Tittesworth Reservoir. - anticlockwise

Saturday 29th March

We observed this morning’s partial solar eclipse by projecting the image through binoculars

and the holes in a lemon juicer

After lunch  we went to Tittesworth Reservoir, and walked round it anticlockwise. 4.5 miles.

We followed the Crabapple Trail close to the waters edge on the eastern side, which was pleasant.

Sheltered from the wind down there, unlike back at Ridgehead where it’s very blustery still.  Quite a few people out - for a cold March Saturday. 

 

Rudyard Lake from North End, anti-clockwise

 Thursday 27th March

A post coffee walk round Rudyard Lake, this time parking at the north end, and walking anticlockwise.

Lots of celandines

A man in a car asked us how to get to the southern car park - satnav can be a bit weird round here. 

A brief detour to the water’s edge, via steep wooden steps,

then a pause for a hot drink at the cafe just over half way round.

Daffodils, celandines, a couple of tulips in a trough, pussy willow catkins, sunshine, water, boats, a pied wagtail, a comma butterfly and a male orange tip, not too many dogs, and the slopes upwards were not too steep!  4.75 miles. 

Quite far enough today.

From Ridgehead Farm to Anroach

Sunday 23rd March

On a misty, almost drizzly afternoon, we needed a stretch of the legs and a breath of air. so we walked the rough track to Morridge Top.

Then we crossed the A53, and walked down the quiet road to Anroach Farm entrance, then turned left and back up the road past Gibb Tor Farm, over the main road and back along the ‘Leek Road as far as the gate . It was a relief to leave the road for the track. 

Curlews were calling all afternoon, and we saw one flying, plus a kestrel.

Still a lot of mist hanging around. Atmospheric views of Ramshaw Rocks.

Gradbach to Three Shires Head

 Friday 13th September

The sunrise through the window was spectacular, just before 7 am.

We had breakfast and set off from Snipe Cottage soon after 9 am. The car park at Gradbach had plenty of room at this time, and we started walking just after 9.30. 

We did the route from February in reverse - this way is better, as the climbing is done more quickly and of course more steeply.

We walked back along the road for about 100 yards, before turning left, over a footbridge.

We followed the footpath by the river Dane to a minor road.

Shortly after the cottage there is a footpath to the right. It climbs steeply, through woodland

with ferns and gorse.

We reached an even more minor road shortly before Bennetsitch Farm and followed the road uphill until we reached a footpath on the left which leaves the road quite steeply, just past a farm building, and opposite Hole Edge Farm

The footpath joins a track past a small cottage. 

The sign, barely legible says “Beware of the Dog.” We saw and heard nothing.

As we climbed  higher there were great views over towards the Roaches,

and also to Shutlingsloe.

We met no one until we reached the high point on the moors. The footpath joined Knarr Lane just behind a cottage, and then our route took us over the road to the track to Three Shires Head. We paused for a coffee by this track.

We met a group of walkers and a lone mountain biker on this track. At Three Shires Head itself, there were at least a dozen people, many of them in the water.

It was quieter on the other side of the bridge.

The descent was along the stony track, then downhill over fields far less muddy that in February.

The gentle slope is far better as descent than ascent.

We arrived back at the cottage by 1pm for lunch. 

Almost 5 miles, but quite strenuous, with uneven paths, some bog, and almost 600 feet of climbing.

The cloud cover increased as the morning progressed.

Rudyard Lake - clockwise

 Wednesday 11th September 2024

We went out after coffee and started walking at 1pm . Much quieter than last time we were here, and few dogs this time.

Rudyard Lake circular in the opposite direction from 20th October 2023. So we walked the western, hillier, more scenic side first.

This worked well today as the weather was bright and sunny,

before the rain clouds came over,

as we were walking beneath the trees on the eastern side,

next to the miniature railway track. 4.5 miles.

We had a couple of pauses, one for a Twix at the northern end on the bridge near the bird feeders,

and one on a bench near the dam.

We bought a hot drink at the cafe before returning to Ridgehead farm.

We saw a buzzard, swallows dipping over a grassy field, a couple of blue tits on a feeder, and later some sand martins near the cafe.

A walk after rain - Staffordshire Moorlands

After. morning of mist and rain, the weather cleared, and we decided we should get out.

From the cottage at Ridgehead Farm, we walked up through the field to the road, then across to the very rutted track to Morridge Top.  

Here we crossed the A53 and went down the minor road, past Roundhill Farm, Adders Green, and the entrance to Anroach Farm.

We continued on this road past Moss Top Farm and as far as the crossroads. We turned left and went to the junction.  A left turn and a walk along the slightly busier road down a bit past Goldstych Farm, over the bridge across a stream ,

then quite a long uphill drag, past Baldstone and Newstone Farms and back to the main road. We turned left again, to walk for a few yards on the A53, which has a decent verge here. After The Winking Man pub, we took the first turn left. 

We walked beside the road up Bareleg Hill, which is just a bit too busy for comfort. Then it was downhill as far as the gate and track leading back to the cottage.

4.5 miles, with around 580 feet of climbing.

A bit too much road walking, but a good leg stretch and breath of air.