The Last Post

This is "the last post" on the NWR Walks the Staffordshire Way 2012 blog.  The blog started in response to a challenge that, between them, the NWR groups in Staffordshire would walk every inch of the 92 miles of the Staffordshire Way.  That challenge is now complete and the blog has  documented the stages as they happened. Also included within the blog is an account of the "long walk" where a few NWR members walked the whole length of the Way on seven consecutive days in late June. It is worth noting that, in the wettest summer for 100 years, walkers contended with rain, mud, floods and some of the tallest nettles and grasses ever seen in Staffordshire!

At the celebration to mark the end of the challenge, we prepared a unique NWR map of the Staffordshire Way, where groups reflected on their experience and recounted the highlights of their particular stage.

 

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

Stage 8

Stage 9

As a final reflection on the challenge, the Area Organiser for the Staffordshire NWR groups was quoted as saying....

I think what has impressed me most was the camaraderie within groups, the beamimg smiles from under dripping rain hoods, sharing lunches in some very odd places, sharing clothes when someone fell in a bog, not getting ratty when someone locked their keys in the car and we couldn’t get back to where we started! Helping others over the interminable stiles. The ease of company, putting the world to rights, sharing confidences, some very black humour and partners galloping to our rescue when needed. I’m glad we did it and we probably wouldn’t have done it, if NWR wasn’t binding us all together!

Thank you to everyone who took part!

Next year we are intending to walk the Sandstone Trail, from Frodsham in Cheshire to Whitchurch in Shropshire. We hope that more NWR groups and members may join in along the way. More details will appear on the NWR website in early 2013.

It's All Over Now...

On Saturday 15 September, members from seven groups in Staffordshire gathered at the Tree House in Birches Valley on Cannock Chase for a celebration to mark the completion of the NWR 2012 Challenge of Walking the Staffordshire Way.

. 
The sun shone all day which almost made up for the wet conditions endured by many members during the course of their stages of the walk.

Talks from the Principal Rights of Way Officer, Paul Rochfort, and Head Ranger, Steve Archer, filled gaps in our knowledge about how access to the Staffordsire countryside is managed on our behalf and the increasing importance of volunteers in supporting their best efforts.

 

A lunchtime picnic was enjoyed on the veranda.

 

 

Sweet and or healthy treats were available for dessert.

 

 Many enjoyed a lunchtime stroll in the forest...

 



 

 





 ...or just sitting in the sun.

In the afternoon we did a reflective sprint down the Staffordshire Way to share our experiences and give tips about good cafes and pubs and scenic stretches.  These were captured on a unique NWR map of the Staffordshire Way. [For more details of the map see The Last Post]

 

Awards were made for various contributions to the blog.

 

One was for best scenic photo to the Shenstone Group

 

One was for best group photo to the Eccleshall group

 

One was for best blog entry to Sarah Matthews [far right] of the Long Walkers

 

We rounded the event off with a nice cup of tea and a piece of cake, specially baked by Sarah Akhtar of the Trentham group to celebrate the fact that she has been a member of NWR for 40 years!

 

Most memories of the walk were good ones.  Everyone was glad they had taken part.  Further recollections can be read on the last post on the blog, entitled The Last Post!



 

 

 



 

 



 

The Sun Has Got His Hat On

The Marchington group chose to walk Stage 2 of the Staffs Way from Ryecroft Gate to Oakmeadow Ford Lock as for us it was a relatively unexplored area. July the 18th was our original start date but after advice from Marilyn, taken from the blog of the experiences of the "complete Staffs Way walkers" during the inclement weather (stars indeed!), we decided to delay, not wishing to don gaiters up to our waists and wield machetes to tame the undergrowth! 

So, six of us arrived at our starting point on Wednesday 8th August. Invigorated by our "caffeine fix" and crunchy nut biscuits

... suitably attired, waving farewell to our volunteer drivers

... we set off in very good spirits encouraged by a hint of blue through the cloud. Within a very short distance a magnificent panorama including Rudyard Reservoir stretched out around us before we headed off through the woods

... and by then the sun really had got his hat on!

On reaching the visitors center at Rudyard Reservoir we were so impressed by its serentiy and calmness in spite of it being a hive of activity with interest and sporting activities for all ages. This landmark is also a memorable beauty spot for Rudyard Kipling's parents. To complete the picture, the Churnet Valley Railway steam train could be seen chugging through the countryside. A truly rural scene almost taking us back in time.

