Explore the surrounding countryside in Newcastle under Lyme

You’re never far from countryside in Newcastle-under-Lyme.  Here, winding trails take you through lush woodlands, rolling hills, and open fields, where you can enjoy breathtaking views and discover an abundance of wildlife.  

Walking or cycling or simply unwinding, the area’s landscapes provide the perfect setting.  With its unspoiled beauty, this corner of Staffordshire is an ideal place to reconnect with nature and experience the serene charm of rural England. 

Just a short drive south from Newcastle town centre, off junction 15 of the M6, lies Hanchurch Hills. 

Here, tall trees stretch upwards like nature’s spires, leaving a cathedral-like canopy to walk, cycle, or horse ride beneath. From the higher trails, enjoy sweeping views across the Cheshire Plain and Staffordshire Moorlands.  

On a clear day, you can even catch a glimpse of the Welsh mountains in the distance. 

Hanchurch Hills is the kind of place that restores your sense of wonder. Spot deer in the undergrowth or birds of prey circling overhead. 

Parking is available at several access points, including the popular lay-by off Hanchurch Lane. 

One of Newcastle-under-Lyme's best-kept secrets, Parrot’s Dumble is a secluded woodland valley rich in biodiversity and folklore charm. Its steep-sided banks, cool canopies, and rusty-coloured babbling brooks feel almost enchanted.  

Its quirky name is a charming blend of Parrot from the family who once owned the land, and drumble, a local term for a stream winding through a wooded valley. 

Keep your ears tuned for blue tits, willow tits, wrens, warblers, greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, treecreepers, and even jays and long-tailed tits. 

Visit in spring for its carpets of bluebells, reputedly the finest in the country.  There’s also dog’s mercury, wood anemone, yellow archangel, and wood sorrel. You won’t find many of these flowers in more recently planted woodlands.   

Just north of Newcastle‑under‑Lyme, Parrot’s Drumble is a 12-hectare nature reserve overseen by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.  

Location: Pit Lane, Talke Pits, Staffordshire, ST7 1UH  

There’s no parking within the reserve, but a small lay-by near the industrial estate has spaces for up to five cars. From there, a path leads to the entrance signposted to the reserve  

This is the kind of place that ignites the imagination — where children can adventure off the beaten path, and grown-ups rediscover the joy of walking, just to see what’s around the next bend. 

Small but soul-stirring, Target Wood is perfect for early morning walks. This patch of protected woodland buzzes with birdsong in spring and wears a golden crown in autumn. 

It’s a peaceful pocket of wilderness right on the edge of the borough and a reminder that you don’t have to travel far to find somewhere truly special. 

Explore the wild beauty of Bateswood Nature Reserve, nestled in the heart of Staffordshire near Leycett, between Silverdale and Madeley Heath.  

A former open-cast mining site in the 1990s, Bateswood Nature Reserve is now a land of natural regeneration. Birch trees sprouted, scrub grew, and wildlife reclaimed its territory. 

Managed by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust in collaboration with local volunteers, it’s a thriving sanctuary for wildlife and a breath of fresh countryside, a symbol of nature’s resilience and conservation's power. 

The reserve's shallow, fish-free pools house over 13 species of dragonflies, from common and black darters to emperor dragonflies. A particularly charming pool is home to great crested newts, a legally protected species that adds a magical touch to this watery realm. 

77 bird species have been spotted here, alongside small mammals like pipistrelles, voles, shrews, and rabbits, making Bateswood an ecologist’s dream. 

Open all year, all day. Admission is free. A small car park sits off Podmore Lane. To gain access, call Staffordshire Wildlife Trust on 01889 880100. 

Bradwell Woods once formed part of a larger forest that blanketed north Staffordshire. Over the centuries, urban development and mining shrank the woodland, but its heart has survived.  

During WWII, the woods were used for training exercises by the Home Guard. Sunken ditches and forgotten mounds remain as eerie, overgrown remnants of a bygone time. Today, Bradwell Woods stands as a proud reminder of the area’s natural and industrial past, where coal miners walked and children now play.  

Wander under a canopy of mature oaks, ash, and silver birch, with wildflowers carpeting the forest floor in spring and fungi dotting the paths in autumn. 

No crowds. No noise. Just birdsong, rustling leaves, and the gentle crunch of twigs beneath your feet. 

Bradwell Woods is located just minutes off the A34 and M6.  

There is a small car park available off Bradwell Lane, with easy access to walking trails. 

A visit to Mow Cop Castle feels like stepping into a storybook. Perched dramatically on the edge of a gritstone ridge, this iconic folly was built in 1754 by Randle Wilbraham of nearby Rode Hall and watches over the Cheshire Plain and the Staffordshire Moorlands. Designed to look like a ruined castle in the sky, its true purpose was to add drama to the skyline and impress guests. 

It’s not just the views here that take your breath away; it’s the feeling of standing on top of the world, the wind on your face, the horizon stretching endlessly in every direction. On clear days, you can see as far as Snowdonia. 

Mow Cop is majestic, wild, and beautifully photogenic. Go at sunset - when the light hits exactly right, the castle glows like a lantern in the sky. Go to feel small in the best possible way, humbled by nature, awed by history, and inspired by the panorama.  

Parking is free and available in a small lay-by near the top of Station Road, just a short walk from the castle. Spaces are limited, especially on sunny weekends, so early arrival is recommended. 

The Staffordshire countryside here will make you discover that the world is bigger, richer, and more beautiful than you remembered.