Absolute glorious start of the day, not a cloud in sight with the temperature cool enough to make it perfect walking conditions.
Picking the trail up from where I left off, at St. Chads, it follows the high street up and around HMP Stafford. I didn’t envy the prison officers who were arriving to start their shifts.
After cutting through some allotments I was on the stretch out of the town and into the countryside. A short rise to Beacon Hill gave lofty views over Stafford.
From there I passed through Hopton and inadvertently took the scenic route into Salt before joining the towpath along the Trent a and Mersey Canal into Stone.
The towpath was a bit tricky to navigate due to slippery mud. At Burston, the path leaves the canal and cuts across farmland. Over a very boggy field, which the exit gate was blocked by cattle. (What a day to choose my red top!)
I slowly made my way through the inquisitive cows trying to avoid the puddles hidden by tufts of grass. Although they came up to me they wouldn’t get within my arms reach, and they parted way to allow access to the gate.
About a 1km more and I was back on the towpath into Stone; I arrived for midday, perfect timing for lunch. I called into a cafe for a halloumi and red pepper wrap.
Conscious that the good weather wouldn’t last, I soon got underway. After a brief walk along the canal, I left Stone behind, winding my way up Bury Bank. This is one of the possible places where St. Werburgh was born.
It was at this point I could feel the rain was in the air; I reluctantly put on my waterproofs in time for the first droplets to fall.
I descended into Tittensor marking the last leg for today. After a steep ascent to George Granville’s monument that over looks Trentham Gardens, it is back down to the edge of the monkey forest. (I think the rain had kept them indoors, as I didn’t see any)
As I had just gone downhill, that means I now must go up. It was a very steep incline through the woods, it felt like the highest gradient so far on this trek.
It joins a ridge line called Kingswood Bank that I followed for a kilometre or so before descending into Trentham where I ended this stage at the church. I met my dad at the entrance to Trentham gardens, I’ll be staying at his tonight and will give me a lift back in the morning; although tomorrow is the big one and the forecast predicts gale force winds and plenty of rain. I’m having flashbacks of Skiddaw last October!
Stu's Camino 