Sunday, 23rd February 2025

An easy walk of around 7.5 miles with gentle climbs at the beginning and end. The rest of the route is on flat, surfaced paths - mainly canal towpaths - through the Trent Valley, with no stiles and very little mud. Starting from the Punch Bowl car park, we walk on woodland paths, then join the Staffordshire Way through the Shugborough Estate, crossing the Essex Bridge to join the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath. Leaving the towpath at the next bridge, we walk from Little Haywood towards Great Haywood, before returning to the towpath and joining the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. We continue on it until reaching the 'Broad Water/Tixall Wide', with views of the Tixall Gatehouse (the only remains of the demolished Hall). We reach the road at Tixall Bridge, then head to Milford Common for our lunch stop. Following woodland tracks, we climb to the underground reservoirs, drop down to the main road and the entrance to the Punch Bowl car park.

Leader:  Barbara Twort

Number of walkers:  26

Distance walked:  7.1  miles

Total height gained:  95m

Time taken: 2 hours 45 mins

Map: Mike Fowler

To download the route, click on icon in map below

Photos by:  John Twort

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