Walking Britain Staffordshire Walks,Walking Routes & Hiking Trails
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.
| Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3131★ | Thorpe Cloud and the Dove Valley | easy | 1.60 |
| 2681★ | Wetton & Manifold Valley | easy/mod | 3.60 |
| 1475★ | Bunster Hill and Dovedale from Ilam | easy/mod | 4.50 |
| 1709★ | Milldale and Wolfscote Dale from Alstonefield | easy/mod | 6.50 |
| 1181★ | The Manifold Valley & Wetton Hill | easy/mod | 6.50 |
| 2537★ | Ecton Hill & Wetton from Wetton Mill | moderate | 7.00 |
| 3527★ | Dovedale and the Manifold Valley from Ilam | moderate | 7.50 |
| 1257★ | Wolfscote Dale from Alstonefield | easy/mod | 7.50 |
| 1653★ | The Manifold Valley from Wetton | easy/mod | 7.80 |
| 2263★ | Grindon & the Manifold Way from Waterhouses | moderate | 8.00 |
| 3455★ | The Manifold Valley, Wetton and Dovedale from Ilam | moderate | 9.50 |
| 3597★ | Manifold Valley, Thor's Cave, Ecton & Wetton Hills from Alstonefield | moderate | 10.00 |
| 3601★ | Dove & Manifold Valleys from Alstonefield | moderate | 10.00 |
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.
| Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1185★ | Chrome Hill from Holinsclough | easy/mod | 4.50 |
| 3445★ | The Dragon's Back (Chrome Hill) from Hollinsclough | moderate | 4.50 |
| 1862★ | Earl Sterndale and High Wheeldon from Longnor | easy/mod | 6.00 |
| 2837★ | Parkhouse & Chrome Hills from Longnor | easy/mod | 6.70 |
| 2531★ | Upper Dove Valley from Hollinsclough | moderate | 7.50 |
| 2545★ | High Edge & Chrome Hill from Hollinsclough | moderate | 8.50 |
| 2723★ | Pilsbury Castle, Hartington & Sheen from Longnor | easy/mod | 9.60 |
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.
| Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1596★ | Lud's Church and Roach End from Gradbach | easy/mod | 4.50 |
| 1707★ | The Roaches short circular | easy/mod | 5.00 |
| 1598★ | Lud's Church, Back Forest & Clough Head from Gradbach | easy/mod | 6.80 |
| 3030★ | The Roaches & Lud's Church | easy/mod | 7.00 |
| 3323★ | Three Shires Head & Knotbury from Gradbach | easy/mod | 7.10 |
| 1178★ | The Roaches and Lud's Church | moderate | 7.25 |
| 2577★ | Hawk's Nest, Goldstitch Moss & Lud's Church | moderate | 8.00 |
| 3197★ | Flash, Knotbury & Three Shires Head from Gradbach | easy/mod | 8.20 |
| 1288★ | The Roaches & Hen Cloud from Tittesworth Reservoir | moderate | 8.50 |
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.
| Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1753★ | Abraham's Valley & Haywood Warren from Severn Springs | easy | 3.00 |
| 1324★ | Glacial Boulder & Sherbrook from Chase Road Corner | easy | 3.50 |
| 1801★ | The Three Memorials, Cannock Chase | easy | 3.50 |
| 1843★ | Haywood Slade & Sherbrook from Seven Springs | easy | 4.00 |
| 1370★ | Sherbrook Valley from the Punch Bowl, Milford | easy | 4.00 |
| 1348★ | Sherbrook Valley from Katyn Memorial | easy | 4.00 |
| 1802★ | Shugborough from Milford | easy | 4.50 |
| 1413★ | Sherbrook, Stepping Stones & Freda's Memorial | easy | 6.00 |
| 2111★ | Milford, Seven Springs, Little Haywood & Shugborough | easy | 6.00 |
| 2911★ | Seven Springs, Little Haywood, Shugborough & Milford | easy | 6.50 |
| 1189★ | Cannock Chase from Milford | easy | 6.50 |
| 2023★ | The Cannock Chase War Trail | moderate | 7.50 |
| 1731★ | Highlights of Cannock Chase from Marquis Drive | easy/mod | 10.00 |
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.
| Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3241★ | Kinver Edge & Holy Austin Rock | easy | 2.60 |
| 2874★ | Enville Estate and the Sheepwalks | easy | 4.00 |
| 2834★ | Kinver Edge circular | easy | 4.20 |
| 3003★ | Kinver Edge & Blakeshall from Holy Austin Rock | easy | 4.25 |
| 2024★ | Kinver Edge, South Staffordshire | easy/mod | 6.00 |
| 1934★ | Highgate Common and Surrounding Country | easy | 6.00 |
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.
| Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2099★ | Stafford - a town centre stroll | easy | 1.50 |
| 1327★ | The Fauld Crater from Hanbury | easy | 1.70 |
| 1375 | Blithfield Estate Circular | easy | 2.50 |
| 2917★ | Downs Banks near Barlaston | easy | 2.50 |
| 1711★ | Draycott in the Clay from Hanbury | easy | 3.00 |
| 2199★ | Brocton from Walton-on-the-Hill | easy | 3.50 |
| 3591★ | Derrington from Stafford Castle | easy | 3.60 |
| 1941★ | Outwoods & Beffcote | easy | 4.10 |
| 2842★ | Sandon Park from Salt | easy | 4.60 |
| 1837★ | Norbury Junction Circular | easy | 4.60 |
| 3405★ | Abbots Bromley Circular | easy | 6.00 |
| 2500★ | Chillington Hall & Shropshire Union Canal from Brewood | easy | 6.00 |
| 1394★ | Bednall & Acton Trussell from near Stafford | easy | 6.50 |
| 3531★ | Cop Mere and the Offleys | easy | 7.00 |
| 2443★ | Tixall from St Thomas Priory near Stafford | easy | 7.00 |
| 2499★ | Aqualate Mere and Forton from Norbury Junction | easy/mod | 8.00 |
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.
| Walk | Description | Grade | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1752★ | Churnet Valley from Consall Nature Park | easy | 2.60 |
| 3562★ | The Weaver Hills from Wootton | easy | 3.20 |
| 1284★ | The Churnet Valley - Kingsley to Cheddleton | easy | 5.00 |
| 2310★ | The Cloud from Rushton Spencer (short route) | easy/mod | 5.00 |
| 2519★ | The Cloud from Rushton Spencer | easy/mod | 9.00 |
| 2604★ | Dane Valley & Wincle from Rushton Spencer | moderate | 9.50 |
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
| Walk | Description | Starts In |
|---|---|---|
| 1183★ | Shining Tor & Axe Edge Moor | Cheshire |
| 1652★ | Three Shires Head from Danebower Hollow | Cheshire |
| 2233★ | Flash & Three Shires Head from Danebower Hollow | Cheshire |
| 1728★ | Axe Edge Moor & Three Shires Head | Cheshire |
| 1021★ | Milldale & Hall Dale from Alstonefield | Derbyshire |
| 1042★ | Pilsbury Castle from Hartington | Derbyshire |
| 1195★ | A high-level Dovedale | Derbyshire |
| 2301★ | Biggin & Parsley Hay from Hartington | Derbyshire |
| 2079★ | Beresford & Wolfescote Dales from Hartington | Derbyshire |
★ GPS file ☩ Route profile