We lingered a while and then headed off along the feeder canal for some distance. 

As we progressed along well trodden paths the foliage became denser but was given a wonderful lift by the sun's rays breaking through the branches.

A well-deserved rest and much needed sustenance with an impressive 180 degree vista and a very convenient low wall for added comfort!

Moving on, through open undulating countryside over a few sturdy stiles

Stepping it out ...

and views right across to Leek and the Roaches

Last lap ... yet another change of scene along the Cauldon Canal pausing to gen up on the Cheddleton Flint Mill, millers cottage and small museum.

The end is in sight!

Boots off and very welcome refreshment at The Boat Inn!

A perfect end to a perfect day ... cue for a song!

Submitted by Susan

Walking the Dog[s]

We completed the Alrewas stage of the walk over two days - on May 19th (which was chilly but dry) and July 14th (some sun but some very heavy showers).   One member, Jenny Jenkins, penned a brief but expressive account of our experience in the form of the following ditty...

Saturday May 19th

Five on a mission, (with 2 dogs) walked over Cannock Chase ---- What a slog!

Valleys, hills, streams, we saw them all and even visited Shugborough Hall.

From Glacial Boulder to the lock at Colwich, it all went without a hitch.

Saturday July 14th

Five on a mission, (with 2 dogs) walked over Cannock Chase ---- What a bog!

Fields, stiles, woods, bogs, we saw them all, and oh how the rain did fall.

From Glacial Boulder to Penkridge tow path, so desperate to get a hot bath!

The photo is from the end of the first section.  We got very wet on the second section but had no camera with us to record it - we couldn't believe that no-one had remembered to take this essential bit of kit!

Kathryn Buckman

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

Codsall and Wolverhampton Branch decided to walk stage 8 of the Staffordshire Way over two days.  We undertook our first walk, the shorter section, on 2^nd July.  This walk followed the pathway from Brewood to Codsall.  We have now completed stage 8 by walking from Codsall to Seisdon on Monday 30^th July.

The first sign post marking the start of our walk.

The weather was much improved, although we did have several short sharp showers, the sun shone briefly and we did see some blue sky.

Yes it’s raining!

We enjoyed our picnic and it’s dry!

 We enjoyed rambling through the peaceful countryside and had some good views towards Shropshire during the later part of the walk.  We observed a variety of butterflies including meadow browns and ringlets.  We also noted swallows flying above the fields and a pair of buzzards near some stables.  We all agreed the walk was an enjoyable challenge.  We had plenty of opportunities to chat to each other and strengthen our friendships. We thought it would be a good idea to plan a similar challenging walk in our program next year.

The end of a lovely day.  All 8 members arrive safely at Seisdon. 

Thanks to everyone for all their hard work organizing this event.

Submitted by Angela

Way Down South

On Saturday 21 July, five members of Stafford group walked the most southerly leg of the Staffordshire Way from Kinver to Enville. After some delayed journeys due to an abnormal load travelling along the A449, Sarah, Kay, Trish, Jane and Lois met at Kinver Rock Houses, having left cars at the Cat Inn at Enville.

At holy Austin Rock

First we looked around the Rock Houses which have been restored by the National Trust to show life there in the 1930s and 50s. They were inhabited until the 1960s and we were amused to hear that if a family needed more room the Victorian father got out his sledgehammer and excavated further into the sandstone rock.

Inside a house

Looking at artefacts

Chatting on the Rock

It was warm enough to have our picnic near the tea room before setting out on our walk.

Picnic at Holy Austin Rock

This part of the way is very pleasant with well-defined tracks and paths, and old-established woods.

It was a bit squelchy underfoot at times where bikes had churned up the ground.

There has to be mud

We particularly liked one path which had been cut out of the red sandstone rock.

Sandstone worn away by walkers' feet

Nearing Enville we passed Enville Hall which has a beautiful herbaceous border and a ha-ha separating it from parkland.

The ha-ha at Enville

Then we came across a game of cricket being played on the pitch next to the walled garden. It was a very English scene.

Cricket at Enville

After a cold drink at the Cat Inn, we took walkers back to cars at Kinver. All in all, an excellent day in the country - and completed without waterproofs!

At the Cat Inn

Written by Lois with photos by Sarah and Trish