For a getaway in Oakamoor, there are two main areas to explore: trails in the Churnet Valley and architectural and railway history. The Oakamoor-Denstone Greenway, a disused railway line along the Churnet Valley, runs right beside the Oakamoor picnic area. When planning, you can decide whether to focus on a trail into a natural area or on historic buildings.
Picnic Area and Greenway
The Oakamoor picnic area offers parking, toilets, shops, a picnic area and facilities for outdoor activities. Individual facilities may change. If a particular facility is important for your visit, check in advance that it is available. The Greenway runs along the Churnet Valley on a disused railway line, giving the area beside the picnic spot a distinctive connection to the area’s railway history.
Trails and Nature
The Oakamoor and Whiston Circular Walk starts in Oakamoor and follows the river upstream at Cotton Dell into Hawksmoor Nature Reserve. The area is a woodland characterised by oak and birch trees, with abundant wildlife, and has been owned by the National Trust since 1927. The circular walk therefore links a named starting point in Oakamoor with a natural area whose woodland character and history shape the outing.
The Cotton Dell Stroll is easy and suitable for pushchairs; trail conditions can vary. The features described provide different points to consider when choosing: the Circular Walk leads into a nature reserve, while the Cotton Dell Stroll is distinguished by its easy rating and suitability for pushchairs. If you are looking for a trail to Hawksmoor Nature Reserve, follow the Circular Walk; if pushchair access is important, also take the changing trail conditions into account for the Cotton Dell Stroll.
Railway and Local History
Oakamoor railway station served the area from 1849. A branch line was also built to the factory buildings and into the heart of Oakamoor. This link between the railway and the factory site gives local history an industrial dimension, while the Oakamoor-Denstone Greenway follows the route of the disused railway line today.
Oakamoor Tunnel was 462 yards long and the longest and dampest tunnel in the North Staffordshire Railway system. The disused railway line at Oakamoor now serves as a trail for walkers and cyclists. This places a historic railway line and its current use as a trail side by side, without confusing the station’s former function with the trail today.
The buildings also offer several historical points of interest. The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1832 by J. P. Pritchett of York in the Gothic style. A listed bridge in Oakamoor crosses the River Churnet. It dates back to the 16th century; it was extensively rebuilt in the 18th century and widened in the early 19th century. This sequence shows the bridge’s several construction phases.
Gate House on Mill Lane is a Grade II listed building and was formerly the home of a railway crossing keeper. The building may not be open to the public. Its former function points to a specific role on the railway line, while the church and bridge show other aspects of Oakamoor’s architectural history.
Discover more destinations: Leek, Penkridge, Hanchurch, Kinver, Rolleston-on-Dove, Uttoxeter, Whitmore, Hamstall Ridware
For the wider travel guide: Staffordshire.
