Upside:
The new bit, which connects the end section in Shropshire with the rest from Stafford that previously went beyond Gnosall and just stopped, is wider than the rest. Two cyclists could comfortably potter along two abreast if the path was clear (you could do this on the Shropshire bit, but that is a bit narrower). It has a surface of fairly small gravel, not as smooth as clay, but not bad. I tried it up to 15mph, at which point it got a bit bumpy, as if there were slight lateral ridges, but it wasn't bad even on my bike which has 23c HP tyres and an aluminium frame. I suspect it will pack down.
This overall means that from Stafford to Newport, you only have to cross a tiny minor road on the flat, and come off the track once, and that's at Gnosall where the bridge has gone. You have to drop down from the embankment, cross the road at a cycle crossing with lights, and go back up. The Stafford side isn't too bad, the Newport side is a mess, steep, loose gravel with a nasty hairpin half way up.
I did the Haughton>Newport section only. Unless it has been resurfaced since I last used it, be warned that the surface at the other end between Derrington and Stafford is like ballast, doable but very uncomfortable on a road bike.
I had a lovely ride on my section, primroses,shady trees just starting to come out a lot of the way, silver birches etc. Some bits it was like riding in a wood (for some reason they have put little bends in bits of it). Benches to stop at, even picnic tables between Gnosall and Newport, and at the get-on point at Haughton where you can park a car if you want to start from there as a visitor. There is a point where you can access the canal towpath.
Downside:
The path dumps you on the A41 outside Newport, and after that is badly signed or not signed at all.
You have to swing left on a tarmac-ed section towards a nasty roundabout when you come off the track, and you have to cross the A41 close to the roundabout itself. Heavy and fast-moving traffic makes this difficult, though there is a central refuge. A very kind driver stopped to let me across on my way back, thank you, sir!:D
Once over the road, the tarmac path swings you right into an industrial estate and dumps you there with no signage. If you followed road signs, you'd have to return to the main Telford road and cross it (no fun) and then cycle along it to the next roundabout, and turn right into Newport (absolutely no fun at all, as this is a very fast road). However, I asked a local, and if you carry on through the industrial estate, straight on at the little roundabout, and carry on, buses and cycles can get into the town centre. You cross a chicane with bollards and then take the second left to the main street. Turn left on the main street if you want the excellent 2nd hand bookshop and are feeling up to cycling back with a pile of books in your rackpack
, right for the main drag.