Canalside 40 – A 40 mile road bike ride in Staffordshire
The Canalside 40 was devised for a late season ride we organised for the first time in 2021. The route features some early climbing as you make your way across Cannock Chase in the first half of the ride. That terrain contrasts with the rolling roads of the second half of the ride as you loop round through East Staffordshire and back to the finish.
The route starts and finishes at Canalaside Farm Shop and Cafe. If you’re driving there to do this ride, please check their website for details of parking charges
About the route:
When you leave Canalside, the first section of the route takes you through Tixall and onto Milford. There you’ll pass Run and Ride, a last chance to pick up anything you’ve forgotten or fix any faults before you start to climb up towards Brocton. A short descent through the village then gives you a little time to contemplate your form before the the biggest and most sustained bit of climbing in this ride begins.
After leaving Brocton you’re briefly on the A34 before the climbing starts and barring a couple of short bits of respite, you’ve got 3 miles of climbing now to reach the high point of the ride which comes after 8 miles.
A short descent is followed by a couple more climbs as you traverse Cannock Chase, dropping down into Birches Valley then up through Beau Desert to the top of Stile Cop.
Top of the cop
From the top of the climb its 10 miles of mostly downhill to take you through Upper Longdon, Longdon Green and on to Kings Bromley. The route we’ve used here ducks and dives through some little lanes so be on the look out for potholes, horses and the occasional rat runner as you make your way through this section!
Once you get to Kings Bromley you’re past the half way point, so if snacks are required this is a good spot to refuel at the co-op that’s in the middle of the village.
Hoar Cross
After a short section of riding along the A515 you’re quickly back into little lanes again as the road once again gradually rises up, but this time much more gently than in the opening parts of the ride. On the way up the long incline to Hoar Cross Hall there’s an opportunity to stop for coffee at The Deer Park farm shop
Things get a bit Belgian
Once you’re up at the top of the climb to Hoar Cross, the terrain for the remainder of the ride is best described as a bit Belgian. There are no big climbs to take on, but the road is rarely flat. Surfaces on this section can be a bit agricultural too and there’s even a bit of concrete road down by Blithfield Reservoir for complete authenticity!
If you’ve not been this way before, the reservoir is a beautiful spot that feels the full force of the seasons, so you might have your breath taken away by the sun, rain, cold or wind depending on when you tackle this route!
Once up and out of the valley in which the reservoir sits it’s more lumps and bumps all the way back to Great Haywood and the Canalside Farm Shop and Cafe for a well deserved rest!
Useful Links:
There are a few places along the route to grab a spot to eat or drink. Always check opening hours at these venues before planning a stop off though, as some operate reduced opening times during the week depending on the season.
Canalside Farm is your start/finish point for the ride – check the website for details of parking if you’re driving there for the ride
Run and Ride is just after the start of the ride at Milford if you need any last minute repairs or spares
Deerpark Farm comes around the 27mile point on the ride and has a cafe
Cobwebs cafe is just off the ride route (just before the 32mile point, we’ve added it as a point of interest on the RideWithGPS map
