Drink in the view from five tea rooms near Leek

Within a ten-minute drive from Leek, you can find Rudyard Lake. It’s a peaceful venue that was created over 200 years ago to supply water to the West Midlands canal system. Visitors will enjoy some of the most dramatic scenery in the Staffordshire Moorlands. They can also watch some of the many water activities that take place on the 2.5-mile-long lake.

It’s a popular venue with our Care Professionals, as they can take clients for an afternoon stroll and then enjoy a cuppa and cake at the lakeside café, which also serves both hot and cold meals. This has recently been extended and is now open nearly every day throughout the year. There’s also a steam railway, with the Platform 2 Café at Rudyard Station. This offers both open-air and covered seating and is dog friendly.

Biddulph Grange is another great place to visit with an older client, although further from Leek (about 20 miles). The park has disabled access and good paths. Although hilly, there’s wheelchair access as far as the main pool. There are woodlands, meadows, a large lake, and ponds, in a landscape inspired by the Victorians. The main pool has a restored 1904 stone boathouse. Our Care Professionals who love gardens enjoy visiting here in the different seasons.

There’s parking for 40 cars at the Country Park. Batemans Café offers everything from soups and sandwiches to jacket potatoes, quiches, and cakes. The Hideaway coffee shop has a five-star food hygiene rating and serves hot meals, cakes, snacks, drinks, and Snugburys ice cream. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. It’s open from 10:00 am on Saturdays to Tuesdays, and for longer during school holidays. There’s also a lovely tea room at the recently restored Camelia House.

You’ll find a warm welcome at the Cottage Kitchen Country Café in the beautiful Staffordshire Moorlands – again, just a ten-minute drive from Leek. Here, seniors can tuck into the locally sourced, freshly prepared food. The café provides easy general access both inside and outside, including good disabled access and facilities. Dogs are welcome in the outside seating area.

There’s a gift shop on the site, selling a range of luxury foods (including locally sourced preserves and gins, condiments and a variety of sweet and savoury treats) as well as more unusual gifts. There’s also a bakery on the site and it has a large car park. Find the café situated on the main road between Leek and Ashbourne.