Downs Banks Circular Walk
Staffordshire
Downs Banks is a small National Trust valley two miles north of Stone, carved by meltwater at the end of the last ice age into a steep sided cleft of heath, grassland and oak woodland with a stream along its floor, and dogs can go off lead once clear of the car park. The Trust has managed the 178 acre site since 1946, and paths follow the stream from the Washdale Lane car park before climbing onto the heathy tops, where gorse and bracken give way to views over the Trent valley. The main route along the valley floor covers about 2.4km on easy, well surfaced paths, and a further 0.8km extension climbs onto higher ground for a longer circuit, around 40 metres of ascent in total. Stepping stones cross the stream partway along, a popular spot to pause.
This is a genuinely dog friendly walk, and the National Trust says a well behaved dog can go off the lead in the woodland once you cross the footbridge from the car park, giving plenty of scope to roam among the trees and heather. The stream running the length of the valley is shallow and easy for a dog to paddle in, and there is no grazing livestock on site to worry about. Shade from the oak woodland makes this a good choice on warm days. There are no toilets or refreshments at Downs Banks itself, so bring water and take dog mess home with you, but Stone has plenty of dog-friendly pubs and cafes a short drive away.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.1 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, Heathland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- None on site; no toilets, bins or cafe. Dog-friendly pubs and cafes in Stone, a short drive away.
- Parking
- Washdale Lane car park, National Trust, free.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Downs Banks Circular Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in StaffordshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Downs Banks Circular Walk dog friendly?
Downs Banks is one of the more dog-friendly spots in Staffordshire, earning a rating of 8 out of 10. There's no grazing livestock on site, a shallow stream dogs can paddle in freely, and shady oak woodland that makes it a comfortable option on warmer days.
Can dogs be off lead at Downs Banks Circular Walk?
Yes — the National Trust allows well-behaved dogs off the lead in the woodland once you cross the footbridge from the car park. That gives plenty of room to roam among the trees and heather throughout the valley, making this an excellent choice if your dog enjoys a good off-lead run.
What should I know before visiting Downs Banks Circular Walk with my dog?
There are no facilities on site — no toilets, bins or café — so bring water for yourself and your dog, and take any mess home with you. The good news is that Stone is just a couple of miles away and has dog-friendly pubs and cafes if you fancy stopping off afterwards.
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Downs Banks Car Park, Washdale Lane, Oulton, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 8UU
52.9260, -2.1500
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