Ambling in the Anker Valley
Sorry, this event has been cancelled.
Beyond Drayton Manor and the Snowdome lies a landscape of wetlands and small villages in rural south Staffordshire. Come along and explore a corner of this and enjoy a warming pub lunch to round off this winter's day walk.
Starting from Tamworth station on the edge of town, we quickly escape to the country, following the course of the River Anker. The route takes us past Alvecote Pools nature reserve and into Warwickshire. Formed by subsidence from coal mining, the pools host a wide range of water birds including grebes, egrets and - if we're lucky - kingfishers.
At the village of Shuttington we will stop for lunch at the local pub before continuing back down to the valley below. The remains of a Benedictine priory can be seen by the side of the Coventry canal; the towpath will lead us back through Tamworth's suburbs to our start point.
Getting there & parking
Tamworth is easily reached with regular direct trains from Birmingham, Derby, Nottingham, Stafford & Nuneaton (and indeed further afield!).
You can park your car at the station for the day for £6 or in a number of local council-owned car parks slightly further away for less.
What to bring
You'll need warm clothing, a waterproof jacket and comfortable walking boots. You may find gaiters useful, too.
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
We'll make a lunch stop at the Wolferstan Arms in Shuttington, so you do not need to bring a packed lunch. Make sure to bring enough to drink for the duration of the walk.