Rudyard Lake – Rudyard Lake and Steam Railway loop from Rudyard

Hiking trails & Routes

West Midlands Region

Staffordshire

Staffordshire Moorlands

Horton

Rudyard Lake – Rudyard Lake and Steam Railway loop from Rudyard

Easy

4.6

(5)

104

hikers

Rudyard Lake – Rudyard Lake and Steam Railway loop from Rudyard

01:21

5.30km

20m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

39 m

Rudyard Lake

Highlight • Lake

The lakeside village of Rudyard is a gorgeous place to start a walk. Circuits of the famously beautiful Rudyard Lake are deservedly popular, while hillwalkers will enjoy a romp to the 1,125-foot (343 m) summit of the Cloud or to nearby Gun at 1,263 feet (385 m).

Back in the village, the charming, narrow-gauge Rudyard Lake Steam Railway runs trips along the lakeside. Hotel Rudyard is a great option for food and lodgings.

Tip by

793 m

Rudyard Lake Café

Highlight • Cafe

A nice stop off for a freshly cut roll and a cup of tea

Tip by

832 m

Rudyard Lake

Highlight • Viewpoint

Rudyard Lake is in fact a reservoir, constructed in the 18th century to feed the Caldon Canal. It became a centre for recreation thanks to the North Staffordshire Railway, which would bring daytrippers to this beautiful spot. To this day, a range of activities take place on and around the lake.

In 1863, two visitors were so taken with its beauty that they named their son after the lake. The son was Rudyard Kipling, the famous author who went on to write the Jungle Book and the Man Who Would be King.

Tip by

1.60 km

View of Rudyard Lake Boathouses

Highlight • Viewpoint

2.15 km

Hunthouse Wood

Forest

2.39 km

Rudyard Lake and Steam Railway

Highlight • Lake

Wonderful walk along the lake to Hunthouse Woods, you can take one or both ways by the steam train

Tip by

2.60 km

View of the Lake

Highlight • Viewpoint

4.54 km

Blondin Statue

Highlight • Monument

Look up or you might walk straight past it 😊

Tip by

4.55 km

View of Rudyard Lake from the dam

Highlight • Viewpoint

Great view up the lake from the dam, easy access to the Rudyard railway, lovely ice creams etc from the cafe

Tip by

5.30 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

3.00 km

1.99 km

206 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.00 km

1.88 km

247 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Tuesday 6 October

13°C

6°C

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Comments

March 7, 2026,Hike

Excellent walk for a toddler, our 18 month old managed to walk from Rudyard cafe to the end of the train line, we then got the train back. Lots of toddler interest in boats, dogs, muddy puddles and a train!