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The Churnet Valley

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Our view

"Follow in the footsteps of medieval traders on a former packhorse track"

Walk directions

Walk up Alton High Street and turn left on Castle Hill Road past the church. Bear right in front of Alton Castle and at the bend at the far end of the lane continue ahead past Wheel Farm. Go through a gate and head half left across a field. Look for the wall gap on the left, beyond which is a path down the wooded hillside.

Turn right at the bottom and cross a driveway for the stile opposite. Now go down to the river and along the bank until you reach a footbridge. Cross to the far bank and turn right to continue through a meadow downstream. Before you reach an old railway bridge drift left for a gate on to the former track.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Field paths and tracks, one steep woodland descent, firm railway trackbed

Landscape - Steep wooded valley and open hillside pasture

Dog friendliness - Good on trail and Saltersford Lane, but on lead in livestock fields

Parking - High Street, Alton

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Staffordshire Dog-friendly walks in Staffordshire

About the walk

It’s easy to forget that many of the paths we walk for pleasure today were once important trading routes, used for centuries to transport goods and commodities around the country. The second half of this walk, a long and gentle ascent out of the Churnet Valley from Denstone, is along a route called... Saltersford Lane. There are great views of the Weaver Hills and the distant edge of the Peak District to the north, but look closer to hand and you will notice that this wide, unsurfaced hedged track is slightly sunken and contains a continuous line of old stone sets or causeway. The clue to the origin of Saltersford Lane is in its name. It was once a so-called saltway, a route used since medieval times by traders to transport salt. Leading packhorses or ox carts they would typically bring this precious commodity, used to preserve food long before the age of artificial additives and refridgerators, from salt-producing Cheshire to communities across the Midlands. Although the precise routes are unclear, Saltersford Lane would probably have linked the likes of Nantwich, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheadle and Derby. But it wasn’t just salt that was transported, of course. Other products like coal, textiles and food were shipped across the region by this means and the paths were also regularly used for taking animals to market and other local journeys. As at nearby Consall and Froghall, there is evidence of more modern transport routes through the Churnet Valley. Large quantities of ironstone and limestone were shipped out first by canal barges and later railway wagons. Built in 1811, the Uttoxeter Canal ran for 13 miles from a junction with the Caldon Canal at Froghall along the Churnet Valley via Alton and Denstone to finish at Uttoxeter. However, by 1850 it was rendered redundant by the new North Staffordshire Railway, which even appropriated some of the canal for its route. Today, you can still make out short sections of the canal, shallow and overgrown, especially as you approach Crumpwood Weir where the canal originally crossed the River Churnet. There’s even one surviving bridge on the canal, its stones now green and overgrown, which you can inspect just off the walk. The railway fared a little better, surviving until Dr Beeching’s cuts in 1965. Originally there wasn’t a station at Denstone, but this was added following the opening of Denstone College in 1873 which still remains a day boarding school for boys and girls

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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.

Route details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

7 miles (11.3kms)

Ascent:

262ft (80m)

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

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The Churnet Valley

Recommended by

Our view

"Follow in the footsteps of medieval traders on a former packhorse track"

Walk details

Difficulty:

Medium

Gradient:

Moderate

Distance:

7 miles (11.3kms)

Ascent:

262ft (80m)

Walk directions

1 of 6

2 of 6

Turn right and follow this multi-user route along the course of the old railway, swinging gently southwards beside the meandering River Churnet past Crumpwood Weir. The valley broadens out and becomes less wooded, and the trail eventually ends between the platforms of the former Denstone Station.

3 of 6

Turn left on to the road and left again past Denstone Hall Farm Shop & Café. At the roundabout go left over the railway bridge, then turn immediately right for a public footpath along the edge of fields above the railway trail. Follow Staffordshire Way signs up across fields until a gate leads on to Saltersford Lane.

4 of 6

Follow this wide hedged track gently uphill, going through a gate at Holbrook Farm. Beyond here it can get a little boggy, but the line of stone slabs keeps you out of the worst of it. About 650yds (594m) on you reach a point with stiles either side.

5 of 6

Still following waymarks for the Staffordshire Way, turn right and walk up the right side of two fields. At the far end go half left for a stile in the hedge, then the same direction across further fields to reach the lane on the edge of Alton. Turn right then left into Town Head to return to the start.

6 of 6

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Field paths and tracks, one steep woodland descent, firm railway trackbed

Landscape - Steep wooded valley and open hillside pasture

Dog friendliness - Good on trail and Saltersford Lane, but on lead in livestock fields

Parking - High Street, Alton

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Staffordshire Dog-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.

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

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

About the area

Staffordshire

The Churnet Valley

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

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The Churnet Valley

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