Silkmore, Rickerscote to Hyde Lea Doorstep Walk

The walk is about 5 miles long and takes from 2 - 3 hours to complete. It is an interesting walk which starts at Silkmore Primary School in Exeter Street, proceeds through Rickerscote Village using lanes and field paths, towards Hyde Lea and Coppenhall.

1 From the School cross over Exeter Street and walk towards Silkmore Lane. This is a busy road and you should use the footpath on the service road, which will take you to the roundabout junction with Rickerscote Road.

2 Use the pedestrian refuge to cross Silkmore Lane and turn into Rickerscote Road. Follow the road round to the right, to the shops in Rickerscote Village.

3 From the shops continue along Rickerscote Lane with housing both sides, until you come to open fields on your left. Here you will see a private lane to Rickerscote Hall and open views of the Penk Valley. The present hall dates from 1685. Records show that an earlier hall existed in pre-Norman times.

4 The lane continues, initially as an improved road and then as a country lane which leads through a gate into open pasture. Through the gate the path divides. Take the right hand path diagonally across the field to a stile in the corner, then follow the hedge across another stile to the railway crossing at Gravel Lane.

5 Climb the ladder stile and cross the rail track, taking care to keep to the Safety Instructions at the crossing point.

6 From Gravel Lane the walk now crosses the very busy Stafford - Wolverhampton road, into Chain Lane. Great care should be taken when crossing the main road.

7 Chain Lane leads into Barn Bank Lane to become a rural lane, after crossing the bridge over the M6 Motorway.

8 After a further 200 meters cross over a stile on your left into a field. The path follows the direction of the sign, diagonally uphill across the field, to another stile. It continues along the hedge to where it becomes a lane.

9 At this point stop and enjoy the view across the Penk Valley towards Cannock Chase. You will be able to pick out the telecommunications tower at Pye Green and other landmarks. You are now close to Hyde Lea and Coppenhall and can, if you wish, extend your walk to visit these villages if you have the time.

10 Before reaching the lane our walk now joins another field path which returns downhill across a number of stiles to Grange Farm. Pass through the farm yard and along the farm lane to Ashflats Lane and turn left.

11 Ashflats Lane crosses over the M6 Motorway and at the end of the bridge follow the footpath sign on the right. Look out for Castle Church Way Notice Board. Your way from now on follows this designated walk. Steps take you down the embankment. Cross a stile here and turn right to follow the motorway boundary.

12 After another stile, turn diagonally left to a stile in the corner of the field and follow the hedge to the railway.

13 A new footbridge takes the walk over the rail track and through Moss Pit Garage. Follow signs to the A449.

14 After crossing the A449 go over the stile and cross the field diagonally to the farm track. Go straight over the farm track, using the two stiles. Follow the path across fields through several gates and over stiles until you rejoin Rickerscote Lane at point 4. Return to Rickerscote and Silkmore retracing the outward route.

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