A flat, shaded 4 mile out and back through Dimmingsdale to a cursed oak tree wrapped in chains, with a café stop on the way and Alton Towers close enough to hear.
What to expect
The Chained Oak is a huge, old oak tree in Dimmingsdale, wrapped in heavy chains. The story goes that in the 1830s a beggar woman asked the Earl of Shrewsbury for money as he passed in his coach. He refused, so she cursed him, for every branch that fell from the oak, a member of his family would die. When a branch did fall and a death followed, the Earl had the tree chained up to stop any more branches coming down.
It’s the same legend behind the Hex ride at Alton Towers, which backs onto Dimmingsdale, you can hear the rides and the screams from the trail. The walk itself is flat and shaded the whole way, easy going, dogs on lead.
Getting there & parking
Oakamoor Picnic Site, Mill Road, Oakamoor, ST10 3AG. Free parking, toilets on site.
The route
It’s an out and back, about 4 miles round trip. From the picnic site, follow the trail down into Dimmingsdale. About halfway along you’ll reach the Ramblers Retreat café, worth stopping at, then carry on to the Chained Oak before turning back the same way to the car.
Tips & what to bring
Good shade the whole way, one for hot days. Bring water anyway, and keep dogs on lead throughout.
Eat & drink nearby
The Ramblers Retreat, Dimmingsdale Lodge, Red Road, Alton, ST10 4BU. We just grabbed cold drinks since it was so hot, but they do breakfast, lunch, Staffordshire oatcakes, toasted sandwiches and homemade cakes too. Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays except bank holidays.
Places to stay nearby
More walks near here
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