Coton Broomhill

To find the carpark you need to drive through Gnosall and head towards Newport and just before you get to Swanpit nursery there is a turning on your left it is a no through road (grid ref 806202) carry on down here and there is a small car park on your left just before you go under the bridge of the disused railway.

Turn right along the railway line and keep walking until you reach a triple-arched bridge. The large wooded Hill on the left with sandstone cliffs, is Broadhill continue along this stony section of the path dotted with silver birches and with a narrow drainage ditch on the right until you cross a long straight road.

Leave the embankment here and turn right along a straight road. Take care when crossing the A518. In about 3 to 400m turn left at the public bridleway fingerpost. Walk to the next gate where Aqualate Mere Nature Reserve starts, and follow the path along right hand edge of field. Go through two gateways, with private woodland on the right by now you should have glimpsed Aqualate Mere (latin for broad lake) ahead through the trees.

Turn right just before the third gateway, along a broad uphill track that leads to a road. Bear right here and pass a house on the left, where the road turns sharply right, then straightens out. You are now following the course of an old Roman Road. You are now on the way past the fingerpost you took to Aqualate Mere. Just pass the fingerpost is a stile on your left this leads to Weavers Hill a disused sandpit. Climb the next stile keeping Weavers Hill on your left.

Walk along the fence to a double gate ahead of you. Turn right and take car as you cross the A518 again. Continue down the lane past a fishery, its nice to sit here for alittle while and feel very relaxed. Carry on down the lane crossing over a bridge and then bear immediately left. Walk past the sandstone outcrop on your right, past a tree-swing, down a track hosting water-loving plants such as marsh marigolds, through a gate and over a stile. Head for a small gate in the left corner of the field. Follow this track then bear left along a trail that becomes a road.

Here you can go under the bridge and you are back at the car par or you can turn right at the fingerpost and walk through an avenue of trees to a stile. Continue to a double stile that fords a small stream. Walk across the field to the gate on the ridge. Turn left along the road and immediately left at a kissing gate. This takes you down to the railway embankment and a large sandstone cutting. Turn left here to return to the car park.