{"id":1003523,"date":"2021-04-29T20:41:21","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T19:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1003523"},"modified":"2022-11-04T17:13:08","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T17:13:08","slug":"oakamoor-and-alton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1003523","title":{"rendered":"Oakamoor and Alton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s likely that everyone reading this has visited this part of north Staffordshire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, while the rollercoasters’ roars and thrill seekers’ shrieks provide the background drone from the world -renowned Alton Towers Theme Park, nature carries on serenely in the adjacent Churnet valley. In fact, but for the the continuous hum of the rides, odd shout, and occasional PA announcement, the theme park is invisible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel time \u2013 just a touch over an hour each way. Walk time \u2013 3 hours plus half an hour for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather has turned now. In a slight northerly breeze, it was mostly cloudy, with some sunny spells, and a couple of light rain squalls. The temperature remained below 10 C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk was 7.5 miles, and fairly easy going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This walk is much more suitable for dogs than my recent moorland walks. Alternative routes back from Alton to Lords Bridge, through the wooded valley would probably allow dogs to walk freely over most of the route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OS Explorer Map 259.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked for free at the car park with public toilets in Oakamoor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Oakamoor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The car park has an interesting information board, indicating that iron working has existed here since 1290, and it has spent much of the last 700 years as an industrial centre. Yet today, it is a sleepy rural village. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Disused Railway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The old Churnet Valley line has been resurrected as a heritage steam line further north between Cheddleton and Froghall. Here, it emerged through a semi fenced off tunnel. It reminded me of Henry, the green engine being bricked up in a tunnel entrance in that Thomas the Tank Engine episode from my sons’ childhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I set off along the former station platform, walking along the valley of the River Churnet and passing under Lords Bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The station at Alton was, for a time, known as Alton Towers station. The platform is very long, no doubt to accommodate packed tourist trains. Alton Towers has been an attraction, though not a theme park, since the 1920s. The station buildings have been nicely renovated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      River Churnet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      I left the railway line and crossed the river. The pub is geared up for socially distanced outside catering!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      The view up to the Roman Catholic Church of St John the Baptist looks more like a chateau on the Rhine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      I carried on along the opposite river bank, with the sounds of the theme park joining me; yet I wondered at a male blackcap flitting about in the adjacent trees. Where the path crosses a stile, I turned back on myself up the hill of the river valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Alton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The RC Church, adjacent to the castle, is less impressive in the town, the C of E church being somewhat more attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Open Farmland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        After negotiating my way through the pretty streets, and a few enticing looking pubs I eventually headed out across open farmland with distant views back to the village. The theme park is just behind the village, but I can’t see it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        However, I can see the extensive fields of bright yellow dandelions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        The Dales<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        After crossing the road, I made my way downhill towards Dimmings Dale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        The man-made pools in the dale, and the picnic table made this an ideal place to stop for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          I made my way down the dale. At the bottom is a beautiful privately owned pool, turning left here to head up Ousal Dale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          At the top I turned right, and then followed the steep path down Moss’s Banks to the road with the bowling green and cricket pitch looking pristine across the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          And so, I headed back along the roads to the car park beyond the old railway bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          This was a thoroughly enjoyable walk, without needing the adrenaline rush of the experience at the theme park!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          And Finally…..<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          I have tickets to see Van Morrison later in the year. Early Days a modern rock’n’roll classic from his most recent album. Just tap your feet along with this, or get up and have a bop around the living room!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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