Introduction
Today’s weather was one of those days that you dream about.
I love late April when the woods are alive with native and returning migrant birdsongs, and the trees aren’t fully in leaf, giving you a better chance to see those birds.
I’ve walked Consall Nature Park many times when it was managed by Staffordshire County Council, following the colour coded waymarked routes. The route markers are slowly deteriorating or missing now the RSPB runs it, so I created my own route, and discovered places I’ve not seen before.
It’s an hour and 10 minutes Cheadle Hulme to Consall.
The walk was about 6.7 miles, and took a mammoth 4hours 20 minutes plus 30 minutes of stops. There’s a total ascent of 1225feet as you drop into a, and rise out of the valley several times.
The woods are great for dog walking, but the sections over farmland are not negotiable with a dog due to stiles and cattle.
I walked in an anticlockwise direction.
The walk is on OS Explorer Maps 258 and 259.
I parked at the Consall Nature Park Visitor Centre car park (nearest postcode ST9 0AF), where the shuttered building seems long forgotten, but the toilets remain open and well maintained. There is a £3.20 charge via the Pay By Phone app, but it’s free if you are an RSPB member. What 3 Words ///fillers.bedroom.makeup
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Consall Wood
I headed down the grass bank below the Visitor Centre, stopping briefly at the large pool.
A really good track runs through the woods, and thankfully the sun was breaking through the trees as there was still a nip in the air.
I left the track to take a path down towards the valley floor, taking my time to listen to, and look for, the many birds singing in the woodland at the side of a pretty brook. After crossing the brook, the path rises out of the woods and then round the back of Broadoak Farm with its handsome farmhouse.
Kingsley
At Broadoak Wood I had my first bird photo opportunity with this lovely treecreeper with an insect in its beak.
Again, the path drops down to cross a pretty stream.
Then it was back up onto the open grass farmland, where a herd of cows were feeding in a field through which my route ran. I detoured round adjacent fields, and found myself next to a water filled quarry and works.
After touching the outskirts of the village of Kingsley, and negotiating another herd of cows, I reached the edge of the Churnet Valley gorge.
As I began the descent, a loud squawk turned my attention to a surprise peacock, courtesy of Kingsley Bird And Falconry Centre. .
The Churnet Valley
After the steep descent, the tranquil River Churnet.
I passed under the heritage railway line, crossed the river and went up to the Caldon Canal, with its lovely signage, and wonky bridge.
I crossed the bridge and and sat on a grassy tussock in a clearing to listen to the birds, and eat my lunch.
Booth’s Wood
It was as steep up this side as it had been down the other! The bluebells were lovely here.
I passed Booth’s Hall, not the prettiest!
There were lots of linnets flitting around here. This is a female.
Heading towards Greenwood House, I flushed a green woodpecker from a grass bank. They are large, majestic birds, spectacular to see. Sadly, I couldn’t get a photo.
Back Through The Woods
It’s a steep drop down through the bluebells again.
And then over the railway and canal and river.
The last section of the walk is back in the Nature Park with lots of ups and downs.
Far Kingsley is just magnificent; in summer you can hardly see over the ferns, but now they are just emerging from last year’s bracken. I stopped awhile on the bench that is here.
Incredibly, I passed just 6 people all day. There was one other car in the car park.
This is truly a hidden gem, a must-go to place if you like the ancient English woodlands. No better day than that of St George to visit!
And Finally….
I felt quite nostalgic today so played some old favourites in the car coming home.
How good is the Making Movies album by Dire Straits? 8 minutes of brilliance- this is Tunnel Of Love.
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