Flash - the highest village

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Our view

"A rugged moorland walk over old packhorse ways. Optional detour to Panniers Pool."

Walk directions

From the church gates walk down Back Oth Cross passing The New Inn. At the edge of the village, branch right on a track bending past Bank House and Far View Cottage. Fork right at a bright yellow fingerpost and into fields. Enter a walled track, ending as you cross a stile. Continue at the edge of rough pasture, then turn left through a gate on to a short grassy track.

At the track’s end, bear right over Wolf Edge. Descend the right boundary past a redundant stile. Cross to the far side, then cross back towards the bottom of the slope, angling down towards a lane. Go left, then right into Knotbury. Pass Knotbury Lea Cottage, then fork left at a fingerpost. Head downhill beside the wall, ignore a track left, and continue with the moorland path, bending right then left at the field end. Rise on to Turn Edge, maintaining your direction at a stile.

Over the crest, descend left, passing through trees to a track. Detour right here for the Panniers Pool; otherwise go left. Branch off at a tall waypost, along another falling track. Maintain a slant over rough enclosures to a gravel track. Go left to an easily missed waypost on the outside of a bend left. The grassy track runs almost parallel with, but below, the gravel track. Maintain your direction past a gate, the way eventually steepening into a deep valley. As the track drops towards the stream, it zigzags to meet a ford. The footbridge lies to the left (not the crash-barrier bridge to the right), and is hidden by gorse; a wooden pole supporting a power cable guides you to it. Climb uphill over rough ground to a lane.

Turn right. At the junction, cross slightly to the right and through a squeeze stile. In wet conditions, follow the road right then left instead. Go downhill through scrub to a clapper bridge, then rise, bending gently left, across a field to a lane. Follow this uphill.

Near a ruined barn, fork left through a squeeze stile. Cross a pasture diagonally right, then follow a faint path across moorland grazing. Pass a building, then keep ahead on a track. Cross a lane and continue opposite through Little Hillend’s driveway. A distinct, rough path leads on to the moor, eventually crossing a track from Ann Roach Farm. Cross a broken stile, through a couple of gates, and turn right to Adders Green Farm.

At the entrance, go left through a gate towards Flash Bottom. Follow the left wall at a corner and through a large gate. Continue ahead then bear right below a rise, the path soon descending to a plantation at Flash Bottom. Cross a footbridge then walk left up a rough track. Cross a stony driveway, taking a faint grassy path opposite towards Lower House Farm.

Go up steps to the road. Turn right and follow this lane gently uphill back into Flash.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Field and rugged moorland paths, can be boggy after rain, some roads, many stiles

Landscape - Hills, moorland and meadows

Dog friendliness - Keep on lead near livestock, cattle may be present

Parking - Small car park on Brown Lane, near church

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Staffordshire Dog-friendly walks in Staffordshire

About the walk

Turn left. Pass the entrance to Cwm Hall as the lane bends left, and walk through the tiny hamlet of Cwm. At a sharp bend in the lane, just past Cwm House, by the entrance to Cwm Farm, take a footpath that climbs diagonally up two pastures to meet the lane again. Turn left and descend through...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Staffordshire features lofty moors, deep dales and tremendous views of both. Further south are the six sprawling towns that make up Stoke-on-Trent, which historically have had such an impact on Staffordshire’s fortunes, not to mention its culture and countryside.