Walk 1327 - printer friendly version

The Fauld Crater from Hanbury Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 1.7 miles / 2.8 km

Ascent - 60 feet / 18 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference SK173278
Lat 52.847429 + Long -1.7445706
Postcode DE13 8TP (approx. location only)

This short walk visits the crater left after one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The explosion took place on 27th November 1944 when as much as 4,000 tonnes of high explosive stored underground was detonated killing some 90 people. The crater measured 400 feet (120 metres) deep and some 1400 yards (1200 metres) across. Despite the passage of time and the growth of vegetation the site is still an impressive feature of the Staffordshire countryside.

The start for this walk is the car park of Cock Inn at Hanbury (grid ref. SK173278). Please note that you should only park with the publican's permission and perhaps obtain refreshments at the end of the walk. After parking turn left out of the car park and take the signed footpath almost immediately on the left. This leads through fields towards Tutbury.

At the first junction of paths continue ahead on the path to Tutbury. This leads you across fields to Brown's Coppice. Enter this woodland (grid ref. SK180280) and immediately turn right. You soon arrive at the crater which is surrounded by high fences which are liberally decorated with warning notices. Continue along the fence passing a memorial to the explosion, which details the events of that fateful day in 1944.

To continue the walk stay on the footpath as it curves left around the crater. At grid reference SK182275 the path goes right and continues to a junction of paths. Go right here and follow the path with a hedge on your left. Reaching another junction (grid ref. SK178273), go left. This leads you up to a track. Continue along this track back to the road. Turn right and the Cock Inn is a little way along on the right.

If you require a longer walk then this route can be combined with Walk 1711 to make a figure of eight route walk.

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