THIS is an interesting walk, typical of rural Staffordshire. Starting in a small Nature Reserve the walk takes us through a small wood to the canal. From here the route is along good paths through fields and past an old moat to reach a minor road. The route then leaves the road to skirt the edge of woodland to reach the canal. The canal is followed back to Norbury Junction where the remains of the old Newport Canal can be seen. The basin is also a place to linger and watch the narrowboats from the pub or the café (which is open every day). The final stretch returns to the nature reserve.

The journey:

LEAVE the car park from the top corner to descend a field and reach a gate into woodland (parallel to the road). Follow this path until it bends left above the canal and take a small path right to reach a gate and road. Turn left to cross the canal.

After a few yards the road bends left. Take the broad track off to the right following this, first bending left then later right to join another track after about one third of a mile.

Turn right (bridleway sign to the left) and follow this track past a moat on the right then building on the left to emerge on a road after one quarter of a mile.

Turn left, and just after the cream house on the right, the road bends sharp right to go under the canal. Take the stony track ahead, alongside a wood on the right. The track soon enters the wood but continue ahead, on the edge of the wood to shortly enter it where the trees thicken across the route. The track is quite clear as it goes through the wood, soon passing fishing pools on the left (the map shows the path along the edge of the wood but the wooded area has now extended so the map is incorrect).

When the path reaches a private road continue ahead and follow this road until it joins a minor road. Turn right here, under the canal and as the road bends right, climb the path on the left to join the canal towpath where you turn left keeping the canal to your right

You reach Norbury Junction and after a further mile, you reach a bridge with an arch beneath the top arch. Go under this and the next bridge. After about 50 yards take the ascending path on the left back to the top of the bridge. Turn right to Loynton Moss.

Follow the left side of the fence to take the woodland path just inside the wood. At the end of the wood, turn right through a small gate then left to follow the fence to another gate. Go left here to follow a broad track to another gate and field. Cross this to the car park.

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