Loggerheads: Walking, Nature and Architectural History

Loggerheads brings together a specifically described section of the Newcastle Way, a designated natural green space and buildings that bear witness to different periods. Three interests therefore stand out when choosing a destination: a long-distance walking route stage, a nature theme or historic architecture. The following sections can help you identify the focus of your trip and distinguish between these themes.

Walking the Newcastle Way

The Newcastle Way is a long-distance walking route that follows public rights of way through the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The section from Loggerheads to Market Drayton is 6.5 km long. Along this section, the route passes through part of Burnt Wood, across the open ground of Blore Heath and along shaded paths to the Shropshire Union Canal. The stage can therefore be understood not only by its length, but also by its landscapes: woodland, open ground and the route to the canal define different parts of the section described. The 6.5 km refers to this section, not to the long-distance route as a whole. This gives you a concrete reference point when considering a walking stage as part of your trip. Route conditions may change; check them before setting out.

The reference to the borough describes the long-distance route’s overall course; the distance, by contrast, defines the stage between Loggerheads and Market Drayton. This allows you to distinguish the route as a long-distance trail from the specifically named section.

A designated natural green space

The Turner Hodgkiss Community Nature Reserve is designated in Loggerheads as an accessible natural green space. This provides another nature theme alongside the clearly measured stage. Its designation highlights its character as a green space, whereas the Newcastle Way focuses on a specific route, its length and its landscapes. If you are considering Loggerheads for a nature-focused stay, you can distinguish between a long-distance walking route stage and the designated green space as different points of interest.

Architectural history from the church to Hales Hall

The Church of St John the Baptist has medieval origins. It was rebuilt in the Decorated style between 1860 and 1862, with the exception of the tower. The tower dates from around 1350 and was altered in the early 17th century. The 19th-century rebuilding of the church and the tower’s older building history therefore sit side by side; the dates refer to different parts of the church. The church also contains a Gerard memorial to Sir Gilbert and his wife. The building phases and memorial offer two distinct aspects of the building’s cultural history.

Hales Hall is a Grade II-listed country house in the parish of Loggerheads, built in 1790 for the Buchanan family. Unlike the Church of St John the Baptist, whose history encompasses medieval origins and a 19th-century rebuilding, Hales Hall can be linked to a specific construction date and the Buchanan family. The two buildings therefore offer different chronological starting points: the church’s multiple building phases are central, while Hales Hall is defined by its construction in 1790. These different perspectives on architecture and history may influence your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Himley, Cheddleton, Lichfield, Whittington, Ashley, Burntwood, Brewood, Pattingham.

For the wider travel overview: Staffordshire.