Walking: Church Lawton

in front to reach a stile. Go over this and keeping to the left side of some fields, shortly you reach a main road. Turn right, and just after entering Staffordshire and the speed camera sign, turn left down the metalled lane, by the footpath sign. The actual path goes to the left side of the lane and across two fields, but the exit is obstructed, so instead follow the lane to a junction then go straight across on the stony track which soon veers left with a fence on the right.

Follow this path, passing to the right of the sub station, then you go through trees with a fence still on the right, and after about ½ mile you reach a road. Turn left for about ¼ mile until you reach a main road. Cross to the right of the house opposite. There are two paths signs here, take the left of these to enter a small field. Keep to the left side of this field, ignoring paths to the right, to reach the top left corner. Climb down and over the railway until you reach a lane by a boatyard. Turn left, and at the main road, right, to cross the canal. Once over the canal, turn right, go down the steps and along the towpath with the canal on your right. At the next bridge, climb the steps up to the aqueduct and then go left along the towpath. Soon you pass over the main road into Kidsgrove and immediately before the second bridge, climb the steps on the left to join a lane. Turn left and in a few yards you reach the main road. Turn left, cross over and after about 100yds, turn right into The Spinney. Follow this round to right to reach Lawton Coppice. Here turn left to shortly enter the woods on a broad track.

Continue along this track, go over another track by some gates to reach a pool on the left. Follow the path round, so you pass a small field on the right to reach a fence and private grounds at Lawton Hall. Continue along the track until you emerge in a lane by the Church. Cross the lane to the black gate opposite (footpath sign) and follow the path to a stile, over and along the field edge to reach the canal. Turn left to the first bridge. Go under it and then immediately left, up the steps to the road. Turn left, cross the canal and then turn immediately left again, down the steps to walk alongside the canal on an overgrown path. Soon you emerge at a farm entrance. Cross the lane and cattle grid to take the concrete path to the railway line. Cross the line and then go right, along the edge of the field. At the end, turn half left, following the ditch on your right for a short distance to a gap. Right here, then follow another ditch on the right to reach a prominent wooden bridge by a house.

Turn right and go over the bridge, following the waymarks round the end of the property until you reach a road. Then turn left. Just after the industrial park entrance, take the steps on the right, (footpath sign) to reach an estate road.

Go left then almost immediately right, along the road to its end by a small church. Here turn right then follow the road round to the left and after a few yards you reach the start.

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

The Walk

Level: An easy walk among fields, canal, a disused railway and some urbanisation. A good mixture. Follow the route anti clockwise.

Distance: 5.2 miles

Time: 2½ hours

Parking: Small car park at the start of the Merelake Trail, Alsager.

Refreshments: Pub by the canal near Ref Bull.