Shropshire & Staffordshire

Downs Banks dog walk

Dog on a walk — This is a perfect walk to explore with your dog | © National Trust Images / John Millar

Take a little exercise with your dog and enjoy the fresh air on this 1.5-mile (2.4km) route alongside the stream, or if you're both feeling energetic, add half a mile (0.8km) more and climb uphill for fantastic panoramic views.

Near to

Downs Banks

Start point

National Trust Downs Banks car park, grid ref: SJ900365

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2 (km: 3.2)

Duration 40 mins

Dog friendly***

*Easy-going on well-surfaced paths, suitable for rugged pushchairs and adventurous wheelchair users. For further information visit the section marked Terrain.
**Suitable for rugged pushchairs and adventurous wheelchair users. For further information visit the section marked Access.
***Dogs are always welcome at Downs Banks. For further information visit the section marked Facilities.

Address
Downs Banks, near Stone, Staffordshire. ST15 8US. grid ref: ST15 8US
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Stone station 3 miles (4.8km).
On foot
2 miles (3.2km) from Stone and Barlaston on footpaths, 0.5 mile (0.8km) from Trent & Mersey Canal.
By bus
Service between Stoke-on-Trent station and Stafford station – alight at Barlaston or Stone.
Cycling
0.5 miles (0.8km) from Sustrans National Cycle Network route 5 (runs from Stoke-on-Trent to Stafford, through Stone).
Sustrans
By road
15 min south of Stoke-on-Trent and 10 min north of Stone off the A34.
Dogs
Dogs are always welcome at Downs Banks. Please help us to keep the area special by clearing up dog mess and taking it home with you as there are no disposal facilities on-site. Well behaved dogs can be let off their leads. Bins and water bowls available at Nimmings Wood car park.
Car park
Plenty of room to park though no designated accessible spaces.
Toilet
Toilets available in Stone town centre.
Picnic area
Picnic tables and benches can be found at regular intervals around Downs Banks.
Pub
Nearest shops and pubs in Stone town centre or Barlaston village.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
National Trust Downs Banks car park, grid ref: SJ900365
Stage 1
Head south out of the car park and turn right on to Wash Dale Lane. Keep your dog on a lead for now in case of traffic.
Stage 2
Carry on for a short distance until reaching the stream. Cross the footbridge and turn right into the woods. (If your dog is safe around people, other dogs and wildlife, you may wish to let it off its lead here.) This babbling stream runs the length of Downs Banks along a serene rolling valley. Keep your eyes open and you may see the fantastic blue flash of a kingfisher.
Stage 3
Follow this path along beside the water's edge all the way to another footbridge and cross the stream again. (This is the last chance for dogs to paddle.)
Stage 4
Once over the stream follow the path to a set of steps down one bank and up the other side. This hilly area was once the site of an ancient watermill. You now have two choices: turn right and take the shorter, flatter route along the valley bottom, back to the car park (the dashed line on the map), or follow the Ridge Path up a steep hill to the highest viewpoint at Downs Banks.
Stage 5
If you choose to go uphill, follow a path that rises sharply ahead of you. There are benches on the way to the top, so take a rest any time you like.
Heathland restoration
From spring to autumn much of Downs Banks is grazed by a small herd of non-inquisitive, dog-friendly beef cattle. They're helping us restore the heath by preventing too much bracken growth. Years of heathland restoration are beginning to make Downs Banks a better place for wildlife. Patches of plants like bilberry, heather and gorse are steadily growing – a great sign of a healthy heathland.
Stage 6
Pass the Millennium Monument and stay on the same route. The Milennium Monument is a rock pillar standing at the highest point on the Downs and shows you what landmarks can be seen in the distance. On a clear day you have marvellous views across the Staffordshire countryside of up to 40 miles (64.3km).
The stone column of Downs Banks's toposcope in the sunshine | © Rod Whiteman/National Trust
Stage 7
When you reach a fence, turn right and follow the path through a gate. Once through the gate head straight on, back into woodland. Continue down steps along a wooded valley.
Stage 8
When you reach Wash Dale Lane again, put your dog onto their lead and turn right onto the lane. The car park where you started will soon appear on your right.
End point
National Trust Downs Banks car park, grid ref: SJ900365
Trail map
Map route for Downs Banks dog walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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