Attractions and Places To See around Stone - Top 20

A very pleasant walk with a certain degree of hills

Bordering Trentham Gardens, this section of Trentham Park is free to access without an admission charge. The Two Saints Way runs along the ridgeline.

The start of the walk is all up Hill but from then on it's a gentle stroll

In the 18th century Bluebarn farm on Downs Bank grew hops for Joule's Brewery. In 1946 Joule's purchased the land from Viscount Sidmouth. The area was subject to purchase with the help of a public subscription and it was given to the National Trust by John Joule in 1950, as "an offering for victory in the 1939-45 War, and as a memorial to those who died" - apparently on the grounds that it had originally been common land, and should thus be open again to local people.

From Wikipedia: In the 18th century a farm on Downs Bank grew hops for Joule's Brewery, who rented it from Viscount Sidmouth. The area was well known to the author Mary Renault, whose parents moved to live nearby in the early 1930s. Hops growing on Downs Bank continued until the 1940s, and there was also cattle grazing until 1959. The area was subject to purchase with the help of a public subscription and it was given to the National Trust by John Joule in 1950, as... "an offering for victory in the 1939-45 War, and as a memorial to those who died" - apparently on the grounds that it had originally been common land, and should thus be open again to local people. However, after 1950 the lack of grazing caused its characteristic heathland to decline, as bracken and birch were allowed to invade. Downs Banks Toposcope There is a Millennium Viewpoint stone at one of the highest points, with a toposcope (a disc of metal sight-lines/landmarks) embedded in the top of it. The toposcope went

Lots of parking for canal access. They have a cafe with glass fronts too that overlook the canal and the playground. Children can play whilst waiting for their jacket potatoes to be made up :)

The road above this bridge used to lead directly to the old workhouse. Another interesting fact is that it has a little plaque on with the name 'Christine' Christina Collins was travelling by narrowboat from Liverpool to London. It is important to remember that some passengers were carried by canal boats as it was cheaper than travelling by coach. She passed through Stone on the journey and raised concerns about her safety to the lock keeper at Aston. Her body was found on 17th June 1839 at Rugeley. Three of the four bargemen were charged with her murder. All three were sentenced to be hanged so as a souvenir for those attending the execution a broadsheet was printed beforehand showing the three dangling from the portable scaffolding outside Stafford Gaol. However one of the men was reprieved at the last minute and was sentenced to be transported to Australia instead.

Why not head towards the amphitheatre and the nature reserve?