Rushton Spencer

OS Map Reference: SJ 935 624

This is a hilly walk but with some spectacular views. Most paths are easy to find but the path to Hawkesley Farm is muddy to extremely muddy. There is also a steep descent to the Dane Valley.

The Journey

LEAVE the car park along the Staffordshire Way heading away from the road (i.e towards Leek). Look for a hill top cemetery on the right. Soon after pass under a bridge and then immediately left to climb the path to the bridge top, Do not go over but turn right, along the fields to the main road then bear left to soon reach a stile. Cross the road and turn right, to pass the pub on the left. Immediately left up Sugar Lane. Ignore the tempting path as the road bears right and later bear left at the junction to descend slightly before climbing again. At the next junction (by buildings) bear right along the lane and in a few yards left up a drive. At the farm, bear right along the footpath up the field to cross a stile. Climb towards the farm ahead to reach another stile. Over and half left to cross a pair of stiles, then right to climb the right side of the field to emerge on a lane by the farm and houses on your right. Turn left along the lane for a short distance to a footpath sign on the right. Follow the enclosed but muddy track for a good half mile before emerging on a track by Hawksley Farm. Turn left, pass the farm then take the metalled track on the left (small fp sign).

At the fork, ignore the left turn but follow the metalled track all the way down the hill for about three quarters of a mile. Just before the house at the bottom, locate a stile on the left, just above the gate way. Follow through fields parallel to the house and drive to emerge on a track. Left and then almost immediately right, along the side of a barn, to descend a field to a stile ahead. Cross the next field (rough pasture) and then bear left at the trees to locate a stile close to a satellite dish above the house. Descend very steeply to reach a grassy lane. Turn right, then at the footpath sign, left towards Barleigh Ford Bridge, nearly a mile away. Follow this clear path, which soon follows the side of the canal feeder and later passing another house. Pass a bridge then at the next bridge, with a gate, turn left to climb up the surfaced track.

Follow this up for a good half mile to reach a farm. Here turn right (you should recognise this from earlier in the walk) and in a couple of paces, left over a stiles into a field. Keep to the top edge of the field and head for the trees and soon locate another stile. Follow the path ahead to soon descend. A series of stiles can then be followed as the path descends to cross a stream then reach a dwelling. Join the driveway to reach a lane. Turn left and shortly reach the main road. Cross straight over and follow the road down, back to the start.

Contributed by Peter Matthews, Publicity Officer for Staffordshire Area Ramblers' Association. For further information, visit our website www.ramblers.org.uk or phone 01782 336556.

The Walk

Level: A hilly route along some good paths but two muddy ones. Follow the route anti route clockwise.

Distance: 5.1 miles

Time: 3 hours

Parking: Staffordshire Way Car Park, Rushton Spencer. Just below pub.

Refreshments Pub at Start/Finish and at Rushton Spencer.

For a map of this walk log on to www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/walks