The Mermaids Pool can be found just off the main path towards the summit of Kinder Scout. [8] The processes involved in manufacturing copper wire at the sites caused high levels of pollution. Local knowledge is invaluable here. The waterfall was a big surprise. Registered Charity No. Migrating birds have travelled thousands of miles just to get here. Please check with the park or call park information (1-800-792-1112) to confirm you will be able to swim when you visit. River Churnet - Cheddleton to Dimmings Dale Details Written by Simon Turnbull, Midland Canoe Club, www.midlandcanoeclub.com and Richard Witheridge, of Potteries Paddlers. River Churnet The red tip of the float moved away from me, carefully controlled by gently thumbing the centrepin to keep pace, and then disappeared! The East end of the route has no obvious final destination as the pumping house is hidden behind trees. If you cant get outside, why not bring the outside in by downloading our bird song radio app? Its important to remember the special surroundings here are wonderful havens for rare wildlife. Watch your footing - it isn't called Slippery Stone Bridge for nothing, Mermaid's Pool is the ultimate spot for a drizzly midhike dip, Black Mere Pool is said to be haunted by the ghost of a drowned witch, Sparth Reservoir is a historied open water swimming spot, This stretch of the River Dane has some of the purest bathing in the Peaks. Le made in France; FAQ; Kit Presse; Boutique. 07807276. Dont let the name deceive you: Sparth is more of a large pond than a reservoir. Swim coach Richard Smith has all the advice you need before you take the plunge. Follow for around five miles until you see the pool, also known as Blake Mere, on your left. Find out how our expert teams work together to make life better by water, We have vacancies across all of our waterways and in the offices, museums and attractions that support them. Find out why. We're one of the UK's biggest charities and we take pride in everything we do, If you're thinking of getting in touch then please take a moment to look through these pages as we probably have the answer on our website, As the weather is warming up we want everyone to be able to enjoy our canals and rivers in the safest possible way, We're continually carrying out work to improve our canals and rivers. Up to date as of 8:29am on 25 February 2023. This page was last modified on 1 February 2016, at 07:27. The path continues perfectly ok to Denstone, where there are some picnic tables to have a break before returning to Oakamoor. Down by the river in autumn, patient watchers may be rewarded by a glimpse of dippers and grey wagtail. : Between Leek and Alton Towers. Be interesting to see how many are in the Norbury stretch. The River Churnet is a river in Staffordshire, England. Come join the discussion about safety, licenses, tips, tricks, rivers, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Parking and camping are available. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Keep your eye on the horizon and your mind will soon settle down. Added by Richard Witheridge: It's best to get out at Froghall, or Oakamoor, as afterwards the river gets really shallow, and there have been a few access incidents recently. [3] South of Cheddleton, the river flows through the Churnet Valley, an area of outstanding beauty with ancient woodland, an abundance of wildlife and industrial heritage. This popular spot close to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in the north of the Peak District was recently the site of a battle between swimmers and waterway officials, who wanted to ban swimming. Further downriver at Froghall and at Oakamoor the Thomas Bolton Copper works used the power of the Churnet to help manufacture the world's first transatlantic telegraph cables. Unfortunately I have also seen signals in the Dove near the Churnet confluence. From a dip in distant tarn to a plunge in a river with views of a stately home, these are the best wild swimming spots in the Peak District. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. The River Churnet is a river in Staffordshire, England. Spread the cost and pay just 3.50 per issue when you subscribe via Direct Debit. Judging by the debris left in the trees, this river can get quite high, so you need to be especially careful as there are a lot of low bridges OTHER NOTES: For the canal over flow at Consal follow the canal along the side of the railway, it gets quite narrow, and the overflow is not long after an overhanging rail shed on the river/ canal/ ditch right. [2] After it leaves the dam at Tittesworth, it flows into the ancient market town of Leek, where it was used until quite recently[when?] Head out on this 9.8-km out-and-back trail near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Very busy during lockdown 2.0 but a really nice walk. This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region. The canal has a total of 17 locks along its route, but most of these are grouped into sections of 3 or 4. Paul Smith (March 2004)'Paddled section of the Churnet, that included the grade 3 rocky fall, at the bottom of the fall on river leftthe bank (which is made of metal and concrete) has a very dangerous undercut, that is at least a metre deep.'. River Updates English Midlands . Ask yourself, is the choice to swim in a river based on access, preference for open water or to prepare specifically for a river swim event? Still, I'll aim for next year and after that the direct debit looks like a great idea :thumbs: At least the eat the killer shrimp, and the mink eat the signal crays. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for River Churnet. Restorying Riverscapes explores the history of the textile industry on the riverscape of the Churnet at Leek, Staffordshire. The river was completely blocked not far from our get out at Dimmings Dale. Come and stroll down magnificent drives built by the Earl of Shrewsbury, where fine carriages once rode. Gum boots from the bank is fine for shooting the ducks (dog can do the swimming, and does!) It has been between these levels for 90% of the time since monitoring began. Find a waterside stroll or a satisfying hike along our beautiful canals and rivers, Discover how you can recharge when spending time by water, Help us make a difference and have fun along the way. Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help. 207076, Scotland no. