Walk 5 - PDF - FirstGroup

Distance 19km/ 12 miles
Category Easy, the vast majority of this long walk is on easy towpaths, footpaths and country lanes. There
is a steady climb over 0.5km toward the end.
Maps We used two maps: OS Explorer OL24 & 259
Getting there Take the number 18 bus from Hanley (every 20mins); get off at the Ladderedge Council Depot
stop (Westwood Golf Club) grid reference SJ975 553
Midpoint There are a good number of bus exits along this route: Cheddleton (Saturday) – Bakerbus no.16
every hour (exit town or Boat Inn). Froghall (Saturday) – Clowes Coaches no. 235 (check time
table as very infrequent), Alton Towers Transport 15, and alternatively 1km up the hill along the
A52 First 32 Kingsley every 20min.
Getting back Take the 32 from Cheadle to Hanley (every 20mins).
Ticket Get a First Day as Smart Day does not cover Moorlands. You’ll have to pay extra to get the non-
First buses if you use them, and the 32A has a supplement fare, but only beyond Cheadle.
Time Leek to Cheddleton (Boat Inn) 2.0 hours
Cheddleton (Boat Inn) to Froghall 2.0 hours
Froghall to Cheadle 2.0 hours
Route
Get off the bus and cross the main road (A53) to a farm entrance,
cross the grid and follow the lane up to the canal feeder, bear left
onto the feeder and follow the path, keeping the River Churnet
on your left. After 0.5km the feeder enters the Leek branch of the
Leek & Cauldon Canal. Walk the canal towpath, over the tunnel,
until bridge no 6 (Horse Bridge) 2km where you come off, head
downhill across the rail bridge and down some steps onto the
Cauldon branch of the Leek & Cauldon Canal 0.25km. Turn left
along the canal (you are now on the Staffordshire Way) and walk
the towpath, after 1.5km you’ll reach Cheddleton Village with its
Flint Mill; you can come off the canal here and try the Red Lion
Pub, there is also a village Post Office. 1km further along the canal
you come to the Boat Inn
and the first station on the Cheddleton Steam railway. Carry on along the
canal into the Churnet Valley for 2.5km when you’ll arrive at Consall Forge,
the Black Lion (shortly after this the Staffordshire Way leaves the Canal). The
canal towpath carries on all the way to Froghall Wharf 4km, where the canal
ends. Turn right along the country road, which takes you out on the A52, turn
right and head downhill into Froghall 0.5km.
Lunch
We stopped for tea and ice cream at the Black Lion (Consall Forge), which
offers a good selection of food and ale.
Right: Cheddleton Flint Mill.
Left: The Leek and Cauldon Canal.

After lunch
Take the footpath down behind the back of the Railway Inn and head Water tower at Cheddleton
downhill passing a car breaker and water treatment works; through a
field gate into a field, head down to the river and cross the footbridge
0.5km. Cross the River Churnet and Railway and take the footpath to
the right, this footpath heads gently uphill through a field and woods
for 1km when it is bisected by a green lane (Ross Lane) as you come
out of the wood. Head right, downhill along Ross Lane cross the railway
on a bridge. It gets muddy here but while picking your way around
the mud keep your eye open to the right for the footbridge across
the river. Cross the river and bear left across a field to a stile and
bridge over a ditch; keep to the footpath with the river to your left
to another stile where you join the Staffordshire Way 0.5km. Carry along the river valley, which includes some
lovely hay meadows, to the National Trust owned East Wall Farm 1.5km. Pass the pool on your left and walk up
to the stile. Turn immediately right and follow the track up to a country road. Cross and go along a drive/footpath
(signed The Woodlands). Keep to the main lane, passing a fishing pool on the left, bear left and take the
second footpath on the right 1km (the first footpath is the track to Woodheadhall Farm – you don’t want that).
Take the footpath through the field into Cheadle 0.5km. As you come out into housing turn left, first right, first
left, first right and you should find another footpath taking you down to a brook, and back uphill beside the
playing field. Coming out into housing again turn left along the road to a main road; turn right into Cheadle Town
Centre 0.5km. Turn right at both mini-roundabouts. The bus stop is on your left, just past Osborne House.
Waiting for the bus
Catch the bus near Osborne House (on the A522) grid ref SK 009 435.
Places to stop
This is a wonderful area to visit, the Churnet Valley offers so many quaint pubs, villages and attractions it’s a
shame to walk through so quickly. If you don’t know the area I’d recommend doing this walk and noting the
places you want to come back to for a longer visit.
There is canal and steam railway heritage, the flint mill and the lime kilns along the route, while nearby there
is an animal sanctuary and Consall County Park.
Nature interest (mid June)
Wildflowers
Bilberry
Bistort
Bush vetch
Foxglove
Fumitory - common
Helleborine - common
Hogweed
Honeysuckle
Marsh thistle
Mullein - dark
Orchid - common spotted
Ox-eye daisy
Pendulous sedge
Pink purslaine
Red campion
Tormentil
Valerian - common
Wall speedwell
Woody nightshade
Birds
Buzzard
Chiff chaff
Grey partridge
Goldfinch
Heron
House martin
Jay
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Swallow
Swift
Tufted duck
Invertebrates
Banded demoiselle
Meadow brown butterfly
Mammals
Mink