Great Haywood: Canals and Heritage

Great Haywood can be explored through its waterways and historic surroundings. At Great Haywood Junction, the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal meets the Trent & Mersey Canal. Paths and bridges connect the village with Shugborough Park and Estate. For planning your trip, this offers a choice of different focuses: canal routes, historic buildings and parkland.

Canals, paths and riverside wildlife

A canal towpath runs through Great Haywood. The route from Little Haywood to Great Haywood is 1½ miles long and offers a specific walking option between the two villages. The circular walk from Great Haywood also crosses a small aqueduct over the River Trent. You can watch geese along this circular walk. Herons can also be seen along the riverside section; possible kingfisher sightings are another feature of the wildlife along the route.

The two routes offer different highlights: the towpath links a specified distance with the canal, while the circular walk brings together the aqueduct and riverside scenery. There is parking in Great Haywood. Before setting out, check the current parking rules and access conditions for the towpath, as both may change.

A Floating Market also visits Great Haywood regularly. If you would like to see it during your trip, check the dates for your travel period, as the schedule may change.

Bridges and architectural history

The Great Haywood and Shugborough Conservation Area was designated on 22 November 1969 to preserve and enhance the area's special architectural and historic interest. It includes 39 listed buildings and one Scheduled Monument. A paved bridge at Great Haywood Junction is also designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Essex Bridge connects Great Haywood with Shugborough Park. It is a 17th-century packhorse bridge with more than 14 segmental arches and cutwaters on both sides. Iron Bridge also connects Great Haywood with Shugborough Estate. The two named bridges therefore offer different points of reference when exploring the connections between the village and the estate.

The Church of St Stephen was built in 1840 by T. Trubshaw and largely rebuilt in 1858 by H. J. Stevens of Derby. Its architecture is in the Gothic Revival style, with Perpendicular details. The church welcomes visitors to services and social events. Check local arrangements in advance.

Shugborough Estate and its paths

Nearby Shugborough Estate comprises 900 acres of Grade I listed parkland, with wildlife and monuments. The Georgian mansion includes the former servants’ quarters and Patrick Lichfield’s apartments. The historic Walled Garden was originally laid out in 1805. Together, the parkland, mansion and garden offer a different focus from the canal-side routes in Great Haywood.

The estate is on the Staffordshire Way. Walking routes connect it with towpaths along the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. This lets you plan your visit around two different themes: focus on the canal, the junction and the paths along the River Trent, or explore Shugborough’s historic buildings and parkland.

Discover more destinations: Hilderstone, Endon, Stafford, Kinver, Hopwas, Silverdale, Hatherton, Hollington

For the wider travel overview: Staffordshire.