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.

A mature father with a dog and a toddler son in an autumn forest, using binoculars.

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.

Access Guide

Videos of Trails

Milford Common Red Trail – 2 miles (3.2 km) approx. 1 hour

Milford Common Green Trail – 2 miles (3.2 km) approx. 1 hour

RAF Hednesford Trail – 2 miles (3.2 km) approx. 1 hour

Brindley Heath Blue Trail – 2.25 miles (3.6 km) approx. 2 hours

Brindley Heath Red Trail – 1.25 miles (2 km) approx. 1 hour

Brindley Heath Green Trail – 2 miles (3.2 km) approx. 2 hours

Walking

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.

The Cannock Chase Heritage Trail has recently been brought to life with animation. This is a 10 mile route linking the towns of Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley. It passes through, or close to sites of historic or environmental interest with interpretation panels along the way to tell the story at each location.

Find a selection of walking routes in the PDF’s below:

Wolseley and the Trent Valley – 6.5 miles long and takes 2.5 hours approx.

Tixall and Shugborough – 5.5 miles and takes 2 hours approx., option of 7.5 miles and takes 2.75 miles

Sow Valley – 8.25 miles and takes 3 hours approx.

Rugeley and Cannock Chase Forest – 9.25 miles and takes 3.5 hours approx.

Around Castle Ring and Beaudesert Old Park – 5.25 miles and takes 2 hours approx.

Around Rugeley Camp and Fairoak Valley – 4.75 miles and takes 2 hours

Brindley Heath Trails Three circular walks on country paths 1.25 to 2.25 miles long and will take 1 to 2 hours approx.

Milford Common Trails Two circular walks on country paths 2 miles long and will take up to an hour.

RAF Hednesford Trail A circular walk on level, well surfaced paths, 2 miles long and will take an hour approx.

Staffordshire Way Circular Walks – Cannock Chase

Staffordshire Way Circular Walks – Shugborough Hall & Sherbrook Valley

Tolkien Walks

The Cannock Chase Geotrail (2 MB)

Cannock Chase Heritage Trail

Cycling

Cannock Chase is a brilliant location for natural cycling, whether you are just learning to ride a bike, or are a seasoned mountain biker. Cannock Chase is a great day out for everyone.

You can find a number of cycling trails on the Forestry England website including the:

Fairoak Trail (2.5 miles)
Perry’s Trail (2.7 miles)
Monkey Trail (4.2 miles)

How to care for Cannock Chase as a cyclist

You can download some information about cycling on Cannock Chase and around Staffordshire below:

Cycling in the AONB (701 KB)

Horse-riding

We welcome horse riders to come and explore Cannock Chase and its outstanding beauty.

We have a network of bridleways across Cannock Chase where horse riders are welcome.

Here are a number of routes you can take:

Two Riding Routes Starting at Milford Common (1 MB)

Two Riding Routes Starting at Milford Common – Map (430 KB)

Two Riding Routes Starting at Seven Springs Car Park (1 MB)

Two Riding Routes Starting at Seven Springs Car Park – Map (442 KB)

How to care for Cannock Chase while horse-riding: 

Please see The British Horse Society website on how be a responsible horse rider.

Horse Sense in the AONB 2013 (877 KB)

Cannock Chase National Landscape

Features of Cannock Chase guide, Field Studies Council Publication

Welcome to Cannock Chase

Butterflies and moths of Cannock Chase (2 MB)

Cannock Chase Military History (1 MB)

Freda’s Footsteps – Dogs Made Welcome (774 KB)

History (1 MB)

Landscape (1 MB)

Lest We Forget (426 KB)

Nature Conservation (2 MB)

Things to see

Evidence of human activity on the chase can be seen everywhere.

 Castle Ring, an Iron Age hill fort lies at its southern edge at the highest point on the chase (242 m / 794 ft), offering visitors spectacular panoramic views.

 Shugborough Hall, ancestral home of the Earls of Lichfield, can be found at the northern edge of Cannock Chase. Its impressive historic house, gardens and estate date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Today it is maintained by the National Trust, offering visitors tours of the house, as well as the opportunity to explore the Servants’ Quarters, Georgian Park Farm and Walled Garden, and 900 acres of grounds.

Lying in between Castle Ring and Shugborough, and occupying the heart of the AONB, is a 1000 year old hunting forest, used by royalty and bishops. The AONB also has a wealth of industrial remains, with evidence of glassmaking, ironworking, coal mining and quarrying. Coal mining in the AONB was particularly extensive, with the earliest recordings of mining dating to the 13th century and covering a period of 700 years. The Museum of Cannock Chase located in Hednesford tells the fascinating story of Cannock Chase from its beginnings to the present day.

During WWI the AONB included one of the largest military training camps in England. Other military features within the AONB include the Commonwealth Cemetery and the German Military Cemetery, both of which are open to the public.

For those seeking active outdoor pursuits, Cannock Chase Forest Centre has plenty to offer, including scenic woodland walks, mountain bike trails, Go Ape Treetop Adventures, and Go Ape Forest Segway. Details of the trails can be found here .

Shoal Hill Common is easy to find situated just off the B5012, between Penkridge and Cannock. There is ample parking located just off Cocksparrow Lane. There are lots of walking paths to take from the car park.