Walking in Staffordshire
Staffordshire runs from the gritstone edges of the Roaches and the limestone dales of the Peak District in the north, through the heathland and forest of Cannock Chase, to the sandstone ridge of Kinver Edge in the south, with canals and the River Trent threading between them.
Walks with a mapped start point are plotted above; the rest appear when you search their town. Zoom, drag or click a pin to explore, or search a town to list its walks.
Choose a starting town
Peak District & Moorlands
Stoke, Stone & the North
Stafford & Cannock Chase
Lichfield, Tamworth & Burton
South Staffordshire
Top walks by area
A starting point for each part of Staffordshire: well-documented routes that finish back where they start, between 1 and 12 miles.
Peak District & Moorlands
- Roaches Circular RouteUpper Hulme · 4.2 mi
- Dimmingsdale, Oakamoor, Alton LoopStaffordshire Moorlands · 7.8 mi
Stoke, Stone & the North
- Park Hall LoopWerrington · 3.9 mi
- Aston Marina via Canal and Countryside Circular WalkAston-by-Stone · 4.4 mi
- Cranberry via SwynnertonCotes Heath · 4.6 mi
- Bathpool via Parrots DrumbleKidsgrove · 4.8 mi
Stafford & Cannock Chase
- Home Circuit Via Holly LaneRanton · 4.0 mi
- Great Haywood via Shugborough and River SowStafford · 4.1 mi
Lichfield, Tamworth & Burton
- Alrewas To Wychnor And Potters Wood, CircularAlrewas · 3.3 mi
- Windmill And Malt Shovel LoopBurntwood · 3.8 mi
South Staffordshire
- Essington LoopEssington · 3.8 mi
- Razza LoopCheslyn Hay · 2.1 mi
- Stourton via CanalStourton · 4.4 mi
Popular in Staffordshire
Know before you go
Practical points for walking in Staffordshire. Rules and timetables change, so check the linked sources before you set off.
Cannock Chase
Cannock Chase is the smallest National Landscape (AONB) in mainland Britain, designated in 1958 and covering 68 square kilometres of heath and forest. It is home to a herd of around 800 fallow deer, so keep dogs under close control, and to German and Commonwealth war cemeteries.
The Roaches and the Peak District
The north of the county lies in the Peak District National Park. The gritstone escarpment of the Roaches is managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, and the Manifold Track follows the old railway line from Hulme End through the Manifold Valley.
Kinver Edge
In the far south, the National Trust looks after about 600 acres of Kinver Edge, a sandstone ridge with cave dwellings, the Kinver Rock Houses, that people lived in until the mid-20th century.
Staffordshire Way
The county’s own long-distance path runs 92 miles from Mow Cop Castle to Kinver Edge, by way of Leek, the Churnet Valley, Shugborough, Cannock Chase and Penkridge.
Dogs and access land
On open access land such as the Roaches, dogs must be on a lead no longer than 2 metres from 1 March to 31 July, and around livestock at all times. Keep dogs close on Cannock Chase too, where deer roam freely.
Maps
The Staffordshire Moorlands and the Roaches are on OS Explorer OL24 (White Peak), and Cannock Chase is on OS Explorer 244 (Cannock Chase and Chasewater).
Walking in Staffordshire: questions
How many walks are there in Staffordshire?
We list 30 walking routes in Staffordshire, starting from 23 towns and villages. The typical route is about 4 miles; 12 are under 4 miles and 1 is 10 miles or more. Every route is free to view.
Which towns have the most walks?
Stourton (3), Aston-by-Stone (2), Staffordshire Moorlands (2), Stafford (2), Milford (2) and Werrington (2). Use the town search or the town list on this page to see every walk from a particular place.
Are there short circular walks in Staffordshire?
Yes. 5 routes under 4 miles finish where they start, including Razza Loop (2.1 mi), Alrewas To Wychnor And Potters Wood, Circular (3.3 mi), Essington Loop (3.8 mi) and Windmill And Malt Shovel Loop (3.8 mi). Choose Under 4 mi and Back to start in the filters above to see them all.
Can I take my dog on Staffordshire walks?
Yes. Keep dogs on a short lead on open access land such as the Roaches from 1 March to 31 July, around livestock at all times, and under close control on Cannock Chase, where deer roam freely. See Know before you go for more.
How long is the Staffordshire Way?
About 92 miles (148 km), from Mow Cop Castle in the north of the county to Kinver Edge in the south, passing Leek, the Churnet Valley, Shugborough and Cannock Chase.
Is Cannock Chase a good place to walk?
Yes. It is the smallest National Landscape in mainland Britain, with heath, forest and around 800 fallow deer. Our walks from Milford and Brocton start on the Chase.
Which long-distance trails pass through Staffordshire?
The Staffordshire Way and Heart of England Way both pass through Staffordshire, and each has its own guide on Walking Rambler.