Betjeman's daughter tells how county's secrets were revealed slowly on her ride of lifetime

Wetton is in the national spotlight as one of the best places in England to live out the rural dream. Reporter Leslie Jackson found out if villagers agreed with the daughter of former Poet Laureate John Betjeman

RENOWNED writer and broadcaster John Betjeman had a love of Leek and was regularly spotted around the town.

Now it appears that his passion for the Staffordshire Moorlands has been passed onto his daughter.

Candida Lycett Green has chosen Wetton as one of her favourite five villages after riding thousands of miles on horseback through nearly every county in England.

The impressive Moorlands village is featured in her latest book – titled Unwrecked England – alongside North Bovey in Devon, Bredwardine in Herefordshire, Craster in Northumberland and Somersby in Lincolnshire.

Mrs Green highlights Wetton's pub, Methodist chapel and Victorian school and praised the rest of the county.

She said: "Staffordshire reveals its secrets slowly. It is an unsung county, particularly among the chattering classes, yet it contains some of the most dazzling landscape in the British Isles — an English Switzerland.

"It is wild country, high limestone plateaus are crisscrossed with silvery stone walls and deeply incised with wooded valleys where waterfalls crash over boulders and alders hang on precipitous banks.

"Wetton lies isolated on top of the moors at the head of the Manifold Valley, for me the most wonderful of all.

"It is settled on a gentle slope, its sturdy houses and cottages built of the local elephant-grey limestone; its pub, Ye Olde Royal Oak, is whitewashed and welcoming.

"The Victorian school beside has been converted into the village hall; the Methodist chapel (Primitive Methodism was founded in Staffordshire) remains untouched."

Resident Penny Carson said the parish of Wetton was a great place to live.

She said: "The community is still a working village with farming at the helm.

"There is a lot going on, including art classes, history and pub quizzes, and everyone pulls together.

"The people are lovely and very happy. We do not want to live anywhere else as the countryside and hills are glorious. We still have a pub, church and village hall which are the heart of the village and we do receive lots of visitors."

Carol Harrison has lived in the village – which she described as having a dashing landscape – for 30 years.

She said: "It is in a conservation area and the Peak Park keeps a tight reign on it. It is a village where you can mix or keep yourself to yourself."

Karen and Peter Ray came to the village 13 years ago from Derby.

Karen said: "It is unspoilt and has lovely people.

"The landscape and wildlife is beautiful. We are very lucky to live in such an area."

Peter said: "You can go anywhere within 150 yards and you have stunning views which are all different.

"It is like a little Switzerland. It also gives me the chance to fulfil my hobbies of cycling, caving and shooting."

Chris and Tina Lucas came to Wetton from Leicestershire more than 20 years ago.

Tina said: "We came to the village as we wanted a peaceful, quiet life.

"We liked it so much we have stayed. The village has good access to the towns.

"There is not much traffic around here, which is great, and you have countryside all around you."