You are at Stage 1 and the beginning of your journey. This is where the life of the River Trent begins and it is called the upper course. The Trent is born in the hills of North Staffordshire. Water runs off the hills and collects into lots of streams in 'V' shaped valleys. These valleys are narrow and have almost no level ground. These streams will carry only a small amount of water and that water will be generally be clean and clear except when there is heavy rain.