Codsall to Chillington Hall Circular Walk

Please note: We are currently reviewing our walks publications, please refer to the text on this webpage for the most current route details we have. If you note any differences when following the route, please let us know by emailing: rightsofway@staffordshire.gov.uk

A pleasant walk from Codsall which follows the Staffordshire Way northwards before passing around Chillington Hall and its impressive parkland. The walk then follows an old trackway through woodland before returning to Codsall through Codsall Wood and the graveyard of St Nicholas's Church.

Distance: Approx. 11.2km (7 miles)

Duration: 3 to 4 hours

Terrain: An easy walk along quiet lanes, fields and level ground

Parking: Codsall town car park OS866037

Refreshments: There are pubs and shops in Codsall. There is also a pub at Codsall Wood

Map: OS Explorer 242 Telford, Ironbridge and The Wrekin

Bus route: Travel West Midlands Service (Wolverhampton - Codsall). Bus Route No.6.

Route

From the car park cross over the main road and walk north along Church Road (signposted St Nicholas' Church). You have now joined the route of the Staffordshire Way. Continue through houses and past St Nicholas' Church on the left (at which point Church Road becomes Sandy Lane), and after 100 metres fork off to the left down a track by the side of Hyde Park Cottage. The area around the church, on the top of the hill, was the original hub of the village with a windmill, livestock pound, forge, bakery and public house.
Follow the track to a stile on the right immediately after New House Farm. Cross the stile, and bear left following the Staffordshire Way over four small fields to arrive at a footbridge over Moat Brook.
Cross the bridge and follow the path gently uphill keeping the fence on your left to emerge on a lane in front of some houses. Turn left along the lane passing Gunstone Hall riding centre, then shortly afterwards turn right onto a bridleway next to Tudor Cottage (signposted to Gunstone Farm and Cottages). Follow the lane past Gunstone Farm and over the motorway bridge until you eventually reach a road.
At this point we leave the Staffordshire Way. Turn left along the road and follow it for three quarters of a mile to arrive at the gates of Chillington Hall. The hall's east façade, which faces the entrance gates, dates from the late 18th century, however parts of the building date back to the Tudor period. The property has been in the Giffard family since the 12th century when they succeeded by marriage to a Norman castle on this site. The park was landscaped by Capability Brown in around 1770, but the long avenue heading north-east is fifty years older.
Now on the Monarch's Way, continue along the lane following the edge of Horse Paddock Wood until you reach the driveway to Chillington Farm on the right. The Monarch's Way leaves the road at this point, but we continue for another 300 metres to a track which forks off the road to the left immediately after the entrance to a driveway.
Cross through the wooden bridle gate and follow the track, which is called Brick Kiln Lane, along the edge of Big Wood (some sections of the track can become boggy in wet weather). After 500 metres the track passes a brick gateway on the left and from here follows the boundary wall of the Chillington estate. Behind the wall and through the trees lies a large lake known as The Pool. Around it have been built Gothic, Ionic and Grecian temples as well as bridges and a decorative canal which leads from the lake towards the hall. Eventually the wall ends and you pass a house on the left, shortly before emerging onto a road.
Rejoining the Monarch's Way, turn left and walk along the road walking on the right hand side to face the oncoming traffic. Soon you re-cross the motorway, which runs through the southern tip of Big Wood, and after a quarter of a mile enter the village of Codsall Wood.
Just after the 40 mph signs, turn left into Whitehouse Lane. Follow the lane through the houses and past the Church of St Peter on the left (if you want to visit Pendrell Arms public house turn right opposite the church and follow Church Lane a short distance).
After another 250 metres climb the stile in the hedge on the right just after Upper Park Farm, and walk through two fields keeping the field boundary on your right. Some distance through the second field the path crosses over the hedge on the right and enters a field next to Leighton Pool, a popular fishing location.
Follow the fenced path through the field to a track which then emerges onto a lane. Across the lane are two tracks - cross over to the one on the left. Follow this round a corner and under power lines until it ends at a gate and stile between two buildings.
Cross the stile and follow the path down the field to a small concrete bridge. Over the bridge continue along the path following the edge of the field to arrive at a lane next to St Nicholas' Church. The landscape hereabouts shows traces of the medieval strip-field system of cultivation.
Enter the churchyard through the wooden gate opposite, and walk to the right of the church. Though much of the building is Victorian, the south doorway dates to Norman times. Rejoin Church Road and turn right to follow the road back to the car park.

Downloadable version

A downloadable version of the original printed leaflet including a map of the route, is available below. Please note that the text above is the most up to date route details we have.