Cheadle - Old market town with delightful old buildings, it has one literally outstanding: a Catholic church designed by the famous architect Pugin. It has a monstrous 200 foot spire. Near by to the east in the valley of the Churnet is Alton Towers pleasure park.

Leek - Eight miles north east of Stoke-on-Trent. Large market town lying on a hill in the Churnet valley. Artificial silk is manufactured here. There are ruins of Dieu la Cresse Abbey. Brindley Mill was built by James Brindley who was one of the great canal builders. Rudyard Lake, beloved of Mr. Rudyard Kipling's father and mother, is two miles away. The Roaches are fine hills in the neighbourhood.

Rugeley - Some nine miles south east of Stoke-on-Trent, (and on the Trent itself) Rugeley has pleasing historic buildings in its centre, and a superb feature on its door-step: Cannock Chase Country Park, the largest in Britain. Close by also is the park and mansion Shugborough.

Uttoxeter - Locally pronounced Uxeter. Fifteen miles south east of Stoke-on-Trent. A pleasant old-world town, with half-timbered buldings around the Market Place in which Dr. Johnson stood bareheaded in the rain, as a penance for disobeying his father, when he lived in the town. There are Roman remains. Town was partly destroyed in the Civil War and twice by fire. Heritage Centre in timber-framed buildings. National Hunt Steeplechase Course is outside Uttoxeter and nearby are Sudbury Hall (National Trust) with fine museum of childhood and Alton Towers leisure park. Town is on the route of the Staffordshire Way.