Waterhouses Ramble
27 September 2026
A beautiful ramble from Waterhouses in the Staffordshire Moorlands takes us southeast through remote valleys, quiet villages and ancient landscapes to Stanton and Swinscoe; then back to Waterhouses via Calton. The distance is approximately 12 miles.
Our walk begins at Waterhouses, where public toilets are available. We proceed in a southeasterly direction past Middlehills Farm and through the remote valley of Huddale. Here, we join an ancient lane called Dale Lane to Dale Tor and Stanton Dale Farm.
Crossing the A52 main road, we join another ancient routeway called Wetside Lane, as we turn south along a high ridge with long views across remote countryside to the eastern edge of the Weaver Hills. We then turn east along a pretty footpath past Raddlepits and Hobble Wood to the characterful village of Stanton. This settlement has several Grade II listed buildings and was the birthplace of a 17th Century Archbishop of Canterbury and chaplain to Charles I called Gilbert Sheldon.
A turn to the north along Flather Lane brings us to the beautiful, tree-lined valley at Cuckoo Cliff. A short climb then brings us back to the A52 at Swinscoe village. We pass Common End Farm and head west across Dunlow Moor, an ancient landscape filled with barrows and tumuli. We pass Hazelton Clump and Musden Low to Doglane Farm and on to the quiet and pretty village of Calton, sitting high above the Manifold Valley.
Our final leg zig-zags down the hillside to the Manifold Way, where we follow the River Manifold back to Waterhouses. This trail was once a narrow-gauge railway running from Waterhouses to Hulme End, near Hartington.
Waterhouses has a pub called the Olde Crown Hotel for refreshments. The coach will depart from the main road nearby at 6:30pm for the picturesque journey home.
As always we welcome new people to the club. If it’s your first time with us the usual £14 coach fare is free. No need to book, just go to your nearest pick-up point listed below.
Coach Departure
The coach picks up at the following points.
(With the agreement of the leader other pick-up points
on the bus route may be available).
| “Staff of Life” pub, Hack Lane | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.15am |
| Priestic Road, opp McDonald’s | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.20am |
| Eastfield Side, (Blue Bell) | Sutton-in-Ashfield | 9.22am |
| Hermitage Lane stop, Sutton Road | Mansfield | 9.25am |
| ASDA bus stop. Stockwell Gate. | Mansfield | 9.30am |
