THIS is a slightly urban walk but does have some magnificent views of Mow Cop and the Cheshire Plain.

The journey:

From the town centre, locate the disused railway walkway which runs parallel to the main road on the north side. Continue along the walkway (away from Kidsgrove), through the short tunnel. After the pool on the right, take the path up to the left at the first bridge. At the bridge follow the Newcastle Way on your left up the field. Where the path branches, take the right branch to soon reach some houses. Go over a stile then follow the Newcastle Way along some alleyways between the houses and crossing several cul-de-sacs. At the last exit, turn right (the sign here is missing) to very shortly reach a road. Go straight across, up a drive (the sign here is concealed by trees). Ignore the path to the right but continue up the side of the farm at Trubshaw, keeping it to your left. At the end of the farm, turn left along a fenced track and then very shortly, right, along a narrow fenced path. Soon you emerge at a stile and field and climb ahead, initially along the right side of the field, then across, aiming slightly right of the large leylandii-type tree to emerge at a stile by a house. Cross the road, turn right then almost immediately left into a field. Go down the field, to the right of the 'broken' hedge to reach a gateway. Then go across a short field and keep to the right of the stream to follow the fence on the right before joining a track which soon leads to a stile just before the road. Here, leave the Newcastle Way, which goes right, to reach the road.

Turn left along the road and just before the first building on the right, take the enclosed path on the right. Follow this to the end and then along some fields, with the stream to the right. As you approach a hill on the left, do not climb it but contour round it to reach a stile and junction of paths. Keep ahead to cross a field to reach a gateway with removable barbed wire across. Follow this enclosed lane to reach a farm (Brieryhurst). Turn right here on the track and follow this round, past the farm dwellings, along the entrance drive. Just before reaching the road, turn left by the wire fence to follow a clear path to a stile. Go over this and then cross the field ahead to reach a metal bridge. Go over this and you reach a road. Cross over, then bear right to locate a stile by the entrance of the kennels/cattery. Follow this clear path round the edge of the premises. Do not turn left at the first waymark, but continue ahead to just before a stream ahead and another waymark on the left. Cross stile and down to the stream. Cross and then follow the clear path with a fence on the right. This later does a short dogleg to the right, and at the next fence on the left, turn left to follow this, towards the railway line. Follow the clear path to reach an opening close to a stream. Bear right here and follow this track to reach a road. Turn right here, under the railway bridge, then left at the road junction. Pass Tesco on the left and turn immediately left to join the disused railway line (Cycle route 5). You cross several roads to reach the start of the walk.

Contributed by Peter Matthews, of the Staffordshire Area Ramblers' Association. For further information phone 01782 336556.