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13 BEST Cannock Chase Walks to do in 2023 [+ map]

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Cannock Chase AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is an amazing, outdoor space in Staffordshire, England. It was established in 1958 and is composed of a mixture of mainly woodland, lakes and open heathland. Cannock Chase forest is the ideal place to walk, cycle or even horse ride, and is certainly one of the best ways to spend a day out in Staffordshire.

Whilst it’s always easy to hop on a flight the minute we have any time off, there’s plenty of local and UK beauty spots to enjoy right on our doorsteps. There are so many Cannock Chase walks for you to get out an enjoy, as well as some interesting spots to check out whilst you’re there, so here is my guide to making the most out of visiting Cannock Chase, with some of the best Cannock Chase walks and activities.

Cannock Chase Walks the best spots on Cannock Chase small waterfall

Map of Cannock Chase

Getting Around Cannock Chase

Ideally the best way to get to Cannock Chase is by a car, although the closest towns to the area – Rugeley, Cannock and Stafford – can all be accessed by trains and local buses.

Various spots in Cannock Chase have different postcodes so I’ve included them all by the relevant spots to help you locate them, as well as the relevant points on the what.3.words app. Every 3 metre square of the world has been given a unique combination of three words and the what3words app gives you all of these. It’s the ideal way to know where you are or where you’re going in all situations whether that be out exploring, meeting a friend or in an emergency. 

Find out the what.3.words for your current location!

Or download the app to your phone here!

BEST Cannock Chase Walks to do in 2023

1. Seven Springs Cannock Chase

One of my favourite spots on Cannock Chase is Seven Springs. You can easily access here by parking up at the Seven Springs car park. You can find it on the A513 between Wolseley Bridge and Milford. The turning is directly opposite Meadow Lane which is signposted Little Haywood. There’s plenty of paths to follow and get lost on around here, and the tall fir trees make you almost feel like you’re in Scandinavia, not the West Midlands! There’s also a bit of a sketchy and make shift rope swing around this area – swing into the trees on this at your own risk!

Seven Springs, Cannock Chase what.3.words – ///relies.trifling.greyhound postcode: ST17 0WT

2. Berkswich Millenium Sundial

This Cannock Chase spot is located at the stunning Broc Hill where you can find an amazing panoramic view. You can see as far as the Wrekin which is over 30 miles away. This makes it one of the best sunset spots on Cannock Chase. The sundial is best accessed from the Broc Hill Way and The Cutting Car Parks. From these car parks you can follow the relevant footpaths up Broc Hill, and subsequently the sundial. It was designed by a Stafford college lecturer and is one part of a pair, commissioned by the ‘Berkswich Millenium Sculpture Group’ to commemorate the year 2000. So, if you’ve forgotten to bring your watch with you, don’t worry you can find out what time it is up here – unless it’s cloudy, in which case I can’t help you unfortunately. 

Broc Hill Way sundial cannock chase
sunset at Broc Hill Way sundial cannock chase

3. Tackeroo, Cannock Chase Campsite

Tackeroo is a great Cannock chase campsite and caravan site where you can pitch up and enjoy a forestry stay. Find out more information about camping here. But if you aren’t looking to stay, there’s a car park just over the road which is a great point to start a walk from. You can jump onto the Sherbrook Trail from here which encompasses some of the best woodlands and heathland on the Chase. Tackeroo also isn’t too far from the Marquis Drive where you can find the visitor centre and access to the Fairoak Trail and Fairoak Pools – (more on all these later!)

Tackeroo Campsite what3words – ///dispensed.clan.cracking Postcode – WS15 2UA

Download what.3.words onto your phone here

4. Cannock Chase Stepping Stones Walk

The Stepping Stones are one of Cannock Chases prettiest and most popular spots. You can find them crossing over the Sher Brook in Sherbrook Valley. They are easily accessed by a variety of different Cannock Chase trails, but quickest and easiest way to reach the Stepping Stones is by parking at the Punchbowl carpark. 

Alternatively, you could start at The Cutting car park, and walk straight through the cutting, passing Mere Pool, and then head to the Stepping Stones. There are a few picnic benches near to the Stepping Stones as well as a grassy area which makes it the perfect picnic stop on Cannock Chase.

Cannock chase stepping stones walk

5. Satnall Hills

This Cannock Chase carpark is just across the road from the Punchbowl. At the carpark you can see a quarry face made up of pebbly Kidderminster Formation which underlies most of Cannock Chase. This is a great spot to start a leg of the Cannock Chase Geo trail, and learn more about the geographical history of Cannock Chase.

Satnall Hills Carpark what.3.words – ///cracking.unusable.repeats Postcode – ST17 0UP

6. Fair Oak Pools and Marquis Drive

The Fair Oak pools are a beautiful spot on Cannock Chase ideal for walk around and relaxing by, especially on a sunny day. The easiest way to access the pools are by parking at Marquis Drive. You can find Cannock Chase visitor centre here. 

Getting to Fair Oak Pools from Marquis Drive

From Marquis Drive walk up the ‘Restricted usage road’ and then head left to follow a path through the trees. This crosses the Follow the Dog MTB trail so be wary! As you continue the pools you will find yourself following the Stony Brook, which flows into the 2 lakes making up Fair Oak Pools. 

Alternatively you can reach the pools by parking at Birches Valley visitor centre and following the Fairoak Trail.

girl on tree at fair oak pools cannock chase

7. Castle Ring Hillfort

This iron age hillfort is found on the southern edge of Cannock Chase. At an elevation of 242m Castle Ring is the highest point on Cannock Chase. The hillfort is thought to be first occupied in around 50AD by the Ancient British tribe, Cornovii. The closest carpark to the hillfort is Castle Ring, found off Holly Hill Road. 

