Hag Wood

Wood, Forest in Staffordshire Staffordshire Moorlands

England

Hag Wood

Harston Wood Harston Wood, a nature reserve of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. The start of the footpath through the wood. — Harston Wood Credit: David Weston

Hag Wood is a picturesque woodland located in the county of Staffordshire, England. Spanning an area of approximately 50 acres, it is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers alike.

The wood is characterized by its dense canopy of trees, predominantly consisting of oak, birch, and beech varieties. These towering trees provide a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including squirrels, foxes, and various bird species. The forest floor is covered in a lush carpet of ferns, bluebells, and other wildflowers, adding to the area's natural beauty.

Hag Wood boasts a network of well-maintained walking trails, allowing visitors to explore the woodland at their leisure. These trails wind through the trees, providing opportunities for peaceful strolls and invigorating hikes. Along the way, walkers can discover hidden clearings, babbling brooks, and even the remnants of an ancient stone circle, adding an element of intrigue and history to the wood.

The wood is also home to a variety of recreational activities. There is a designated picnic area with benches, providing a perfect spot for visitors to enjoy a packed lunch while surrounded by nature. Additionally, the wood offers opportunities for birdwatching and photography, with many species of birds frequently spotted in the area.

Overall, Hag Wood is a serene and enchanting destination for nature lovers, offering a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether one seeks solace in the quiet beauty of the woodland or embarks on an adventure through its trails, Hag Wood is a must-visit destination for those seeking to connect with nature in Staffordshire.

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Hag Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.013504/-1.9615039 or Grid Reference SK0246. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Harston Wood

Harston Wood, a nature reserve of Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. The start of the footpath through the wood.

David Weston

Tramroad through Harston Wood

The line of a former tramroad, looking west, downhill along a steady incline. The tramroad carried limestone from quarries at Caldon Low, westwards to Froghall Wharf at the end of the Caldon Canal.

David Weston

Froghall Wharf

The end of the Caldon Canal. The lock in the foreground leads to the canal basin.

David Weston

Lime kilns at Froghall Wharf

Lime kilns, long disused, near the canal wharf.

David Weston

End of Caldon Canal, Froghall Wharf, 1978

Looking from the extreme end back towards the partly derelict warehouse. This was later restored with some alteration, it is a grade II listed building.

Robin Webster

Churnet Valley 2021 Christmas Polar Express

Brian Deegan

Kingsley & Froghall trains

A preserved railway line near Leek in Staffordshire, running from Froghall up the valley to Cheddleton with one intermediate stop at Consall, and (since 2011) on an extension to a former quarry at Cauldon Low, where as of 2012 there is no station. The society has plans to connect to the national network at Stoke-on-Trent. The lines were originally constructed by the North Staffordshire Railway (the "Knotty"). According to one writer, "the buildings on the Churnet Valley line are of local stone, straightforwardly neo-Tudor, and effective" [Lloyd & Insall, "Railway Station Architecture", David & Charles 1978, p.17].

Ralph Greig

Caldon Canal, Froghall

Lattice Cottage overlooks the Caldon Canal, near its end just west of Froghall Tunnel.

Stephen McKay

Froghall Tunnel, Caldon Canal

Froghall Tunnel is only 76 yards (69 metres) long but its very low profile means that it is an impenetrable obstacle to most modern narrowboats. To ensure boats do not enter and then get stuck there is a profile gauge hanging over the tunnel mouth. Another gauge is provided at Flint Mill Lock to give boaters forewarning so oversized boats should not get this far.

Stephen McKay

Kingsley & Froghall Station

The southern terminus of the Churnet Valley Railway looks immaculate in the late afternoon sunshine although things are not quite what they seem. Firstly, although this might look like a country station, it was built to serve an area of heavy industry with limekilns and a copper works nearby (the latter did not close until 2014). After closure, the station buildings were demolished in 1968 and the new building is a replica using some original material. It was opened in 2004 by Pete Waterman, the well-known record producer and railway enthusiast.

Stephen McKay

Kingsley & Froghall Station - running in board

Interestingly, the Churnet Valley Railway has chosen to use replica LMS signs for the running in boards (the larger signs used at the ends of the platforms, a practice largely discontinued on the modern railway) rather than the later British Railways style. The LMS usually angled these slightly outwards and that has been done at the other end of the platform.

Stephen McKay

Kingsley & Froghall Station

This second platform at Kingsley & Froghall was restored by the Churnet Valley Railway in 2008 to include the replica waiting shelter. The overall effect has been to create an authentic period feel. Perhaps only the 'volunteers needed' banner could not have been part of the scene 70 years ago.

Stephen McKay

Moorings at Froghall

Some things defy understanding. Here at Froghall a canal basin has been restored capable of taking several full sized boats on the tiny stretch of what remains of the Uttoxeter canal. The moorings are excellent. But there is a huge snag. The only way boats can get here is to navigate the height restricted Froghall Tunnel - so it is only accessible to a small proportion of the craft currently using the canal network. Unsurprisingly on this May morning there was not a boat in site.

Stephen McKay

Lime kiln at Froghall

This is one of a set of lime kilns close to Froghall Wharf believed to date from the 1880s. The kilns are set into a retaining wall 50 metres in length and 12 metres high.

Stephen McKay

Hetty's Tea Shop, Froghall Wharf

Hetty's Tea Shop is located in this beautifully restored canalside warehouse at Froghall. Upstairs there is a holiday apartment. The building dates from the early 19th century and is grade II listed.

Stephen McKay

Hetty's Tea Shop, Froghall Wharf

The towpath terrace water huts are part of Hetty's Tea Shop in this restored canalside warehouse by bridge 55. Customers are extremely unlikely to see any boats here, however; craft that are able to pass through Froghall Tunnel would turn off and head for the Uttoxeter Canal basin.

Stephen McKay