Rudyard Lake Walk

White dog stood on the eastern shore path of Rudyard Lake, next to the miniature railway line.

This gentle route around Staffordshire’s Rudyard Lake is perfect for a sunny weekend walk with the family! Dogs can be off the lead on most stretches of the walk as long as they’re well behaved. They will need to be on the lead in communal areas like the café though.

We parked at North End Car Park and started from the top end of the lake. It’s free to park here and there are a decent number of spaces. Alternatively, you can park by the dam, but this car park is normally busy with people doing activities on the lake. It’s also a pay and display. There’s also the option of parking on the Hotel Rudyard car park. It’s £3 for all day, but this will be refunded if you spend over £5 in the hotel bar.

If you end up starting from the dam/hotel end, then start reading from the Dam section halfway through this guide, and return to the start of the guide once you reach the north end. 

Rudyard Lake East Shore

Once you’re ready to set off, head straight off the car park along the path that keeps the lake on your right hand side. The east side of the lake is flat, making it wheelchair and pram friendly. The level nature of the path stems from its history as part of the Churnet Valley Railway Line between Macclesfield and Uttoxeter. In fact, there’s still a miniature railway running along this side of the lake if you fancied a ride! You can find the latest train timetables here.

As mentioned earlier, dogs can be off lead here, but you’ll want to keep them under close control. As well as the working trainline, there’s normally plenty of cyclists biking up and down this stretch.

If you wanted to let your dog have a swim in the lake, the northern end on this side is probably the best place to do it. There are a few little areas of shoreline you can stand on that are easily accessible from the main path. It’s also quieter up this end. The further south you go, the more paddleboards, yachts and canoes you’ll run into.

White dog looking out at Rudyard Lake from the eastern shore.

The Dam

Once you’ve walked the 3km path down the eastern shore, you’ll reach the miniature railway station. From here, cross over the narrow bridge to your right that takes you to the top of the dam and along to the Dam End car park. This is the busiest part of the route, with lots of cars and people concentrated in a small area, so you’ll want to keep dogs on leads here.

There are plenty of amenities at this point if you wanted to stop for something to eat. The public toilets here are open from 9am until 5pm, while the cafe is usually open from 10am until 4pm. Dogs are welcome in the outside seating area of the café as long as they’re on a lead. You can also access the Rudyard Hotel from here by following the path up the bank to the left of the dam, if you wanted something more substantial/alcoholic.

As you’ll see, this southern end of the lake is where the majority of the water-based activities launch from. If you wanted to, you’re welcome to go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding with your dog on board! This is at your own risk though.

The dam end is also home to an impressive wooden sculpture of a tightrope walker. The sculpture was completed in 2016 by Anthony Hammond and depicts the 19th century tightrope walker Carlos Trower. Trower was an American teenager who performed under the name of “The African Blondin”. He was engaged by the North Staffordshire Railway in 1864 to walk over the lake on a rope suspended 100 feet over the water.

Some of you might also recognise the area as the launching point for one of Top Gear’s amphibious car challenges. This was less successful than Trower’s daring tightrope walk, with only James May’s converted Triumph Herald making it back to shore.

Sculpture of Charles Trower at Rudyard Lake.

Rudyard Lake Western Shore

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.

Cliffe Park Hall at Rudyard Lake

Dog Friendly Places To Eat Near Rudyard Lake

The obvious choice for food after walking around Rudyard Lake is the aforementioned Hotel Rudyard. Dogs are welcome in the bar area, or there’s plenty of outdoor seating to choose from if the weather’s good. As well as an extensive a la carte menu, they also do one of the best carveries in the area.

To the north, you’ll find the charming Royal Oak in Rushton. Dogs are welcome in one side of the pub and outside, and the staff will make sure they’re looked after with water and treats.

In the opposite direction, Spout Brew House in Leek town centre is definitely worth a look. This cosy coffee house is dog friendly and boasts great reviews on Google.

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