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St John's School to Beacon Hill and Hopton Pools Doorstep Walk

This walk is about 4.5 miles long and will take around 3 hours to complete.

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1 From St. John's School walk out of town along the Weston Road, towards the university.

2 When you reach the woodland on the left, Kingstone Pool Covert, turn into the wood through the second wooden kissing gate. Follow the path through the wood, across a small wetland area, until you reach Gladstone way.

3 Turn right here and continue walking till you reach Beaconside. This is a very busy road, so be extremely careful here! Looking out for traffic, cross the road and take the lane leading to Beacon Farm. For a safer place to cross, we would advise you to walk the short distance to the Technology Park traffic lights, especially if the traffic is heavy.

4 At Beacon Farm continue between the two farm houses, then through the second red gate. Take a straight course towards the wood on the hill, continuing over two stiles. From Beacon Hill the whole of Stafford town can be seen. Looking to the right of the castle, the Wrekin is prominent at a distance of 25 miles. Slightly to the left of the Castle, the top of Brown Clee Hill can be seen, 35 miles away!

5 At the op of Beacon Hill go over a stile and carry on walking with the wood on the left. At the edge of the wood, climb another stile and continue in the same another stile is reached. Turn right here and continue along the hedge to the end of the field, crossing yet another stile and emerging onto a track.

6 Turn left following the track through two fields.

7 You will turn right shortly, along a grassy track up to a stile. Continue in the same direction across this field up to a metal kissing gate.

8 Go through the gate and down hill to the pools.

9 Turn left and continue along the edge of the pools and over a small footbridge keeping the pool on your right. Go over the stile at the end of the pools. Continue along the edge of the field. Follow the hedge on your left for a short distance then bear right up hill slightly and cross another stile. Continue towards Hopton Village and walk along the rear of the back gardens. You can take a detour into Hopton Village from here if you wish.

10 Otherwise, turn left at he end of the field and head back downhill, crossing a brook and a stile before reaching a track.

11 Follow this up, towards the wood on the hill, then over the stile in the hedge on the right.

12 Take a course towards the right corner of the wood then head back downhill through Beacon Farm to Beaconside, retracing your steps.

Well done for completing this walk. Why not keep your walking shoes on and explore the other Doorstep Walks in and around Stafford Borough.