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Around Lichfield

Recommended by

Our view

"A short and relatively simple town walk exploring the impact of the county’s most magnificent cathedral."

Walk directions

With your back to the Guildhall walk right and take first left down Conduit Street and go ahead to Market Square. Walk straight along Dam Street, past a series of tea shops and cafés, until you get to Pool Walk. Go left here, keeping Minster Pool on your right-hand side, until you get to Beacon Street.

Go diagonally right over Beacon Street to the public toilets and the entrance to Beacon Park. Pass a fountain, and keep to the left of the bowling green and then the playing fields, on a path along the left edge of the park.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Roads, surfaced paths and dirt trails

Landscape - Town centre and parkland

Dog friendliness - Must be kept on lead near roads

Parking - Multi storey near bus station

Toilets en route - Town centre locations and Beacon Park

About the walk

The story of Lichfield begins soon after the death of Christ. In about ad 300, during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian, 1,000 Christians were martyred in this area. The name Lichfield, which means ‘field of the dead’, commemorates the event. As a martyr shrine, it soon became a centre of... Christianity, and in ad 669 the first Bishop of Mercia, Chad, established his seat here. Although Chad only lived as a bishop for three years, such was his zeal and holiness that he converted many to Christianity. When Chad died in ad 672, he was buried close to the existing Church of St Mary. It wasn’t long before his shrine became known as a place for miracles, and in ad 700 a new church dedicated to St Peter was built to receive his body. Later, a Norman cathedral was built on the same site, but a new Gothic cathedral was begun in 1085, this time dedicated to St Chad. Finally, after 150 years, the greatest cathedral in all the land was finished. Imagine you’re a peasant living near Lichfield when the cathedral is first completed. You have a small wattle and daub (wood and mud) house, some leather jerkins and sackcloth shoes. You might have seen a small Saxon or Norman church before, but if you live out in the country, you’ve probably never seen a stone building in your life, let alone one higher than two storeys. You hear people talking about a new church being constructed in nearby Lichfield. They say it’s built of stone and reaches up to the heavens, but nothing you’ve heard can prepare you for the sheer scale of what you find when you make your pilgrimage, on foot, to this new house of God. No fewer than three gigantic spires soar into the sky and when you get close, approaching the vast west façade, it’s so big that it feels as if it’s falling on top of you (try this as you’re walking up to it yourself). The cathedral as we see it today has hardly changed from the one exalted by Christian pilgrims and peasants 800 years ago. If anything, it was probably even more impressive in those times. Much of the stonework was painted silver and gold and the interior would have been more foreboding, lit only by the stained-glass windows of medieval times. Most of the stained glass in the cathedral today dates from the 19th century and is much lighter.

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About the area

Staffordshire features lofty moors, deep dales and tremendous views of both. Further south are the six sprawling towns that make up Stoke-on-Trent, which historically have had such an impact on Staffordshire’s fortunes, not to mention its culture and countryside.

Nearby places to stay

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Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

2.5 miles (4kms)

Ascent:

0ft (0m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Around Lichfield

Recommended by

Our view

"A short and relatively simple town walk exploring the impact of the county’s most magnificent cathedral."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

2.5 miles (4kms)

Ascent:

0ft (0m)

Walk directions

1 of 5

2 of 5

Pass through a car park and then bear right, following a tarmac cycle path to the far end of the playing fields. After the path has entered the narrow band of trees, and just before the A51, turn right along a gravel path and carry on to the golf course at the far end. Just before the footbridge onto the golf course, turn right and follow the small brook back along the edge of the playing fields until you reach a small lake. In the summer it’s possible to hire boats here for a potter on the water. Continue past the lake before crossing a footbridge to the left to pass through a small car park into Shaw Lane.

3 of 5

Follow Shaw Lane to Beacon Street, turn right for 150yds (137m) and then left along The Close to reach the cathedral. If you’re not in any rush, it’s worth doing a quick circuit of the cathedral inside and out, before continuing. There’s an excellent shop with leaflets and guides and a free leaflet is also available, which describes the cathedral’s highlights. Bear to the right of the cathedral and, at the end of The Close, just after Bistro Number 19, go right down Dam Street and then immediately left down Reeve Lane. Keep right on a hedged path (‘no bikes’) to Stowe Pool. From the far end of Stowe Pool you can look back at the cathedral’s spires and see right through the windows from one side to the other, giving the impression that they’re lighter and more delicate than stone.

4 of 5

Continue on the popular surfaced path all the way round the edge of Stowe Pool and return to Dam Street. Turn left past the end of Minster Pool to retrace your steps to the Guildhall at the start.

5 of 5

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Roads, surfaced paths and dirt trails

Landscape - Town centre and parkland

Dog friendliness - Must be kept on lead near roads

Parking - Multi storey near bus station

Toilets en route - Town centre locations and Beacon Park

Walks in Staffordshire Dog-friendly walks in Staffordshire Family friendly walks in Staffordshire

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

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Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Staffordshire

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)

Around Lichfield

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Around Lichfield

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