Probus Club Walk Wednesday 5 March 2014
“TWO SAINTS WAY” and coincidently Saint Michael and Saint Peter accompanied the other nine of us who decided that it was time to get out and enjoy the Spring weather.
As per usual we left Kidsgrove at 0930 hrs. Our starting point was The George and Dragon on the outskirts of Stone.
Crossing the old Meaford Road we immediately climbed the gentle incline to cross over the canal bridge and enter a lane soon turning left down a very nice driveway towards a large country house. Skirting the property with it’s seven noisy dogs we entered a field which we crossed before joining a lane to turn right and, climbing up to Stone Common, we rested awhile on the seats provided.
Stone Common is a vantage point offering views all around and also includes a historic hay meadow.
Next we descended into the outskirts of Stone before entering Stonefield Park and the town in order to find the canal towpath where we headed north along the path to eventually reach our starting point and a very welcome drink and meal.
A successful walk enjoyed by all on a beautiful Spring Day.
MORE ABOUT THE TWO SAINTS WAY
Two Saints Way is named after the Saxon saints who brought Christianity from Northumbria to the ancient kingdom of Mercia in the seventh century. St Chad’s shrine at Lichfield and St Werburgh’s shrine at Chester were popular destinations for pilgrims in medieval times.
Section 1 -. Starting at Chester Cathedral, the route is mostly along the Shropshire Union Canal with a diversion to the dramatic Beeston Castle and the pleasant village of Bunbury before ending at the fine market town of Nantwich
Section 2 – Farmland predominates in this second section and after the relative flatness of Cheshire there are some hills to walk over on the way into Stoke-on-Trent, which is notable for its industrial heritage sites and the Potteries Museum where you can see the Staffordshire Hoard.
Section 3 Stoke-on-Trent to Stafford. The route follows the Trent Valley along sections of the Trent and Mersey Canal and remnants of the Staffordshire New Forest at Trentham and Tittensor Chase, passing through Stone to Salt where it turns south west over Hopton Heath and Beacon Hill to the county town of Stafford
Section 4 – Stafford to Lichfield. After meandering out of Stafford along the River Sow, the route joins the Heart of England Way to cross Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, before the last few miles of farmland and country lanes to Lichfield and the pilgrim sites at the Cathedral and St Chad’s Well.
references are from the LDWAs website.
Next month we will continue our journey along the Trent Valley towards Barlaston where we detour to return to the George and Dragon for lunch.