Places to visit

Cannock Chase is situated on a domed plateau. It offers inspiring views and has been shaped by thousands of years of communities farming, trading and protecting themselves. You can see the remains of the Iron Age hillfort at Castle Ring  which occupies the highest point of the National Landscape at 242m. There are other numerous historic sites on the Chase where wealthy landowners created stately homes, gardens and parks in the 17th and 18th centuries. The most intact is the National Trust’s Shugborough Estate, the family homes of the Earls of Lichfield and once lived in by the fashion photographer Patrick Lichfield. A stunning walled garden, house, farm, areas for play for children and renowned cafe for a delicious afternoon tea can all be found here.

Take the family cycling at Cannock Chase Forest Centre with its established gentle cycling trails through the forest to the more challenging mountain bike routes for more extreme cycling. Take the treetop challenge and see the forest from above at Go Ape where you can head up into the trees with nearly 1500m of tree to tree crossings.

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wolseley Centre has a small lake, accessible paths and nature trails with a café for refreshments. There are a number of other Nature Reserves to visit around the Chase.

The Museum of Cannock Chase has a year round programme of touring exhibitions and the galleries and artists provide the backdrop to the social and industrial heritage of the area.

The Chase has a unique military heritage. During the Great War two huge Army training camps were constructed and later when the Second World War looked imminent RAF Hednesford was built and many service personnel were trained here. The buildings are long gone but the road infrastructure and buildings remains are still visible.  The German Military Cemetery dedicated in 1967, contains nearly 5,000 burials from both World Wars. Together with the nearby Commonwealth cemetery and other smaller memorials provide a poignant rem  inder to the human cost of conflict.

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