Stone-Meaford Doorstep Walk for Health

Distance 1/4/6 miles approx. two and a half hours.

A three level walk to enable the walker to progress from one level to the other. Some flat walking along the canal and some mild hill walking, also and some farmland. Many points of interest and no hazards that can't be avoided by wearing suitable strong footwear.

Level one - 1 mile

1 Start at the back entry to Somerfields. Cross the road and walk straight down Workhouse Lane and over Workhouse Bridge. Turn right on to the canal tow path.

2 Continue along towpath under bridge 95. As you approach bridge 95A you have 3 choices. a. retrace steps along towpath. b. turn left onto the new footpath (wheelchair and pushchair friendly) onto the Whitebridge lane where you can turn right and meet up with the Newcastle Road and turn left and walk back into Stone. c. on reaching Whitebridge Lane turn left and go over the level crossing (taking care to look and listen for trains) and up to Mount Road where you turn right and walk back to Stone.

Level two - 4 miles

3 Instead of turning right when you reach the road (see 2c) cross the road and enter the Common Plot through the black swing gate. Take the middle left fork and continue up past the trees to the top of the plot with the hillocks are on your right.

4 Turn right, pass by or over the hillocks, until you discover the downward path on your right . Proceed down this back to the swing gate and choose the options in level one to return to Stone.

Level three - 6 miles

5 At the point marked *, turn slightly left towards the hedge line on your left (ignore the hedge in front of you where there are two stiles) walk towards the corner of this left hedge and there you will discover a stile partially hidden in the hedge.

6 Climb over this and you will immediately be in a woodland with steps leading downwards and bearing slightly left, ignore the upward path on your right. Leave main path to go through the gap that appears on your left taking you down to the Outlanes.

7 On reaching the Outlanes road, turn left and continue along the road about 100 meters until you reach the finger post on your left. It is situated at the T-junction.

8 Climb over the stile and across the field keeping to the hedge line. Go over the next stile and you find yourself on a bordered path with farmland. Keep to the very well defined path through the farmland for about 500 meters.

9 Continue under the bridge and then veer left and go up to the road. Proceed right for about 500 meters along the road.

10 Enter the canal towpath as soon as it comes into sight on your left and continue along the towpath to bridge 95A where you can either keep to the tow path into Stone or take one of the alternatives from Level one back into Stone.

Well done for completing this walk. Why not keep your walking shoes on and explore the other 2 Doorstep Walks around Stone