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You are here: Home > Ideas & Inspiration > Explore our Destinations > Staffordshire Moorlands & Peaks > Cheadle
Cheadle - Gateway to the Churnet Valley
The nearest town to Alton Towers, Cheadle is a great base for visitors looking for things to do in the Churnet Valley, including the UK’s number one theme park resort! But with links to coal mining, brass, copper and textile industries there’s so much more industrial heritage to discover in and around Cheadle.
The standout attraction of this pretty Staffordshire Moorlands market town is undoubtedly St Giles’ Roman Catholic Church, more commonly known as ‘Pugin’s Gem’, which was commissioned in 1841 by John Talbot, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury who lived at nearby Alton Towers. It was build by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, best known for designing the Houses of Parliament in London!
Considered to be the finest Victorian Gothic church in England, with an elaborately decorated interior, visitors are invited to step inside and insert £1 in the meter box to illuminate the church and admire the glorious décor.
Cheadle’s High Street and town centre boast a range of local independent retail and hospitality businesses including butchers, bakers and gelato makers; restaurants, pubs, cafes and takeaways as well as Cross Street Oatcakes making our local delicacy, the Staffordshire Oatcake fresh to order!
There’s an active arts group in Cheadle who regularly ‘yarn bomb’ the town centre to mark key dates such as Easter, Halloween and Remembrance Sunday covering bollards and the market cross with colourful knitted creations.
Surrounded by rolling countryside and nestled close to the heart of the Churnet Valley, Cheadle affords plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities like walking, cycling, fishing and canal boating.
From the accessible Churnet Valley Greenway, a level traffic-free former railway track which runs between Oakamoor and Denstone, and is ideal for bikes, buggies and little legs; to challenging hillside hikes, you’ll find routes to suit all ages and abilities.
On the outskirts of the town, adjacent to Hales Hall Caravan & Camp site, lies Hales Hall Pool a perfect spot to stretch your legs or exercise your dog beside the peaceful lake. Nearby, other country parks and nature reserves include Hawksmoor Woods (National Trust), Dimmingsdale Forest (Forestry England), Consall Nature Park & Coombes Valley Woods (RSPB) and Froghall Wharf Basin with direct access to the tranquil Caldon Canal.
A trip to Cheadle wouldn’t be complete without visiting one of the wonderful heritage steam railways in the vicinity! Foxfield Railway at Blythe Bridge runs for just over 2 miles through pretty Staffordshire countryside, and Churnet Valley Railway at Froghall runs through the stunning river valley beside the Caldon canal for approximately 10 miles.
Scroll down to see a selection of businesses in and around Cheadle or visit cheadlestaffordshire.co.uk for more information about the town.
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