Rushton Spencer, Staffordshire Sunday Coach walk on 4 October 2026

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FINISH TIME OF THIS EVENT SHOWN ABOVE IS ONLY APPROXIMATE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED; IT WILL DEPEND ON FACTORS SUCH AS THE WEATHER AND THE WALKING PACE OF THE GROUP. IT IS THE TIME THAT THE COACH WILL DEPART TO TRAVEL BACK TO BIRMINGHAM; IT IS NOT THE ARRIVAL TIME BACK AT ST. CHAD'S.

Our Sunday rambles usually have three levels of walk, strenuous (A), moderate (B) or leisurely (C), led by Birmingham Ramblers group leaders. Join us and enjoy a great day of social walking with our friendly members.

Please note: Our walks are often on rough tracks and rights of way through fields, woodland and hills. Walkers should preferably wear walking boots and other clothing suitable for the weather. Unless otherwise described, please bring a packed lunch and refreshments for the day.

This Sunday walk has 3 levels of walk:

• A Walk: Distance: 11.5 miles, 1850 ft total ascent.
• B Walk: Details of distance and ascent will be added when available
• C Walk: 7.5 miles, largely flat, 300 ft total ascent, 250 ft descent.

Walk leaders:

• A Walk: Peter Searle
• B Walk: Walk Leader name will be added when available
• C Walk: Eva Hyde

Walk details:

• A Walk: Starting near the repurposed phone box on the A523 in Rushton Spencer, we follow a track then footpaths that climb across fields, past Wormhill Farm, descending again to join the Gritstone Way alongside a conduit, then from Barleigh Ford Bridge climb northwards to Nettlebeds. Here we descend into a wooded valley, following the path north then NE past Bennettshill to cross the A54 near Longgutter. We follow paths and a track clockwise around Hammerton Knowl, enjoying fine views in all directions, crossing the A54 again southwards, then walking a short distance along a lane before taking footpaths that enter the Dane Valley, descending to the valley floor at Danebridge, where the Wincle Brewery complements an opportune spot for the afternoon break. After a mile of easy walking downstream close to the River Dane, we climb steeply at first, then a little more gently across fields and along a driveway almost to Heaton, where the hilltop setting provides views back to Hammerton Knowl and NW towards The Cloud and Jodrell Bank. Shortly before reaching the lane at Heaton, we turn onto a footpath that descends across fields, taking us back to the start point. Note, the amount of ascent, sometimes steep, and the condition of the paths in some places make this a fairly demanding walk, however the reward is some very varied, attractive countryside and fine views. The ~ 2-mile section around Hammerton Knowle midway around the walk will be particularly exposed to the weather, requiring appropriate waterproofs if wet and/or windy.
• B Walk: Walk details will be added when available
• C Walk: Leek to Rushton Spencer, Rudyard Lake. Starting at a roadside bus stop at Longsdon, southwest of Leek, we cross a field and then a lane between houses to Ladderedge Park. We go around a small section of Longsdon wood and then around a small open hill to the Staffordshire Moorland Walks path, walking alongside a feeder canal to Rudyard Lake. This has woodland on one side and a golf course, then fields, on the other. After 3.7 miles we arrive at the dam at Rudyard Lake, a reservoir built in 1797, where Rudyard Kipling’s parents met. We can cross the dam to admire the miniature steam trains, half size narrow gauge, that run along the east side of the lake. There is one café by the lake and another by the train station, as well as picnic tables by the dam. After lunch at the dam, we will walk along the west side of the lake, along the Staffordshire way. This goes up a small hill in woodland, past Cliff Park lodge built in 1850, now derelict, opposite the sailing club and another café (4.8 miles). It then goes through a field to Cliff Park Hall, built in gothic style in 1811, at one point a YHA, stayed at by George Orwell, now in poor repair (5.3 miles), and then downhill to the end of the lake (6.15 miles). We cross to the east side of the lake, onto the former railway track. Here we could make a short detour back along this side of the lake, where there are better views of the lake. We then walk along the track to reach the Knot Inn, opposite the former railway station at Rushton Spencer (7.1 miles). From here it is a short distance up a side road to the main road and coach.

There are a limited number of total places for the walks, which is set by the capacity of the coach. Whilst we hope that everyone will be able to be accommodated on their walk of choice, the allocation of places for each walk will have to be done on the day. No-one will be expected to walk at a higher grade than they prefer - thus, for example, if you prefer the B walk you will not be asked to join the A walk but may be asked to join the C walk. The booking form allows you to specify your preferred walk.

Joining instructions

It will only be possible to join the walk by coach, which will be picking up at 09.00 at the layby at the side of St. Chad’s Cathedral, Queensway, Birmingham B4 6EU. Note that this is not the Cathedral car park in Shadwell Street, which has postcode B4 6EY.

The coach fare will be £15 with 3 options for payment:

• Cash on the day in an envelope with your name and the date of the walk. We are unable to give change for cash payments
• Cheque on the day, made payable to COBRA, in an envelope with your name and the date of the walk.
• Bank transfer in advance of the walk

For payment by bank transfer the walk coordinator will contact you about a week in advance of the walk with bank details. For payments on the day, please put the exact fare in an envelope with your name and date of the walk on it, which will be collected on the coach - unfortunately we are unable to give change for the coach fare.

Note that you cannot pay the coach fare through our Eventbrite account. Your booking for the walk will still show £0.00 but you do have to pay the £15 coach fare on or before the day of the walk

Bookings for this walk will close at 06.00 on Monday 28 September. If you would like to join this walk after the bookings have closed please email [email protected] to enquire about any late availability for the walk.

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If you have a confirmed ticket:

Shortly after bookings have closed the walk coordinator will contact you by email to confirm that you will still be joining us on this walk; this is needed since there are limited seats on the coach and we like to release any unused places to others who may be on a waiting list. The coordinator will also give you our bank details if you have chosen to pay the coach fare by bank transfer. Please check your email, including Spam and/or Junk folders, shortly after bookings have closed for this walk and reply to let us know whether or not you will be still joining the walk.

If you have a waiting list ticket:

The walk coordinator will contact you by email shortly before the walk date to let you know if we are able to offer you a place. Please check your email, including Spam and/or Junk folders, shortly before the walk date and, if we are able to offer you a place, reply to let us know whether or not you will be joining the walk.

If you find that you are unable to join us after booking a ticket it would be helpful if you let us know by sending an email to [email protected] - this will be passed on to the walk leader and will prevent any delay to the start of the walk should the leader be waiting for you. Please note that some walks have a waiting list so tickets are NOT TRANSFERABLE; if you are unable to join us then please cancel your place to free it up for someone who may be on the waiting list rather than sending someone else in your place.

General Information

This is one of several walks and activities offered by the Birmingham Ramblers. If you have found this page through a web search or other means and would like to find out more about the group then please visit the Birmingham Ramblers web site; new members are always welcome.