Outdoor Adventures in Stoke-On-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent offers plenty of thrills and adventures! Enjoy thrilling rides at Alton Towers, dine at top-quality restaurants or visit lively bars; or take in the scenery at Trentham Gardens.

Named after its six constituent towns: Hanley, Burslem, Longton, Tunstall and Fenton (although Arnold Bennett used more recognisable aliases for five of them in his novel) it is the only polycentric city in Britain.

Hiking

Hiking is a popular outdoor activity, which involves walking along trails or routes in natural environments. Hiking can be enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels and is especially beloved as an exercise routine or means to connect with nature while relieving stress. Hiking can also provide an exciting way to explore new areas while making new connections.

Stoke-on-Trent boasts several parks and nature reserves that provide opportunities for hiking. One such nine hectare Burslem Park hosts the City Farm as well as an 18th century Grade II listed bridge; additionally it houses Stoke’s botanical garden as well as various historic buildings.

Hiking through Staffordshire countryside is a wonderful way to enjoy an idyllic and relaxing experience, offering stunning mountain views and picturesque scenery to discover on your adventure. Additionally, hiking offers opportunities for cycling and swimming – perfect if time allows!

When searching for hiking trails, be sure to research their location and difficulty level before selecting one. Information may be available online or by contacting your local park’s ranger station; or even ask friends who enjoy hiking for advice.

Start off on an easy trail before increasing difficulty gradually. A difficult hike will take more time and require carrying additional supplies, yet can be immensely satisfying. Or take on multi-day camping out in nature!

Cycling

Discovering new destinations is always thrilling; whether that means traversing its streets and learning about a region, shopping in smaller shops for that perfect souvenir, or discovering art at local galleries – no matter the destination it will make the adventure worthwhile!

Cycling is an enjoyable, healthy activity that can be as intense or casual as desired. Cycling builds strength, stamina and aerobic fitness – perfect for transport! Plus it’s relatively straightforward for most people to pick up and learn as an exercise routine; great as low-impact therapy for injuries or illnesses too.

Cycle classes provide another great way to combine socialization with cycling; often featuring loud music and darkened rooms to create an almost-dance-club-like environment. These sessions can help get blood pumping and endorphins flowing while having fun with friends; you might even feel more motivated to keep cycling after one of these sessions!

Canoeing

As one of Britain’s only polycentric cities, Stoke-on-Trent boasts six towns: Burslem, Hanley, Longton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Fenton and Stoke. Each provides outdoor experiences perfect for water enthusiasts; one such adventure was launched as part of Europe City of Sport status: Heritage Canoe Trail was opened up just days after Olympic success for Stoke-on-Trent native Joe Clarke who paddled slalom at Rio.

City Council in partnership with Canal & River Trust and British Canoeing have introduced a 20-mile canal-based canoe trail. Beginning from Westport Lake in Burslem – mother town of The Potteries – paddlers can travel 2.5 miles along this canal-based trail to Middleport Pottery where Burleigh Ware can be purchased before reaching Hanley city centre for its historic city centre location.

This trail comes complete with a companion guide that provides historical background of each attraction along the route and offers advice for taking multiple short trips over time, rather than trying to complete all at once. Furthermore, it includes access points and campsites along its journey.

Trails are open year-round, and families can purchase a ticket allowing two adults and two children to tackle obstacles together. It’s an enjoyable way to experience spring’s fresh air and extend daylight hours!

Kayaking

As romantic as it may sound, paddling a kayak across a glassy lake with mist drifting through and its wake sparkling in sunlight can only truly be appreciated from within the water. If this type of exploration sounds appealing to you, learning the basics and getting paddle-ready shouldn’t be hard at all!

Kayaking offers an ideal way to explore remote wilderness areas and landscapes that is hard or impossible for hikers to access, such as camping on shorelines or discovering hidden coves that couldn’t otherwise be reached by foot.

Kayaking requires similar equipment as canoeing: double-bladed paddle, personal flotation device/life jacket, dry bag and waterproofs. A waterproof whistle may also come in handy as an emergency signal (three long blasts).

As your first kayaking session, try selecting a calm body of water with minimal or no powerboat traffic. Launch from sandy or gently sloping beaches as steep or mucky shorelines can make kayaking more difficult, while sunny weather and paddling with headwind or against current is optimal; otherwise you risk adding fatigue.

Be mindful that some bodies of water require you to obtain a waterways license in England and Wales before kayaking on them, such as those administered by British Canoeing (BA) and Canoe Wales (CW). Membership with either of these organisations also gives access to other waters managed by these authorities and gives access to benefits like insurance policies.

Walking

Visitors to Stoke on Trent have a wide variety of outdoor activities available to them when visiting. Take a leisurely stroll along one of its scenic routes or challenge yourself by scaling one of Staffordshire Moorlands and Peak District’s steeper slopes, or discover its canals and towpaths – there’s sure to be something suitable.

City attractions include the Staffordshire Ceramics Museum in Hanley and Etruria Industrial Museum located within an old potbank in Longton. Other popular destinations are Alton Towers Resort and Trentham Monkey Forest which house over 140 Barbary macaques within their 60-acre (240,000 m2) enclosure.

Cheshire sculptor Ondre Nowakowski created A Man Can’t Fly as an iconic landmark of their city after receiving commission by Cheshire council in 1989. This landmark piece represents human fragility balancing horizontally on one leg while performing arabesque dance movements (or ballet poses) on his other.

Education-wise, Stoke-on-Trent boasts four further and higher education institutions. City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College can be found on Leek Road; offering A Level teaching to approximately 1,800 students there. Stoke-on-Trent College serves apprenticeships and adult education at their campuses located in Shelton, Longton and Burslem.

CineBowl iSKATE is an entertainment centre with something for all ages and sizes – featuring state-of-the-art cinema, thrilling ten-pin bowling alley, and amazing ice-skating rink. Plus its Alpine Lodge Cafe serves delicious meals, snacks, and beverages to help recharge you after a fun-filled day on the slopes! Suitable for groups of any size; an unforgettable experience to unwind while having some healthy fun with friends!