Guidance for your visit
Most of Cannock Chase is owned or managed by Forestry England, Staffordshire County Council and other local authorities, and is open to the public for recreation on foot, horse or bike (not motor vehicles).
The National Landscape can also be explored along 157 km of public rights of way, including sections of long distance paths like the Heart of England Way, Staffordshire Way, and Way for the Millennium.
Shorter, local walks include the Cannock Chase Circular Walk – a mostly gentle eight mile route with a few steep sections to climb. Starting at The Glacial Boulder, it takes in the beauty of Fairoak Pool and the fun of the Stepping Stones at Sherbrook Valley.
The Staffordshire Tolkien Trail comprises three walks linked to the celebrated 20th Century author, JRR Tolkien, who spent much of his early life in Staffordshire and was one of the 500,000 men sent to the training camps at Brocton and Rugeley during World War I before being posted overseas.
When visiting the Chase, please respect other users and property, and keep to designated footpaths, horse and cycle routes. Tread lightly on the Chase, leave no trace, and help us keep it special.
We have produced a number of popular leaflets in a web-friendly format for you to easily view on screen or download.
To help you to plan your visit please view the short videos below that have been produced for each of the Milford Common, RAF Hednesford and Brindley Heath Trails to find out what you can expect to see on each of the walks.
Take a look at the Cannock Chase Access Guide below which provides more information on the facilities available at the visitor centres, sensory information on what you can see, hear and feel and details on some of the trails and car parks to help you to plan your visit.
Wolseley and the Trent Valley
6.5 miles | Long (over 6 miles) | Approx. 2.5 hours
A walk through contrasting landscapes.
Tixall and Shugborough
5.5 miles | Medium (4-6 miles) | Approx. 2 hours
7.5 miles | Long (over 6 miles) | Approx. 2.75 hours
Explore the heritage in the north of the AONB.
Sow Valley
8.25 miles | Long (over 6 miles) | Approx. 3 hours
Explore canal and ecclesiastical heritage in the north of the AONB.
Rugeley and Cannock Chase Forest
9.25 miles | Long (over 6 miles) | Approx. 3.5 hours
Explore Cannock Chase Forest from Rugeley.
Around Castle Ring and Beaudesert Old Park
5.25 miles | Medium (4-6 miles) | Approx. 2 hours
A woodland walk on forest tracks.
Around Rugeley Camp and Fairoak Valley
4.75 miles | Medium (4-6 miles) | Approx. 2 hours
Exploring military and mining history.
Brindley Heath Trails
1.25 – 2.25 miles | Short (under 4 miles) | Approx. 1 – 2 hours
Brindley Heath is steeped in memories, and together with its natural history, offers three circular waymarked trails for everyone to enjoy.
Milford Common Trails
2 miles | Short (under 4 miles) | Up to 1 hour
Two circular walks on country paths.
RAF Hednesford Trail
2 miles | Short (under 4 miles) | Approx. 1 hour
A circular walk on level, well surfaced paths.
Tolkien trail
The Staffordshire Tolkien trail is a series of three linked walks that cover over 30 miles of the Staffordshire Countryside on and around Cannock Chase. The walks focus on Staffordshire’s J.R.R Tolkien connection.
Tolkien walks
1 mile / 2 miles | Short (under 4 miles) | 1 hour / 2 hours
These short walks are ones that JRR Tolkien probably undertook whilst he was in the area and which walkers and Middle-earth lovers will enjoy.
Cannock Chase geotrail
This geotrail is designed to give a gimpse of the rocks, landscape and the geological industrial heritage of the area.
Cannock Chase heritage trail
A 10-mile cycling and walking route linking the towns of Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley. It passes through, or close to sites of historic or environmental interest, with interpretation boards along the way that tell the story of each location.
