Tixall Lock, Beggar's Hill and Devil's Dumble Loop

This easy loop of around 14 km / 8.7 miles with roughly 100 m / 328 ft of ascent is a gentle countryside walk that mixes canal towpath, estate-edge scenery, quiet lanes, woodland sections and open farmland. The climbing is modest and usually spread out in short rises rather than sustained hills, so the route suits walkers looking for a relaxed half-day outing rather than a strenuous hike. Expect mostly good underfoot conditions in dry weather, but after rain the field paths and woodland stretches can become muddy, especially around low-lying ground near the canal and river meadows.

The walk is best understood as a tour through the historic landscape east of Stafford, close to Tixall, Great Haywood and the Shugborough estate. The most likely starting area for a route with this name is near Tixall Lock, Old Hill Bridge, Tixall, Stafford ST18 0XR, which is the nearest clearly identified landmark and address associated with the route’s canal-side start. Tixall Lock itself is on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal near Old Hill Bridge. (canalplan.uk)

If arriving by car, the simplest approach is via the Tixall / Great Haywood area, using roadside parking only where it is clearly permitted and without blocking farm access, bridges or narrow lanes. If you are relying on public transport, Stafford is the main hub: Staffordshire County Council’s journey pages show Tixall served by routes including 828 and 828A, and Stafford railway station is the most practical rail arrival point before continuing by bus or taxi. Because rural bus timetables can change and services may be limited, it is worth checking the latest journey details before setting out. (staffordshire.gov.uk)

Early section: canal, lock and broad water

The opening part is usually the easiest going of the day, following the canal corridor through one of the prettiest stretches in Staffordshire. Tixall Lock is a classic narrow canal lock and a useful orientation point at the start. From there, the route typically heads along the towpath toward Tixall Wide, a striking broadening of the canal that feels more like a lake than a standard canal reach. This is one of the signature landmarks of the walk and one of the most memorable waterside scenes in the county. (cannock-chase.co.uk)

Tixall Wide is historically significant because the canal was widened here during the 18th-century works so it would resemble a lake in the view from Tixall Hall. Sources describe this as part of the landscape treatment associated with the estate, rather than a purely practical navigation feature. As you walk this section, look across the water for the celebrated Tixall Gatehouse, the surviving fragment of the former Tixall Hall complex. The gatehouse is Grade I listed and dates from about 1575, making it one of the architectural highlights of the route. (cannock-chase.co.uk)

Wildlife is often excellent along this stretch. The broad water and canal margins are good places to watch for swans, ducks, herons and, with luck, kingfishers. In warmer months you may also notice dragonflies over the water and plenty of insect life along the banks. The towpath is generally straightforward, but it can be narrow in places and slippery after wet weather, especially where tree cover keeps the ground damp. (abcboathire.com)

Middle section: fields, lanes and the rise toward Beggar’s Hill

After the canal, the route usually leaves the waterside and begins to thread through a quieter agricultural landscape. This is where the walk changes character: instead of level towpath, expect pasture edges, hedged tracks, stiles or gates, and a few gentle undulations. The ascent toward Beggar’s Hill is not dramatic, but it accounts for much of the route’s total elevation gain. On an easy-rated walk like this, “hill” is best read as a broad rise rather than a steep climb.

This inland section gives wider views over the Trent valley and the surrounding Staffordshire countryside. In