Cycle Paths

Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
djstaffs said:
...i am looking for suggestions for cycle paths and routes for about 12 to 15 miles.
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How 'off-road' are the capabilities of your bike? The Chase has endless opportunities, but it depends on the bike being up to the terrain.

If the Isabel Trail is a bit short, take it as far as Gnosall, take the canal up to Norbury Junction, round the lanes towards Ranton, then back via Doxey. Nice ride and not overly hilly.
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
This one is good too - a little longer than 12-15 but not much. I also missed one other climb in my description, getting up onto the ridge after Penkridge, quite long but gentle gradient.

Well worth a wheel.
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

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I am sorry for asking a really stupid question but is the Isabel Trail another name for the disused railway between Stafford and nearly-Newport? I've Googled it and found pictures that are definitely the railway line but other maps that seem to show it as a ring round Stafford. I've spent countless hours on the railway line and towpath but always to the west - Derrington is about as near to Stafford as I've explored. Where do you emerge?
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
flossietoo said:
I am sorry for asking a really stupid question but is the Isabel Trail another name for the disused railway between Stafford and nearly-Newport? I've Googled it and found pictures that are definitely the railway line but other maps that seem to show it as a ring round Stafford. I've spent countless hours on the railway line and towpath but always to the west - Derrington is about as near to Stafford as I've explored. Where do you emerge?
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You would arrive in civilisation at what is now known as Castlefields - just by the old Castle Works - where the Rugby Club is, just off Newport Road.

The name 'Isabel Trail' is (also?) used for the first part of the old Uttoxeter line, from where Venables' Yard was on Doxey Road, near Sainsbury's, up to the edge of the ex-RAF site on Beaconside.
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

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Thanks Gramaisc. I sort of wondered whether it might come out on a bit of what looks like disputed territory in Doxey. I pass it whenever I drive into Stafford and watched as some big metal fence panels were erected across it last year, which were promptly cut down by what I took to be particularly determined ramblers.
The last time I did the Stafford Half Marathon (a good while ago) I remember going down a little cul-de-sac right at the top of the Sandon Road and to my surprise, finding myself on a track which went through the common, I think (I was a bit dizzy by that stage) and came out somewhere near the Park with the crushing disappointment that we weren't finished. Is that the bit you mean?
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Yup, thats the top end of what we call the lines (although I'm sure its also called the isobel trail).

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=st...00391&t=h&hnear=Stafford,+United+Kingdom&z=18

If you follow it SW then curve south you end up where the marshes meet the new estate on Doxey road. A brief trip up railway street (stopping if refuelling is necessary) and over the bridge then take a right onto Martin Drive. Keep following til you hit gnosall.
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
flossietoo said:
I am sorry for asking a really stupid question but is the Isabel Trail another name for the disused railway between Stafford and nearly-Newport?
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I know it isn't strictly correct but, yes, that's what i mean. Quite frankly i'm not typing Way For The Millennium every time i refer to it - which has been fairly often.

Apologies if my laziness led to confusion.
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
No apologies necessary - I have seen the Isabel trail mentioned on here often and was sufficiently intrigued to try to work out where it was!
 
djstaffs

djstaffs

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Many thanks Withnail, couple good suggestions to try tonight.
My bikes off road capabilities at the moment are tree roots! Its a Raleilgh Tundra. It has a fairly good aluminium frame but the rest of the spec is basic at best. Bit by bit i am upgrading it but the the moment have only got as far as the rear mech. The front forks need attention before thinking about the chase.
 
Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Another nice run is along Isabel to Haughton, jump off and take the road to Bradley, then back via Coppenhall and Hyde Lea and Burton Manor Road etc...

Map - zoom in 'n' out to get a feel for the route.

Do not forget to stop for a pint in the Crown at Hyde Lea - all your climbing is done by then, and only a descent awaits.
 
djstaffs

djstaffs

Well-Known Forumite
Well found a decent run to start with. Down isobel, through doxey, over motorway bridge then head to Seighford. Turned back at Cooper Perry. Decent 10mile run considering wasn't the route i intended to do lol
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
If you carry on past Cooper Perry and the pub, you come out eventually on the really busy road from Great Bridgeford to Eccleshall. You only have to do a very short distance on this road because you will soon come to a crossroads. Turn left there, onto Hextall Lane. This takes you through Ranton. Follow the lane as it bends right at the fork just after the turning to the Hand & Cleaver then keep going until you see a left turn signposted to Doxey - that brings you back to the motorway bridge.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
flossietoo said:
If you carry on past Cooper Perry and the pub, you come out eventually on the really busy road from Great Bridgeford to Eccleshall. You only have to do a very short distance on this road because you will soon come to a crossroads. Turn left there, onto Hextall Lane. This takes you through Ranton. Follow the lane as it bends right at the fork just after the turning to the Hand & Cleaver then keep going until you see a left turn signposted to Doxey - that brings you back to the motorway bridge.
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That would actually be the Great Bridgford to Woodseaves road. Just in case there's any confusion.

Take the left turn at the T-junction just after Seighford village to reduce the distance spent on this road. You could then take the next left and return through Coton Clanford. There's a lot of choices.
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
That would actually be the Great Bridgford to Woodseaves road. Just in case there's any confusion.

Take the left turn at the T-junction just after Seighford village to reduce the distance spent on this road. You could then take the next left and return through Coton Clanford. There's a lot of choices.
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You are totally right, of course. It is Woodseaves. It's an astonishingly fast road, for its size, if that makes any sense. The traffic hurtles past at terrifying speed and I keep so far left that I am dodging the dead things. I'll look out for that preemptive left turn next time and discover the delights of Coton Clanford. I can't remember noticing a T-junction, which is worrying. I get a bit lost in my own thoughts when I'm on the bike.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
You will have passed two junctions between Seighford and the Woodseaves road, whichever way you go, but maybe you should just let the men worry about these spatial things..

The Woodseaves road does seem to attract nut-job drivers. You either dodge the dead things or become one.

The road to Coton Clanford includes the extra excitement of crossing Seighford runway.
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Withnail said:
Another nice run is along Isabel to Haughton, jump off and take the road to Bradley, then back via Coppenhall and Hyde Lea and Burton Manor Road etc...

Map - zoom in 'n' out to get a feel for the route.

Do not forget to stop for a pint in the Crown at Hyde Lea - all your climbing is done by then, and only a descent awaits.
Click to expand...

For a slightly longer route I suggest taking in the Swan at Whiston too :D
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Withnail said:
I know it isn't strictly correct but, yes, that's what i mean. Quite frankly i'm not typing Way For The Millennium every time i refer to it - which has been fairly often.

Apologies if my laziness led to confusion.
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Did the stretch running Westwards from Castle Works not used to be called Stafford Greenway?
 
flossietoo

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
The Way for the Millennium starts at the railway bridge at Outwoods and goes to Burton on Trent. It isn't a path in itself, it sort of links various footpaths to create a distance walk. The start of the walk is along the disused railway line which seems to have several other names, including Stafford Greenway. I gather it is shade over 40 miles in total, although getting back to the start would require some finesse with public transport for walkers.
 
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