How to Access Regional Trails from Stafford

Stafford serves as a practical gateway to several major long-distance paths and regional trails across the Midlands and beyond. While local routes like the Staffordshire Way and the Two Saints Way can be joined directly within the town or along its immediate canal corridors, reaching distinct national routes such as the southern Wayfarer's Walk requires regional rail and road links. This guide details how to access both local Staffordshire trailheads and distant national routes starting from Stafford.

Accessing Local Regional Trails Directly from Stafford

  • The Staffordshire Way: This 92-mile path spans the county from Mow Cop to Kinver Edge. Walkers can join the trail just east of Stafford town centre. From the town, follow the River Penk or the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal towpath eastward toward Baswich and Tixall. The route passes directly through Tixall Wide and borders the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
  • The Two Saints Way: A 92-mile pilgrimage route linking the cathedral cities of Chester and Lichfield, the Two Saints Way runs directly through Stafford. You can step onto this trail in the town centre near St. Chad's Church or pick it up near Stafford Castle on the western edge of town.
  • The Isabel Trail: For a shorter regional connector, this multi-user path follows the former rail line north toward Stone and west toward Newport, accessible from the northern side of Stafford near Doxey Marshes.

How to Access the Wayfarer's Walk from Stafford

The official Wayfarer's Walk is a 70-mile long-distance trail located entirely in Hampshire, running from Walbury Hill (near Berkshire) south to Emsworth on the coast. Because it does not run through Staffordshire, travelers based in Stafford must use national transit networks to reach its trailheads:

  • Northern Trailhead (Walbury Hill / Inkpen): Take an Avanti West Coast or CrossCountry train from Stafford Station south to Birmingham New Street or Reading, then connect to Newbury. From Newbury, local buses and taxis serve Inkpen Beacon and Walbury Hill.
  • Mid-Trail Access (Basingstoke / New Alresford): CrossCountry rail services run directly or with a single change from Stafford to Basingstoke, providing immediate access to the central sections of the Wayfarer's Walk.
  • Southern Trailhead (Emsworth): Take the train from Stafford to London Euston, transfer via the London Underground to Waterloo, and take South Western Railway services down to Havant or Emsworth.

Public Transport and Trailhead Connections

Stafford Railway Station and the adjacent town bus stops are the primary transport hubs for accessing regional trails:

  • Cannock Chase Heritage Trail: Board local bus services from Stafford town centre to Brocton or Milford, which offer immediate pedestrian access to Cannock Chase and its network of heathland trails.
  • Canal Connections: The Trent and Mersey Canal and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal provide continuous, traffic-free pedestrian links directly from the town centre outward to broader regional walking circuits.