Weaver Hills, Staffordshire Moorlands, B Walk (BOOKING ESSENTIAL)

B WALK DESCRIPTION: The walk traverses open country in and around the Weaver Hills and a break at the village pub in Ellastone to the south of the Weavers. We start from the Ashbourne-Leek road heading south towards Wardlow with its quarries.  Continuing south-east we soon leave the quarries behind and enjoy lovely open views.  At a modest 371 metres the views from the summit of Weaver Hills afford good views all round. The undulating route across the hills then descends south offering more good views to the village of Wootton and then continues along quiet lanes and good paths to Ellastone and the pub.  We have our picnic lunches close by (own food not allowed on pub premises) with time for a drink in the pub. We return northwards picking up good tracks via Wootton and pass near the hills to a small nature reserve called Thorswood Plantation – described by Staffordshire Wildlife as “part of the Churnet Valley living landscape, a species rich habitat”. We take a short detour round the reserve before returning along quiet lanes to our waiting coach. Walk distance: 9.5 miles, Total ascent: 1,375 feet (417 metres). Picnic lunch with pub break. Leader Brenda Cameron.