Mid-ARS next Saturday

Wendy and Frank Hollinshead are leading next Saturday's 8 ½ mile walk around Rudyard Lake and along the River Churnet; following is their description:-

Saturday March 24th – meet at Audlem Car Park at 8.30am

Rudyard Lake and the Churnet Valley

The walk is in two parts starting at one of the car parks for Ladderedge Country Park ST13 7AA (close to LEEK) and following the canal feeder up from the A53 to the Rudyard Dam.

This initial part of the walk is some 2 miles in length starting near the Westwood Golf Course giving views of wetlands and wildlife across the River Churnet. Whereas approximately 2/3 of the length of this section is on made up track 1/3 is through open grassland where stock have puddled the ground and the mud is deep in places. When I walked it two weeks ago there was no stock present but dogs would need to be on leads here if stock was out. There are about six stiles which are all reasonably dog friendly.

Having reached the Rudyard Dam there are nice toilets there available all year. When I walked this 2nd part of the walk today the café was closed but I was told that it should be open at the weekends now but it is weather dependent.

We then follow the lake skirting the shore to the west through woodland with some roads and narrow paths which are muddy in places rising up to Cliffe Park – a Gothic residence built in 1811 giving commanding views of the lake.

The walk then descends through open Parkland to reach the north end of the lake.

We turn to follow the line of the old railway down the east side of the lake back to the dam and the old railway station which is all on a good surface. From here we return to the canal feeder and retrace our path back to the Country Park. The section of the walk around the lake is estimated at between 4 & 5 miles.

Given the current climatic conditions the majority of the walk is over made up tracks or lanes which should stand up well to wet conditions, As the walk extends up the Churnet valley there is a gentle climb from around the 150 contour at Leek to around 220 at the high point of Cliffe Park.

Parking at the Country Park sites in Leek is a little limited. The Golf Club has a large parking area which is open to non-members if the country park ones are busy which when asked they said we could use, but they have a competition on Saturday so we feel it would be best to keep to the Country Park official car parks if possible.

NB All walkers must have suitable footwear and be prepared for adverse weather, carry food and water to last for the entire walk and be suitably fit for the various lengths of walk.

Non-members of ARS are welcome to come on a walk but are expected to join ARS and pay the membership fee after a trial walk or two.

Kind regards

Jean Stainthorpe

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