Day 55: Uttoxeter to Castle Ring, Cannock Chase
📍 Distance: 20.07 miles (32.30 km)
⛅ Weather: Overcast with sunny spells, warm, with the threat of rain and strong gusty winds
🕤 Start Time: 09:38 | 🕕Finish Time: 17:50
A later-than-usual start today, but for a good reason—another round of friendly chats and photos with the lovely staff at the Bank House Hotel. A great send-off to begin the day.
After the challenges of yesterday’s route I decided to take a more pragmatic approach today. Instead of sticking rigidly to the Staffordshire Way, I opted for quieter country lanes where possible. While this did add a bit of mileage, it spared me some of the frustrating footpath navigation issues and made for smoother progress overall.
That said, the Staffordshire Way still made its presence known—at times, there was simply no avoiding it. But the reduced reliance on it helped me keep my pace and morale up.
The route took me through Abbots Bromley, a particularly charming village with a green, two pubs, and a peaceful atmosphere.
From there, I continued on through Rugeley, aiming for my overnight stop at Castle Ring, nestled in Cannock Chase. It’s a lovely spot—though getting there was no small feat. The day featured two significant ascents: one through Marchington Woodlands, where I tackled a 13% gradient, and the final half-mile slog uphill to the campsite.
All in all, a more manageable and less frustrating day than yesterday, despite the climbs. I’m now looking ahead to tomorrow’s long walk to Kingsbury Water Parkland and a rest day on Tuesday.
