Stafford to Newport Greenway

I went along yesterday to the social ride organized by Dave Powell of the Stafford Rangers, to celebrate the final linking of Stafford to Newport. Including some that we picked up along the way, the final turn-out was good at ten or a dozen or so, with rangers from 6 or 7 different Midlands groups. Dave led us along the greenway, an old railway track bed, running from Stafford to Newport, now part of NCN Route 55 and also Staffordshire County Council's "Way for the Millennium". It is generally in reasonable condition at the Stafford end although, not surprisingly for this time of year, there are a few places which are a bit muddy, particularly in the cuttings. Towards the other end, however, the excellent resurfacing of about two miles has been carried out by Staffordshire CC at the cost of £300,000, after much campaigning by the local rangers; and Shropshire CC has also done its bit to continue the greenway into Newport. Paul Boston, another Stafford ranger, joined us at Gnosall and pointed out a number of features along the route. Pictures show: original group at Stafford; Paul with trailer leads the group under a railway bridge; new resurfaced stretch; Paul giving some explanations. Thanks, Dave, for a very enjoyable day!
I returned to Stafford, and then Dave set me on the right trail for Stoke-on-Trent (Route 5). I got lost a couple of times - but then, that's just me! A good route: some railway path, some minor road, some shared pavement, a lot of canal towpath. The canal route from Stone to Stoke, which has also been resurfaced not that long ago, makes for a very attractive ride.