying close to Stafford and Cannock. The parkland of the Shugborough Estate lies close by and adds variety to walking in this area.

South Staffordshire Walks

South Staffordshire is dominated by a sandstone ridge lying to the southwest of Kinver. Kinver Edge as it is known locally provides excellent walking although the proliferation of footpaths can be confusing at times. Close by is Highgate Common which lies in rural countryside north of Kinver.

Mid Staffordshire Walks

Mid Staffordshire is dominated by relatively flat farmland. The area, centered on the County town of Stafford, provides a number of easy walks some using canal towpaths on the Grand Union Canal and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

North Staffordshire Walks

Much of North Staffordshire lies within the boundaries of the Peak District National Park and these walks are listed under a separate sub-heading. Outside the National Park boundaries lie two interesting areas to explore. These are the Churnet Valley, nicknamed Little Swizerland by Victorian tourists, with the Caldon Canal and The Cloud, a prominent hill near Mow Cop offering grand views across the Cheshire Plain and parts of the Peak District National Park.

Walks that start in adjacent counties / areas.

Walks that start in adjacent counties or areas but cross the boundary and include sections of the route within Staffordshire.

★ GPS file ☩ Route profile