Walks you can reach from Winsford by train

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Impressive views across southern and central Staffordshire landscape. Walk traverses Staffordshire countryside from Penkridge to Stafford via the ruins of a neo-gothic manor on the site of Stafford's medieval castle.

Warnings: Busy road near Penkridge; care crossing main roads near Stafford.

Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).

Reverse direction: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Boggy muddy ground at wetter times of year. Stafford Common is an unusually large surviving common land near a major Midlands centre with origins in medieval townland for grazing, protected by parliament 1839 and 1939.

Warnings: Comparatively busy road at Whitgreave; boggy ground when wet.

Walk details: Walk Midlands (tips, photos and local insights).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended: Mostly good surfaces with a mix of recorded and unrecorded but well-surfaced tracks, crossing Cannock Chase access land and plus field paths at Bednall. Stiles and some flooding where the metalled path follows the Rising Brook; all road crossings are safe though not all have pedestrian control. A road-free alternative that misses the inn at Slitting Mill; follows the Heart of England Way to Springslade Lodge; a short detour reaches the Visitor Centre. Extensive woodland.

2 lunch spots: cannock-chase — the Cannock Chase Visitor Centre, or the Springslade Lodge

Warnings: Stiles and possible cattle on the field paths at Bednall; the path alongside the Rising Brook can be flooded; a short challenging section through the access land.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A direct, varied and enjoyable route mixing pavements, country lanes and footpaths through fields and woodland. The first stretch out of Crewe is along busy roads and dual carriageways with good pavements; the countryside footpaths are well marked with many kissing gates and no stiles and but can be very muddy after rain. At Hall o' the Heath the farmer has redirected the footpath away from the marked right of way. Look out for a 125-year-old waymarker and a vintage petrol pump in the woods. Extensive woodland.

Lunch: Shops, pubs and takeaways in Crewe, Haslington and Alsager.

Warnings: Fields near Hall o' the Heath and Crewe Green may contain cows and calves that can be agitated; take care, especially with dogs. At Hall o' the Heath several footpaths converge and an electric-fence gate must be opened, so concentration is needed. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long, flat and easy route that is mostly off-road towpath, following the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and then the Trent and Mersey Canal, with short stretches of riverside path, pavement and rough grassy track. Mostly a made-up surface, though some towpath sections are muddy and the riverside meadows can flood after heavy rain. Follows canal towpaths almost the whole way and can be split at intermediate points; passes near Shugborough Park. Trains and buses serve both ends.

Lunch: A farm shop and cafe at Great Haywood Junction, plus pubs a short walk off the towpath at Little Haywood and Wolseley Bridge.

Warnings: The Sow Leisure Route and riverside flood meadows can be wet or flooded after heavy rain, sometimes needing detours, and there may be cattle in one short field section. One stile.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A mix of residential streets, canal towpath and quiet country lanes and with a brief section of field. Mostly flat with a few stiles and steps. Largely surfaced underfoot. Briefly follows the Forest of Mercia Way.

Warnings: A short stretch of country lane bends with a fair amount of traffic and no pavement.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A flat, fully surfaced (tarmac) and largely traffic-free route on the signposted Greenway linking the two town centres, a mix of pavement and multi-use paths and with no steps and pedestrian crossings at all busy roads. Passes through the attractive Queen's Park. Uses the designated Greenway and the King Shilling Way, which run parallel to busy roads but are separated by a hedge and verge. Queen's Park can be bypassed if closed.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A varied route with nice rural stretches along the Bridgewater Canal and Ship Canal, with occasional views of the Mersey estuary and before the ambience deteriorates in the final third. Mostly level; flights of steps and barriers. No refreshments on the route. Wigg Island offers a view of the new Runcorn bridge with Fiddlers Ferry power station behind.

Lunch: No refreshments along the route.

Warnings: Flights of steps and some barriers.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A varied route of towpath, lane and field. The Staffordshire Way section is excellent and well signposted; east of Brewood the paths are less used, with some unclear field lines, a ploughed arable field with no obvious path and an unsurfaced canal towpath a little muddy in places. Some steps and stiles. Follows the Staffordshire Way from Codsall to Brewood, then the Staffs & Worcs Canal towpath into Penkridge. Brewood, near the middle, has facilities.

Lunch: Facilities at Brewood near the middle; shops, pubs and cafes at both Codsall and Penkridge.

Warnings: Tinkers Lane is surprisingly busy, the worst road walking on the route. Horse pastures near Somerford have electric fencing and unclear paths; one gate may need climbing where a sheep farmer has tied it shut. Pelican crossings cross the busy A449.

Walk details: Slow Ways.