Staffordshire Way Trail Connection to Stafford

This article outlines how the Staffordshire Way and closely associated regional paths, such as the Two Saints Way, connect to the county town of Stafford. While the main spine of the Staffordshire Way skirts just east of the borough, walkers can easily navigate into the town centre using intersecting footpaths, canal towpaths, and connecting pilgrimage routes.

Proximity of the Staffordshire Way to Stafford

The Staffordshire Way is a 92-mile long-distance footpath running from Mow Cop on the Cheshire border down to Kinver Edge in the south. The trail does not pass directly through the centre of Stafford; instead, its central section runs approximately four miles to the east of the town. It winds through the Trent Valley, passing through Weston-upon-Trent, Great Haywood, the historic Shugborough Estate, and the northern edge of Cannock Chase.

Walkers on the Staffordshire Way can divert into Stafford via well-established waterways:

  • Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal: At Great Haywood Junction, the Staffordshire Way meets the canal network. Walkers can follow the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal towpath westward toward Baswich, which sits on the south-eastern outskirts of Stafford.
  • The River Sow Navigation Route: From the canal basin at Baswich, local rights-of-way and pedestrian paths follow the course of the River Sow directly into Victoria Park and the centre of Stafford.

Hikers frequently combine the Staffordshire Way with the Two Saints Way, an 88-mile pilgrimage route running between Chester and Lichfield. Unlike the Staffordshire Way, the Two Saints Way passes straight through the heart of Stafford:

  • It enters the town from the north-west via the Doxey Marshes nature reserve.
  • It leads through the town centre, visiting historic sites such as the Ancient High House and St Chad's Church.
  • It exits eastwards toward Tixall and the Shugborough Estate.

At Shugborough and Great Haywood, the Two Saints Way intersects the Staffordshire Way. This intersection allows walkers to transition directly between the two routes, using the Two Saints Way as a dedicated pedestrian corridor to travel between the Staffordshire Way and central Stafford.

Public Transport Connections

For section hikers not wishing to walk the connecting miles, Stafford acts as the primary transport hub for the trail's midsection. Local bus routes regularly run from Stafford town centre to key access points along the Staffordshire Way, including Great Haywood, Little Haywood, and Weston-upon-Trent. Additionally, Stafford Railway Station provides national rail connections, making the town an ideal staging post for walking the trail.