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Wildlife, animals, biodiversity and ecosystems, Protocol governing the relationship between the Department for Transport and the accident investigation branches. This project is taking place during Spring and Summer 2022, bringing together Fashion Revolution and scientists from Keele University and Loughborough University alongside local community groups. River Churnet Consall Forge. In spring, birdsong fills the air as blackbirds and wrens lend their calls to the dawn chorus. James Robbins and Des Taylor head to the beautiful River Churnet in Staffordshire in this episode of Cadence Fishing TV. See some of the ways you can get into green living. That's handy to know, thanks - I did wonder who had that bit :thumbs: Looking at that OP from nearly 10 years ago, presumably it was a reference to the Ramblers Retreat at Alton in Staffs, not Derbyshire? Specific areas of research are in river science; hydromorphology, geomorphology, river restoration, sediment transport dynamics, catchment connectivity, flooding and ecohydraulics. It would . The Churnet Valley was heavily involved in the iron-smelting industry and it is documented from as long ago as 1290 that iron was smelted using the river as its main source of energy. Cottage in Grindon Stunning cottage perfect for a romantic getaway Park your car, kick off your shoes, leave the world behind & relax! [6] In nearby Cheddleton the Churnet was used to power a flint mill that ground down flint for use in the pottery industry. As an open-water swim specialist, Id still recommend the pool as the best environment for working on specific stroke technique drills and winter conditioning. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife and livestock can easily become startled by a loose dog they perceive as a predator. Ais, Raels, Els, Luna on a short walk along the route that was once a railway track. Paul Smith (March 2004)'If getting on at Consall, it is possible to park in the pub car park, but remember to go for a drink afterwards. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. These birds seem to have done particularly well across this site since the holly understory, below the oaks, was recently removed. There are a few things you need to consider before going river swimming your swim goals, your swimming ability and experience of open-water swimming. The course of the river from Cheddleton to Rocester runs through the Churnet Valley a part of Staffordshire that has been known either as Staffordshire's Rhineland or Staffordshire's Little Switzerland. Its nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans? The Churnet Valley trail is a railway path following the river Churnet through woodland and meadow along the old railway line. It's a magical place set in a deep wooded valley originally designed by the Earl of Shrewsbury and now managed by the Forestry Commission. You can tell the rivers up when age old threads get resurrected like this. I wish I'd seen this earlier as I had a day out on the Dove today but would have been equally happy exploring your stretch with you. The early forges were at East Wall, near Oakamoor, but a later forge is still standing at Consall, next to the locks on the Caldon Canal. Professional boat moving service - country wide, RYA Helmsman qualified, full 3rd party liability insurance. The outstanding scenery along the route means there is lots to see for boaters, walkers and cyclists. 1975 - Acquired Milldale section from National Trust. The quickest route to follow heads west out of Hayfield past Kinder reservoir, following the path to the north. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 17 h 42 min to complete. www.sweetspotcoaching.biz, also Paul Smith. The also occur at Consall in Chase wood and can sometimes be seen in the woodland on the opposite of the river as you head to Chase wood from the lime kilns. This once industrial valley has again taken on nature's mantle and is now a wonderfully rich mixture of wood pasture, pools and mature woodland, nestled alongside the River Churnet. Walk along Alton to Denstone railway line to access the Uttoxeter canal. SCO46354 (Scotland) FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The source of the river is located over 1,000 feet (300m) above sea level in the Staffordshire moorlands, near the gritstone escarpment of the Roaches, and next to the A53 Leek to Buxton road, It is only a few hundred yards away from Black Brook which ultimately, through the Dane and Weaver, flows into the Irish Sea; however, the Churnet, through the Dove, Trent and Humber Estuary, ultimately flows into the North Sea. Slippery Stones is a quintessentially English wild swimming spot. 100% of your donation will be used to make life better by water. The origins of the name "Churnet" are unknown, though it is thought to derive from the pre-English, British name for the river.[1]. Deep Hayes Country Park to Froghall Wharf Paddle Trail. We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy, The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. The course of the River from Cheddleton to Rocester runs through the Churnet Valley, which has been known as Staffordshire's Rhineland. Pass through delightful countryside with riverside views and The Cauldon Canal. Blog. An area rich in history, wildlife and spectacular scenery. Return to spawn. The route can be kept short and take cyclists straight to Dimmingsdale. JavaScript is disabled. See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus, From our regular emails to your favourite social media, theres more than one way to keep in touch with nature, Discover how a campaign against feathers in fashion sparked a global force to save nature with more than a million members. Click thered 'i' iconin the bottom right hand corner to expand the key. Find walks, activities and more within. The dyeing industry was established in 1734 and it was claimed that the water from the Churnet was the finest in Europe for this purpose. Return to spawn Many swimming pools open seasonally or close occasionally for maintenance. Read our swimming safety tips before you swim . Please keep your dog on a lead and under close, effective control at all times, due to the sensitive wildlife, habitats and livestock here. We'll update this page when there's a flood alert in the area, which means flooding to low lying land is possible. A short branch was built 18 years later connceting the Caldon with the town of Leek. The traffic finished in the 1990s. Down by the river, if you're patient, dippers and grey wagtails may be seen.