Best walks near Stoke-on-Trent by train
Staffordshire · West Midlands of England
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in West Midlands of England and plan your next day of green.
Nuneaton Station Circular via Hartshill (Warwickshire)
30m direct from Stoke-on-Trent.
18km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–8h.
Parks, river, country park, and canal.
Lunch stop: the Stag and Pheasant (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Lord Hop, the Felix Holt, the George Eliot Hotel, the Black Swan In Hand, or the Silk Mill.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Derby Station Circular via Darley Abbey (Derbyshire)
1h direct from Stoke-on-Trent.
19km. Moderate ascents. 5h–9h.
Parks, river, and heritage trail.
Highlights: Museum of Making and Darley Park.
Lunch stops in Darley Park (1h–2h in): Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys. Other lunch stops: the Joiners Arms (3h–5h in), or the Orangery Café (3h–5h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Victoria Inn, or the Waterfall.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Derby Station to Long Eaton Station (Derbyshire)
1h direct from Stoke-on-Trent.
Tough: 21km. Flat terrain. 5h30–9h.
Waterways — River Derwent, Derby & Sandiacre Canal, and Erewash Canal.
Lunch stops: Canal Cottage Cafe (2h30–4h30 in), or the Navigation (3h–5h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: Peking House, or the Sawley Junction.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Duffield Station to Derby Station (Derbyshire)
1h direct from Stoke-on-Trent.
Tough: steep ascents. 17km. 4h30–8h.
Repurposed railway track along the Great Northern Greenway.
Lunch stops: the Bell and Harp (1h–1h30 in), or the Three Horseshoes (2h–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Waterfall, or the Merry Widows.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Lichfield Trent Valley Station Circular via Whittington Heath (Staffordshire)
45m from Stoke-on-Trent, with one change.
19km. Moderate ascents. 5h–9h.
Golf club, heath, woodland, and Heart of England Way. MOD firing range — check access.
Lunch stops: the Tame Otter (2h–3h30 in), or the Red Lion (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Horse and Jockey, or the Turnpike.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Atherstone Station Circular via Sheepy Magna (Warwickshire)
45m from Stoke-on-Trent, with one change.
20km. Gentle ascents. 5h–9h.
Canal and villages.
Lunch stops: San Giovanni (3h–4h30 in), or the Black Horse (3h–5h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Blue Lion, the Blue Boar Inn, the Old Swan, the Hat and Beaver, the White Horse, the Kings Head Pub, or the Clock.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Barrow-upon-Soar Station to Leicester Station (Leicestershire)
1h from Stoke-on-Trent, with one change.
Tough: 21km. Flat terrain. 5h30–9h30.
On decent paths.
Lunch stops in Birstall (3h30–6h in): the Earl of Stamford, the Old Plough, or the White Horse.
End-of-walk rewards: the Corn Exchange, or the Rainbow and Dove.
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Atherstone Station Circular via Mancetter Quarry (Warwickshire)
45m from Stoke-on-Trent, with one change.
14km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–6h30.
Woodlands, country park, and valley views.
Lunch stops in Ridge Lane (2h30–4h in): the Church End Brewery Tap Room, or the White Hart. Other lunch stop: the Kings Head Pub (2h30–4h in).
Congleton Station to Kidsgrove Station (Cheshire)
7m direct from Stoke-on-Trent.
11km.
Spectacular views across Cheshire plain. Countryside ridge walk with gritstone outcrops, woodland paths, and fields. Mow Cop is where Primitive Methodism began in 1800 with mass prayer meetings by Hugh Bourne and William Clowes. Stiles and steps; steep downhill sections.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Stone Station to Stafford Station (Staffordshire)
8m direct from Stoke-on-Trent.
14km.
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. Comparatively busy road at Whitgreave; boggy ground when wet.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Buxton Station to Macclesfield Station (Derbyshire)
15m direct from Stoke-on-Trent.
18km.
Spectacular views. Wild landscape of deep valleys and gritstone peaks and studded with peat bogs and pine forests. Buxton developed as a fashionable spa in 18th-19th centuries using profits from Dukes of Devonshire's copper mines. Macclesfield granted borough charter for market in 13th Century. Stiles; busy road with no pavement and fast traffic.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Penkridge Station to Stafford Station (Staffordshire)
15m direct from Stoke-on-Trent.
12km.
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. Busy road near Penkridge; care crossing main roads near Stafford.