Stone is a vibrant market town in Staffordshire, 7 miles north of Stafford. The town is steeped in a long and colourful history as a canal town, situated midway along the Trent and Mersey Canal. It has many friendly pubs, shops and lots of great restaurants. On the first Saturday of every month, the popular Farmers Market visits the town, attracting many visitors looking for speciality produce. There is a Craft and Collectables Market on every third Saturday and other themed markets appear during the year. The town markets are also a regular feature on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The Stone Food and Drink Festival takes place the first weekend in October and brings together the very best in local produce and cooking talent. It attracts in excess of 20,000 visitors to the town. National Trust Downs Banks is a protected heath and woodland area offering walking trails and a stream.