Travel in North Stafforshire

The information on this page should be considered as advisory only. The author's laziness and the fickleness of train and bus companies mean that route and timetable information tends to go out of date very quickly. Public transport in country areas is always a bit of an adventure but a guilt-free beer or three in the Black Lion or the Hollybush makes it worthwhile. Please check websites or ring the companies before setting out.

By Car

The easiest way to get into the Churnet Valley is, predictably, by car. There are car parks at various places around the valley, including Alton, Oakamoor, Froghall Wharf, Leek Aqueduct, Consall Nature Park and Deep Hayes Country Park.

By Bike

If cycling is your thing, the old railway path between Denstone and Oakamoor is great, as is the Earl's Drive thorough Dimmingsdale and Barbary Gutter. If you don't have your own, bikes can be hired from Churnet Valley Cycle Hire at Manor Farm in Prestwood, near Denstone. For ranging more widely, it's worth considering the contours on the map. It's not for nothing that the Tour of Britain has been through this way. If you're not fit, the steep valley sides will be hard going, and your brakes had better be working, too.

By Bus

D & G Bus now runs service 32 between Uttoxeter and Hanley, which passes through Cheadle, Kingsley Holt and Kingsley. In addition, the 32A, which runs through Alton and Oakamoor has been reinstated, but only on days when Alton Towers is open. Some of these services connect through to Stoke railway station.
The same company also runs service 16 from Hanley Bus Station to Leek via Cheddleton and service 108 from Ashbourne to Leek.
Trent Barton run their Swift service between Uttoxeter and Derby via Ashbourne, which stops in Rocester and Denstone.
Aimee's Travel runs a number of local services around Leek.

By Train

For the forseeable future, there's no working connection between the main line and the Churnet Valley Railway. The nearest stations are at Uttoxeter, to the south, and Stoke on Trent, to the west. From there, it's back to the busses to reach the valley. Uttoxeter Railway Station has a bus stop outside for local services to Uttoxeter Bus Station, although it's not far to walk. A number of services connect Stoke on Trent Railway Station to Hanley Bus Station and a precious few of service 32A continue straight on to the valley.

By Boat

The Caldon Canal runs from the main line of the Trent and Mersey, at Etruria Junction in Stoke, to Froghall Wharf and the first lock and basin on the Uttoxeter Canal. Getting to the last few hundred yards beyond Froghall Tunnel is a problem for many boats as the tunnel is very low. The Leek Branch runs from the Caldon at Hazlehurst to the edge of Leek.