Travel in North Stafforshire

The information on this page should be considered as advisory only. The author's laziness and the fickleness of train and bus companies mean that route and timetable information tends to get old very quickly. Public transport in country areas is always a bit of an adventure but a guilt-free beer or three in the Black Lion or the Hollybush makes it worthwhile. Please check websites or, better still, ring the companies before setting out.

By Car

The easiest way to get into the Churnet Valley is, predictably, by car. There are car parks at various places around the valley, e.g. Alton, Oakamoor, Froghall Wharf, Leek Aqueduct, Consall Nature Park and Deep Hayes Country Park.

By Bike

If cycling is your thing, the old railway path between Denstone and Oakamoor is great, as is the old Earl's Drive, thorough Dimmingsdale and Barbary Gutter. If you don't have your own, bikes can be hired from Churnet Valley Cycle Hire at Manor Farm in Prestwood, near Denstone. For ranging more widely, it's worth checking the contours on the map, first. If you're not fit, the steep valley sides could be hard going. Your brakes had better be working, too.

By Bus

First service 32A runs between Uttoxeter and Hanley and passes through Rocester, Denstone, Alton, Alton Towers, Oakamoor and Cheadle. You could try their website for details, but I wouldn't trust the results, having found myself stranded in Uttoxeter with no bus on one occasion.
Apparently, Clowes Coaches run services 234, 235 and 236 between Leek and Cheadle or Tean, passing through Kingsley, Froghall, Whiston, Foxt and Ipstones, but finding confirmation online has eluded me so far. They definitely run service 108 between Ashbourne and Macclesfield via Leek and service 107 between Uttoxeter and Ashbourne via Rocester and Denstone. First service 18 runs from Hanley bus station to Leek stopping at various points along the A53. F. Procter and Sons service 16 also runs from Hanley to Leek but via Cheddleton.

By Train

There's no working connection between the main line and the Churnet Valley Railway. The nearest stations to the valley are Uttoxeter, to the south, and the various Stoke stations, to the west. If you think Etruria station is a good option, though, you're in for a disappointment 'cos it's closed. Uttoxeter Station has a bus stop outside that's used by the 32A bus (see above). Stoke on Trent station is served by First service 66/66A which goes to Hanley bus station. Or you could walk.

By Boat

The Caldon Canal runs from the main line of the Trent and Mersey, at Etruria in Stoke, to Froghall Wharf and the first lock and basin on the Uttoxeter Canal. Getting to the last few hundred yards beyond Froghall Tunnel is a problem for many boats as the tunnel is very low. The Leek branch runs from the Caldon at Hazlehurst to the edge of Leek.