Stowe-by-Chartley

The Library, Inn and Pavilion

The old red telephone box in Stowe-by-Chartley isn't a telephone box any more. Somebody took the phone out, put in some shelves, and it's now the village library, a stop on the shorter parish walk and a local history point.

Across the road, opposite the church, is the Cock Inn: fifteenth century, its original crook frame and beams still holding the roof up. Round the back is the Pavilion, a wood-fired restaurant that used to be the village meeting room until the owner, Michael Beardmore, converted it in the late 1990s and put a cricketing mural on the wall.

The oven does pizzas, pies and beef brisket. On the bar there's St Austell Tribute as the regular, with two guest ales rotating through Three Tuns, Wye Valley, Timothy Taylor and the local Uttoxeter Brewery.

Village Hospitality and Amerton Produce

The pub has a beer garden and sits on Station Road.

The former station's passenger service ended in 1939.

At Amerton Farm, the farm shop sells meat, vegetables, homemade pies, cakes and everyday essentials.

Tearooms, Family Stops and Church Stone

Belle A Pepe tearoom serves homemade food, artisan drinks and bakes.

The wider centre brings together Billy's Farm Barn, with farm animals and indoor and outdoor play, an artisan hall and the narrow-gauge Amerton Railway.

St John the Baptist has a 12th-century core and a three-stage west tower. Its chancel contains the tomb of Walter Devereux, who died in 1558, with effigies of his wives Mary and Margaret.

Memorials and Two Parish Walks

Two marble memorial tablets by Edwin Lutyens commemorate General Sir Walter Congreve and his son William. Both served in the Rifle Brigade and received the Victoria Cross.

The Stowe Walk is about 5¼km from the village hall, taking in the former school, the red telephone-box library, the church, the Old Thatch and the Jubilee Tree. Stiles and farmland sections call for sturdy footwear.

The longer Chartley Walk gives glimpses of ruined Chartley Castle and passes the side entrance to Chartley Hall. Mary, Queen of Scots was held in 1585–86 at the moated Chartley Old Hall, built after the castle was abandoned; messages reached her in beer barrels during the Babington Plot.

Moss, Cattle and Walking Ground

The 13km walk follows public rights of way near Chartley Moss rather than crossing the floating bog. The bog surface is extremely treacherous, and reserve areas may be entered only with an authorised person. It also passes the white Old Park cattle, marked by black muzzles, ears and fetlocks.

This 13km walk crosses stiles and often muddy fields; the village hall on Station Road is the start and finish.