Walking
This is an undulating walk through fields and roads and there are some excellent views. Signposts are not the best though, and one path is difficult to find, but it's clear enough when you're on it.
The journey:
From the flint mill at Cheddleton, pictured above, walk to Station Road, virtually opposite, and follow it to the last bungalow on the left, just before a turn to the right. There is a waste bin on the right hand side and the footpath on the left is unsigned, but it is a fenced alleyway by the side of the bungalow. Follow this to a stile at the end then along the left edge of the field. At the next field follow the centre of the hollow to climb to some woodland and then follow a path to a road. Turn right, and follow the road uphill to a junction. Take the farm drive opposite and you pass a building, and then as the drive dips before the farm on the right and a 'platform' on the left, look for a short length of wooden fencing (opposite a gate). The fence has barbed wire for half its length and then a bare patch and some stones on the ground. This is the footpath, though there is no sign. Go over this and follow the hollow (to the left side of the hedge) downhill until you reach a lane. Right along the lane to the main road.
At the main road, cross over and turn right to follow the footpath for about half a mile, passing a farm on the right. As you reach the Birchall Estate, go past the first turning and at the second (signed Churnet Manor) turn right along the road, bearing left at the fork. At the top end of the road you will see a barrier and a hedged track leading up into fields. Take this and follow the track, climbing gently until eventually you reach a well defined track. At the next junction there is a tarmac drive, turn left here and then, just before the farm, left again, to follow the right side of the field to reach another stile and footpath sign. Go over the stile then left, down the field, aiming for the lower of two electricity poles, then on to a stile leading into woods. Descend through the woods steeply and then you emerge by houses on a road. Bear right here, going past two gate posts and a green barrier on the right to take the path alongside the stream. Follow the stream to a path junction then turn right to climb the rightmost track, bearing right again at a road to climb a narrow, tarmac walled lane. This soon emerges onto a road which you follow to the end. Turn right here, then take the next left to emerge into Leek. For the bus station turn right.
Contributed by Peter Matthews of the Staffordshire Area Ramblers' Association. For details call 01782 336556.
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