Sandon - Salt - Hopton Pools - Salt - Sandon

Dennis Camp

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The walk begins at Sandon opposite the Dog and Doublet Inn. It begins with a gentle stroll down the Trent and Mersey Canal, where you will see many barges in the summer. On leaving the canal you go through the quaint village of Salt, then start a gradual climb, eventually levelling out and going through two wooded areas. From here you pass through the pretty village of Hopton, then a short climb brings you out on the top of Beacon Hill where you can enjoy great views of the countryside. Dropping down brings you out at Hopton Pools, where you can watch the wildlife whilst enjoying lunch. Taking in more of the countryside you will eventually arrive at a notice-board which informs you all about the Battle of Hopton Heath that took place here in 1643. From here the walk takes you back down into Salt and past the Hollybush Inn, where you can enjoy a well-deserved drink and something to eat. Fully fed and watered, take a gentle stroll back down the canal from where you first came and back to the car park.

England - Central England - Staffordshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Pub, Wildlife, Woodland

10/23/2017 - Frank Dawson

A very interesting walk with lots of variety. Thanks, Dennis! Like Anthony (previous commenter) I added a couple of miles through Sandon Park, which made it even better. Don't be confused by the fact that some of the stiles have beeen replaced by metal gates! One minor quibble - from 31 to 32 the going was very difficult, and in any case it is not a right of way. Probably better to carry on along the road (although there were quite a few cars) to the right of way - a metal gate just past a brown sign for the battlefield.

9/24/2014 - Anthony Carroll

Did (most of) this walk on a dry late September day. The bits missed were either deliberate, our own errors, or confusion with the guide. Much more attractive than I expected ! We added a couple of miles or so through lovely & interesting Sandon Park on the other side of the Trent Valley. (This also avoided duplicating the canal stretch.) Would rate 5 stars in full autumn colours. Above 'confusion' was at point 12/34 - where there are two right turns - and points 24 to 26 - where we followed the ROW route on the map missing point 25.