Rail Ale Trail Staffordshire 2024

There’s nothing like the first sip of an ice-cold beer on a summer’s day. Our festival combines a love of ale with live music and good food, tied together with a ride through the beautiful Churnet Valley aboard an impeccably-restored heritage locomotive. Spanning 5 and a half miles, with events on-board and off, the Rail Ale Trail is the perfect way to spend a July weekend with family and friends.

Once on board, relax in the vintage comfort of our 1950s-style carriages and peruse our extensive ale list while the stunning Churnet Valley landscape rolls by outside. With over 30 varieties from all over, you can sample your way up and down the country.

Cheddleton station is a throwback to the Victorian era, with an original Grade II-listed building. Hop off here to explore the locomotive sheds, which are, and stroll around the country village. Take a little wander down by the canal to see St Edwards Church and the Cheddleton Flint Mill, before returning to the station and our smaller bar for your next round of beers.

Our main festival location will be at Consall. The tiny village is only accessible by train, giving it an exclusive, secret-garden feel. Join us here for live music and soak up the buzzing atmosphere. There will also be a variety of food stalls offering tasty treats to festivalgoers. Eat, drink, and dance until late on both days of the festival. Don’t forget to check out the delightful Black Lion pub too!

Walk in any direction out of the village to experience beautiful and peaceful countryside walks in the Staffordshire Moorland. Because of the frequency of our trains throughout the weekend, you can be as leisurely as you like when you explore the stops en-route. This makes for a laid-back day for you to simply enjoy.

Image Source: Churnet Valley Railway