Limestone Way 4

Ilam to Rocester
10.01 miles
870 ft ascent

The landscape changes very subtly over a distance of 50 miles, as the steep hills and dales of the Peak District morph into the much gentler folds of northern Staffordshire, and walking's the only best way to see it with the ground passing, passing inexorably under your feet. 

The stiles on the first two days were mostly of the squeeze variety with the extra security of a gate as well, and I'm not big but I got my foot and then my knee stuck in the gap on two occasions... but mostly it was just a case of opening the gate and then lifting yourself a little higher with your hands to enable your body and rucksack to fit through.

Today the stiles changed to those that require a leg up and climb over, the choice of Staffordshire County Council, but not easy for walkers with very tired legs who found the big step up rather gruelling. But we did it and arrived in Rocester, home of JCB, just after lunch to find that the only pub was shut!  We went into the neighbouring Co-Op and three of us had a pint of milk instead, before phoning the mini-cab taxi to see if it could pick us up a little earlier than planned.  I think the pub is missing a trick, he should have a sign saying "The Limestone Way ends HERE!" although of course the official ending is a row of cottages just up the road.  A lovely walk and I think we're planning to do the Coast to Coast walk next year.

The walk begins here.

The main was taken not long after leaving Ilam and shows Thorpe Cloud on the right and Bunster Hill on the left.
The first extra is a dead mole I spotted by the wayside this morning. I've never seen one before and I love those massive hands!
The second is the six of us at the official finish.