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Walking Land's End to John o'Groats with Mark Moxon

Pattingham to Penkridge

Brewood
Brewood

Staffordshire might be my home county, but that doesn't mean I have to rave about its walking potential; today's walk was pleasant and inoffensive, but ultimately rather boring.

The Staffordshire Way

The Shropshire Union Canal
The Shropshire Union Canal

All except for the first mile of today's walk was along the Staffordshire Way, a long-distance path that stretches from one end of the county to the other, taking in the most scenic parts and avoiding the major conurbations. If I had stuck to McCloy's suggested route then I would have joined the Way at Kinver Edge a couple of days ago, but instead today was my first taste of the county's major route. I can only assume that Kinver Edge is a lovely place, with its sandstone escarpment and views of Shropshire and the West Midlands, and that today's walk is a temporary lull before I reach the attractions of Cannock Chase tomorrow (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, no less). I hope so, anyway, because if it's all like today, I won't be spending much longer on the Staffs Way.

The aqueduct that passes over Watling Street
The Telford-designed aqueduct that passes over Watling Street
The Shropshire Union Canal
The Shropshire Union Canal