The Old Furnace and Annexe are set deep down in the Churnet Valley, at the head of the pretty valley of Dimmingsdale, with its leafy pools and wooded hillsides. There is rolling countryside all around.

THE IMMEDIATE AREA

Dimmingsdale belongs to Forest Enterprise, and there are waymarked walks through the woods. Half a mile up the road is Hawksmoor, the first nature reserve to be set up in the county. It belongs to the National Trust, and is a haven of peace and tranquility. The pretty stone village of Alton is just two miles away, and Cotton Dell, a lovely wooded valley with tumbling stream, owned by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, is one mile away in Oakamoor. Within two miles are Thormbury Hall, winners of many awards for their superb curries. It is one of the best in the country, and definitely the finest in the Midlands. Also four miles away is the most unusual pub in England, The Yew Tree in Cauldon (well worth a visit!).

The entire Churnet Valley is a beautiful area for walking, sightseeing and birdwatching, with industrial archaeology, including some of the oldest railways in the world, on our doorstep. The Churnet Valley Railway (a steam heritage line) is only three miles away, and boat trips are available on The Caldon Canal (also three miles). Dovedale and The Manifold Valley are 20 minutes' drive, and Leek, famous for its antique shops and William Morris associations, is the same distance.

In the vicinity are some of the best gardens in England:
•Consall Hall Landscape Garden (featured on TV)
•Biddulph Grange (NT)
•Trentham Gardens (the largest replanting/ restoration programme in the UK)
•Dorothy Clive Garden
•Bridgemere- England's largest garden centre.

The whole area is a walker's paradise. Within half a mile of your front door are:
The Staffordshire Way Long Distance Path (92 miles);
The Sabrina Way long distance bridleway;
The Weaver Walk (15 miles);
The Churnet Valley Geotrail (18 miles);
A Staffordshire Moorlands Walk (Furnace Forest).
There are also many open access areas and literally dozens of footpaths within the immediate vicinity.

Within easy driving distance of The Old Furnace are:
• The Peak District National Park
• Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Little Moreton Hall, Sudbury Hall and Shugborough National Trust properties
• Two Heritage Steam Railways
• Off-road Cycle Tracks
• Coombes Valley RSPB Reserve
• Stoke on Trent with its pottery shops and museums
(including Emma Bridgewater, Burleigh, Wedgwood, Minton and others)

Within easy reach by local buses are:
• Gladstone Pottery Museum and "Flushed with Pride" (the only Toilet museum in England!)
• Stoke on Trent City Museum- the largest collection of Staffordshire porcelain in the world
• the market town of Uttoxeter with its heritage centre and Samuel Johnson connections
• Cheadle with its famous Catholic Church
• the towns of Stafford, Newcastle under Lyme and Leek

PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION

We hold all current rail and local bus service timetables; just ring us on 01538 703331. Our buses, 14, 15 and 32a all come to within a ten minute walk of the front door, and run every hour in high summer, every two hours for the rest of the year. The first bus is before 5am, and the last bus is after 11.45pm, so we are very well served considering our rural location. You can connect with the 32a from the railway station at Uttoxeter (trains every hour), Uttoxeter bus station (local services), Cheadle bus station (local services) or Hanley bus station (local bus and national coach services). The 14 & 15 connect with Stoke on Trent inter-city station.Full details of timetable are available from us on 01538 703331.

OUR ACCOMMODATION

Our self catering accommodation is based in The Annexe, a self-contained cottage set within the grounds of The Old Furnace, see (Self Catering Accommodation).

We have been awarded the Environmental Quality Mark by the Peak District National Park Authority for our environmental concerns and conservation, and always do our bit for the local area. We are members of the Soil Association, the Churnet Valley Conservation Society and The National Trust, whilst John also writes local Tourist Guides to Staffordshire. For information about The Old Furnace see (History of the area).