To make a start on the return leg of this route, walk past the front of the cafe and equipment hire buildings at the dam head, and then turn left up the path leading to a street with houses on it. Once you’re on the road, turn right and then take the left hand path where the road forks in front of you. From this point, just keep moving forwards, following the public footpath signs.

This side is more up-and-down than the flat eastern shore. There’s also a stretch of tarmac road in the first half of the western shore that you’ll have to walk down. This is Reacliffe Road, which is lined with holiday rental properties. You’ll probably bump into more walkers than motorists here, but do keep an eye out for cars.

About halfway along Reacliffe Road is the sailing club and a coffee shop called Mini Beans on the Lake. It’s open from 10am until 3pm Friday to Monday if you needed some fuel to finish the trip.

Eventually, you’ll emerge from the woods into open pastures. As you do, you’ll be greeted by Cliffe Park Hall on your left. Initially built in the 1800s as a private residence, it was purchased by the North Staffordshire Railway in 1903 and subsequently became the clubhouse for the newly constructed golf course. After the course was closed in 1926, it was let privately for a while before it was leased to the Youth Hostel Association in 1933 and remained a hostel until it was sold to a private buyer in 1969. Its most famous guest while it was a hostel was undoubtedly George Orwell, who stayed here in 1936 while doing research for his book The Road To Wigan Pier.

Follow the path across the fields and eventually it winds to the right, back towards the lake. Make sure your dog is under control for this part, as there usually cows wandering the fields here. You’ll also have to contend with a few cattle grids and stiles. Once you reach the top end of the lake, cross the stone bridge and head to the left to get back to the car park.