Staffordshire
Staffordshire
In one sense most of my walking is done in Staffordshire, since that is where I live. Here are a couple of my mostly off-road efforts this year.
Early spring 2009: Leek - Tittesworth and back
Distance: 7½m, Climb: 300 ft
A circular route encompassing the reservoir in a clockwise direction, leaving and returning to civilisation at Haregate. Given the time of year it was not surprising that the weather was a little cool and the paths in places somewhat muddy underfoot, though the latter was only really noticeable on the return path from the dam to Haregate. Much of the route followed paths marked as Staffordshire Moorlands Walks on the OS Map of the White Peak (OL24), diverting to the west shore of the reservoir at a lane reaching it at grid reference 990601. I followed the eastern shore almost around to the dam at the southern end before crossing fields to regain the route of the Moorlands Walks. Nothing startling to report in terms of climbs or views, nor indeed that I took time out at the visitor centre at Tittesworth for a leisurely pot of tea, but a pleasant afternoon's worth of gentle activity nonetheless.
Thu 8th Oct 2009: Ladderedge - Rudyard - Leek
Distance: 10½m, Climb: 330 ft
After the descent through Ladderedge Country park to the canal feeder this is mainly a flat walk, with a couple of short climbs on the west side of Rudyard where the path leaves the shoreline and the gentle incline from the old railway upto Leek town centre via North Street and West Street. There is a nice mixture of wooded and open sections to provide a variety of atmosphere, enhanced by the proximity of Rudyard Reservoir for a significant proportion of the route. This reservoir is quite different from Tittesworth, not just because of its shape but also its usage. Human presence is much more pronounced, both in terms of accommodation - housing and caravans - and the lake being home to a considerable number of boats taking part in various water borne activities. In contrast Tittesworth seems much more a refuge for wildlife.
The outward path beside the feeder is level but in places uneven due to the presence of hoof marks suggesting that at the wrong time of the year it could also be muddy underfoot. The return along the path of the old railway is very easy walking and is I suspect much used as an out and back route to the reservoir by the inhabitants of Leek.
A good walk for when you haven't the opportunity to go further afield for sterner tests, whilst out and back by the old railway is an obvious choice when wet if you don't mind puddles but want to avoid extensive mud, or if in company as the easy walking makes conversing while you walk simple.