Stone Walks
This Staffordshire based market town has some nice canal side walks to try. There's also a wooded National Trust property and some beautiful gardens to visit nearby.
This walk from the town takes you along the Trent and Mersey Canal to nearby Trentham where you can visit the splendid Trentham Gardens.
The walk starts in Stone next to the canal, just to the west of the train station. From here you can pick up the towpath and follow it north to Barlaston, Trentham Lock and Trentham. You then leave the canal and follow footpaths west through Trentham and along the Longton Brook. On the western side of the town you will come to Trentham Gardens where there are some lovely footpaths around the lake. Other highlights in the park include a Floral Labyrinth, Secret Garden, Japanese Garden and Italian Gardens.
After exploring the gardens the route returns to Stone on the same paths.
Stone Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Stone Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Stone OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Stone Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Star Stone is in a great location right next to the canal in Stone. You can sit outside in the lovely garden area and watch the boats go by with your refreshments. They have a good menu and decent selection of real ales too. You can find the pub at 21 Stafford Street with a postcode of ST15 8QW for your sat navs.
In Trentham Gardens there's the Italian Garden Tearoom and the Lakeside Café to stop at.
Dog Walking
The route makes for a pleasant dog walk though you are asked to keep them on leads in most of Trentham Gardens. You can keep them off leads in the area, located on the walk up towards North Park on the Estate. There's also a dog washing facility at Trentham Shopping Village. The Star Stone pub and the cafes at Trentham are also dog friendly with water bowls provided at Trentham.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
In the town there's two pleasant parks where you can enjoy an easy stroll. Stonefield Park, features an aviary, bowling green, tennis courts and a play area, while Westbridge Park has recently been redeveloped. It is notable as the venue for The Stone Food and Drink Festival, held each October in the park.
The canal passes close to Downs Banks so you could take a small detour to extend the walk. The pleasant woodland area is located just to the east of the canal, shortly after you pass Meaford. The National Trust owned site also includes a short hill climb to a fine viewpoint.
The Two Saints Way long distance trail passes through the area and can be used to explore the surrounding countryside.
Near Trentham there's the Swynnerton Old Park and Hanchurch Woods with miles of woodland walking trails and the pretty Hanchurch Pools to see.
To the south is the county town of Staffordshire where you can pay a visit to the historic Stafford Castle.
Follow the canal south and you will come to the village of Sandon where you can explore the old Sandon Hall estate. There's nice views of the Trent Valley from the public footpaths surrounding the expansive hall estate which is occasionally open to the public.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Staffordshire Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Trent and Mersey Canal, Stone. Canalside buildings are refurbished for modern light industry and tourism.
Trent & Mersey Canal, Stone. This shows the pound between locks 27 and 28 in the Stone flight. The narrowboat in the foreground operates as a floating restaurant; behind is a new block of retirement apartments called Joules Court a reference to the local brewery.
A line of boats is moored opposite the ale store of the former Joule's Brewery. Note how the brewer's red cross symbol, reputedly derived from the monks who brewed beer in this area in medieval times, is incorporated into the brickwork.
Trent and Mersey Canal, Stone, Staffordshire. This includes the top gate of Yard Lock, the second of the Stone flight of four. The gate and ground paddles up up, filling the lock, so a boat is about to enter from the right. The renovated brick buildings in the distance were the old workhouse, then Trent Hospital, the far building being accommodation for the nurses. All is now divided into modern apartments.
The canal and pasture at Barlaston, Staffordshire. The west coast main line railway passes on the far side of the narrow field by the Trent and Mersey Canal.
Trentham Lock No 35, Trent and Mersey Canal, Barlaston, Staffordshire. Trentham Lock, surrounded by mature trees, is a particularly deep one. The water level is changed by almost twelve feet (3.6 metres).
Trentham Gardens Lake view
Trentham Gardens