Located in England's West Midlands, Staffordshire has hundreds of walking routes for visitors to the county to enjoy. Staffordshire's canal paths, woodlands, and quaint villages make for a good short stroll, or a day-long hike. Walking routes in Staffordshire consist of lanes, tracks, and footpaths and can get muddy in wet weather.
Canal Walks
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is a 46-mile-long canal, popular with pleasure boats. The canal's towpath is ideal for walkers and hikers, who can walk for as long as they please. The dirt towpath is relatively level, making it ideal for all levels of walker. Plenty of pubs along the towpath through Staffordshire provide walkers with food, drink, and restrooms.
In-Town Walks
Staffordshire is home to large towns and cities, such as Stafford, Tamworth, Wolverhampton, Rugeley, and Cannock. Smaller towns and villages dot the countryside. Visitors to the area can either plan their own walking routes or get copies of walking maps from tourist information centers. Examples of in-town walks include the Stafford town center stroll, which leads the walker 1.5 miles to explore the town's two churches, park, market square, and ancient high house.
Wooded Walks
Staffordshire is home to Cannock Chase, the largest surviving area of lowland heath land in the Midlands and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With extensive areas of forest and woodland, as well as open areas and ponds, Cannock Chase is popular with walkers. Hikes such as Walking Britain's Cannock Chase from Milford are appropriate for walkers of all fitness levels. This particular hike takes the walker through forested paths and along stepping stones across water.
Circular Walks
Staffordshire has numerous circular walks of varying distances for all ages and fitness levels. The 5.5-mile South Staffordshire Railway Walk takes walkers along an all-weather walking surface suitable for walking, cycling, wheelchairs, and strollers. Picnic sites at Penn Halt, Orton Hall, and Himley are available alongside the walking path.
Footpath Improvements
Staffordshire County Council encourages residents and visitors to the area to walk whenever possible to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions and health problems such as obesity. The County Council spent close to 4.6 million pounds improving sidewalks and footpaths, pedestrian crossings, and traffic reduction schemes to improve safety for walkers.
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