8. Birches Valley Visitor Centre

Birches Valley has got to be one of the most significant spots on Cannock Chase. There’s lots to see and do here, especially for families, so expect it to get busy at weekends and during school holidays. Close to the carpark you can find the activity centre, The Grounds Café and Go Ape High Ropes Activity Trail.There’s also a lot of spaces for picnicking in the area. This is a great spot to join the Lady Hill trail, Rugeley Heritage Trail, Fairoak Trail and Sherbrook Trail

Book your Go Ape adventure at Birches Valley Cannock Chase here.

At Christmastime Birches Valley is possibly one of the most popular places in Staffordshire to come to buy a real Christmas tree. Aside from loads of fir trees for sale, there’s also food and drink stands and music, so it’s worth a visit even if you don’t need a tree!

Birches Valley Car Park what.3.words – ///quest.unscathed.vitamins Postcode – WS15 2UQ

girl Christmas market birches valley cannock chase

9. Camp Road and Cannock Chase War Cemetery 

The scenic Camp Road winds through Cannock Chase and is located just off the A34 Cannock Road. There are various roads off to car parks along the way where you can enjoy exploring Cannock Chase. You can also find the Springslade Lodge café and tea room along Camp Road. 

Just before the end of Camp Road and the cross roads with Broadhurst Green at Hednesford, you will find the German Military Cemetery. It was established in 1956 and is the burial place for nearly 5000 soliders from the First and Second World Wars. It is mainly German and Austrian soldiers buried here, with a small number of Ukrainians. 

10. Chase Road, Brocton

Going up from the centre of Brocton Village, Chase Road takes you through some stunning parts of Cannock Chase. There are various car parks along the way including Chase Vista, Dry Pits, Coppice Hill and Glacial Boulder. All of these make for great starting points for your walk on Cannock Chase.

Glacial Boulder

The Glacial Boulder is made out of granite which has no similarities to any other rock forms in the Midlands, but research has shown that it matches rocks found in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It’s likely that the rock was ripped from its original location during the last Ice Age and then slowly made its way down to the chase over a period of 10,000 years.

Freda’s Grave

Freda was a Harlequin Great Dane who was mascot of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, stationed on Cannock Chase during the First World War. Freda’s collar can be found at the National Army Museum in Waiouru, New Zealand. Freda died in December 1918 and was buried on Cannock Chase. The headstone you see today was erected in 2010. The closest car park to Freda’s Grave is Coppice Hill.

fredas grave headstone cannock chase

Brocton Coppice and the Tree Swing

Brocton Coppice is an area of Cannock Chase home to sessile oak trees which are over 1000 years old.You can start your journey here by parking at Coppice Hill car park, which is located just off Chase Road. From here you can walk through the beautiful Cannock Chase woodland, eventually reaching the Tree Swing which is the ideal spot to relax. Not far from here you can find Oat Hill.

11. Milford Common

Just outside of Stafford is the small village of Milford. The open space at Milford Common makes it the ideal spot for a picnic on a sunny day, followed by a walk over Cannock Chase. You can often find an ice cream van here when the sun’s out! Opposite Milford Common is the Barley Mow pub and a Wimpy so you can enjoy a drink and something to eat after you walk or cycle over the Chase.

Milford Common what.3.words – ///spooked.sample.stance Postcode – ST17 0UH

12. Cannock Chase Heritage Trail and Slitting Mill Waterfall 

Another great Cannock Chase walk has to be the Cannock Chase Heritage Trail, a 10 mile walking trail connecting Cannock and Rugeley. You can find lots of historic sites and beauty spots along the way – find out more about the trail and some of it’s key landmarks.

Slitting Mill Waterfall is certainly one of Rugeley’s hidden gems. The easiest way to reach here is to start the walk at Birches Valley visitor centre, where you can join the Heritage Trail. Keep following the trail, adjacent to the brook and eventually you will find the little waterfall – you’ll hear it before you can see it!

Along the Heritage Trail, not far from Slitting Mill Waterfall, you will see some iron gates on the opposite side of the brook. These surround the impressive Slitting Mill Pumping Station which was built in 1932. It is still operational, though it is now all automated, and outputs 250,000 gallons of water everyday.

girl in front of slitting mill waterfall and bridge cannock chase heritage trail

13. Sherbrook Valley / Sherbrook Trail

The Sherbook Trail is the perfect way to enjoy some of the best parts of Cannock Chase as it includes some of the Chase’s best woodland, heathland and water. The trail starts at the Birches Valley Visitor Centre and begins by following the Fairoak Trail, via Fairoak Pools. After Fairoak Pools the Sherbrook Trail branches off on its own. You can either walk the shorter 12km loop by taking a right along Pepper Slade, or complete the full 20km route via the Stepping Stones and Abraham’s Valley. As well as Fairoak Pools, both loops encompass Tackeroo, making it a must on any Cannock Chase walks list.

Check out the full map of all the Cannock Chase forestry trails here.

girl in winter sunshine at cannock chase forest

Hopefully this post has given you some inspiration to check out Cannock Chase and take part in some of these Cannock Chase walks. With the Chase being such a vast area it can be hard to know where to start, that being it also the perfect place to get lost amongst the forests and discover new hidden gems. 

Don’t forget to download the what.3.words app to your phone for when you’re out and about!

I’d love to hear about your Cannock Chase walks if you head there. Follow me on Instagram and send me a DM to let me know about your time visiting Cannock Chase.

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