Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Cannock, Staffordshire

Cannock, located on the southern border of Cannock Chase, boasts an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty comparable to the protections afforded to a National Park. Thus, a significant portion of visitors’ interests is found in the surrounding countryside, encompassing visitor centers, birch woodlands, pine plantations, expansive heathlands, and a wide array of activities.

Historically, mining was integral to the life of Cannock until the 20th century. The distinguished Museum of Cannock Chase is situated on the grounds of a former training colliery.

In the summer, the Chasewater reservoir transforms into a hub for watersports, alongside which there exists a heritage railway operated by former mining locomotives.

Let us delve into the premier attractions in Cannock:

1. Cannock Chase AONB

Cannock lies at the southern edge of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty characterized by a diverse range of landscapes that formerly constituted a Royal Forest.

The area includes picturesque birch woodlands, heathlands, significant plantations of coniferous trees established following the First World War, and remnants of once-forgotten coal mines. Moreover, visitors have access to various centers and small museums, alongside a network of signposted walking trails and notable historical sites.

Castle Ring, located not far to the east of Cannock, is an Iron Age hill fort and stands at 242 meters, marking the highest point in the AONB. Furthermore, to the north lies the Neoclassical Shugborough Hall, the ancestral residence of the Earls of Lichfield.

2. Birches Valley Forest Centre

A primary destination for families in Cannock Chase is the Birches Valley Forest Centre, situated at the heart of one of the AONB’s coniferous plantations.

The center features a café, a children’s play area, and picnic facilities, serving as a starting point for various circular hiking and cycling routes, including one that winds around several pools. If you do not possess a bicycle, rentals are available from the Swinnerton Cycles shop, which also provides trikes for younger visitors.

3. Chasewater

During the summer months, Chasewater, located nearby, becomes a popular destination for a variety of land and water activities.

This 270-acre water reservoir, constructed at the end of the 18th century, was intended to supply the Wyrley and Essington Canal and maintain the water levels of the Birmingham Canal Network.

Chasewater is now dedicated to leisure activities, catering to both seasoned participants and beginners interested in sailing, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, waterskiing, canoeing, donut rides, and zorbing. Besides water-based activities, visitors can enjoy walking and cycling trails around the reservoir, as well as a crazy golf course and a pedal go-kart track designed for children.

4. Museum of Cannock Chase

A cherished free attraction, the Museum of Cannock Chase is situated on what was once the Valley Colliery, which served as a training site for young miners.

This colliery has since been replaced by 30 acres of greenery at the periphery of the Hednesford Hills Nature Reserve. Visitors can explore Cannock Chase’s industrial past, its military connections, and discover the plant and animal species inhabiting this ecosystem.

The museum features a coal mining gallery with a crawl-through tunnel for children, the interior of a miner’s cottage, an area dedicated to the 1940s, and an interactive exhibit showcasing vintage toys and games.

5. Boscobel House and the Royal Oak

Following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, the future Charles II embarked on a lengthy and hazardous journey from the West Midlands to Shoreham-by-Sea located on the southern coast.

One of his initial hiding places was this farmhouse near Cannock, now managed by English Heritage.

Visitors can explore the half-timbered lodge, tour the Victorian farmyard still equipped with historical tools and machinery, and learn about the Royal Oak, a descendant of the tree in which Charles sought refuge.

Inside the lodge, Charles concealed himself in a former priest hole (created to hide Catholic clergy during the Reformation), which is visible in the attic. Outside, a 17th-century-style knot garden, complete with an arbour, marks the spot where Charles is believed to have spent time reading in 1651.

6. Castle Ring

This Iron Age hill fort is a short trip from Cannock and is well worth visiting for its panoramic views alone.

From this elevation, one can observe extensive areas of Staffordshire and nearly the entirety of Cannock Chase to the north, alongside Trent Valley.

Castle Ring was established around 50 AD by the Celtic Cornovii tribe and held significant ceremonial importance. The primary evidence of their occupation is visible in the intact perimeter earthworks.

During its prime, the distinctive orange sand ramparts of Castle Ring would have been noticeable from afar. In the 1780s, when the site was part of the Beaudesert Estate, landscaping of the north and west sides of the rampart created the current walkway, supplemented by two carriage drives.

7. Chasewater Railway

Winding around the western shore of Chasewater is a two-mile-long heritage railway that historically served Cannock Chase’s coalfields.

On Sundays and designated weekdays during the summer school holidays, steam and diesel trains operate between Brownhills and Chasewater Heaths stations, stopping at Chasetown Church Street, with an additional halt at Norton Lakeside.

While most locomotives were designed for industrial applications, passengers travel in mid-century British Mark I coaches or retired diesel multiple unit cars. The railway boasts an impressive collection of rolling stock and railway memorabilia, some of which date back over a century, all of which is exhibited at the recently inaugurated heritage center.

8. Go Ape Cannock

Another compelling reason to visit the Birches Valley Forest Centre is the acclaimed Go Ape high ropes course.

Tree Top Adventure, designed for adults and older children, is situated five meters above the forest floor and features the longest combined crossings of any Go Ape course in the UK, totaling nearly 1,500 meters, along with several challenging obstacles including rollers, a slack line, log balance, and rail track.

Following two to three hours of engaging activity, participants can enjoy a 260-meter zip wire that offers stunning views. Tree Top Junior is tailored for all ages, while visitors can also partake in a one-hour family Segway excursion through the woodland.

9. Prince of Wales Theatre

For an engaging dose of live entertainment, the Prince of Wales Theatre presents a vibrant schedule of plays, musicals, stand-up comedy, musical performances, tribute shows, and children’s productions.

While the theatre predominantly hosts touring productions, visitors seeking to witness Cannock’s local creativity can also enjoy regular community performances, along with a widely attended pantomime during the Christmas season.

Additional events include flower shows, wrestling matches, beer festivals, and art exhibitions, thus it is advisable to check the schedule in advance for upcoming events.

The box office operates six days a week, excluding Sundays.

10. Rodbaston Animal Zone

The Rodbaston Campus of South Staffordshire College stands out as one of the UK’s premier higher education institutions for animal husbandry and agriculture, which includes a diverse zoological collection.

The public can visit to view approximately 750 animals on weekends and during school holidays.

Among the residents are lemurs, alpacas, rabbits, monkeys, capybaras, a fennec fox, meerkats, and various avian species. Moreover, the Animal Zone has recently introduced a reptile room featuring green iguanas, a rainbow boa, leafcutter ants, a crested gecko, and green anoles.

In the spring, visitors can engage in interactions with and feed newborn lambs, along with special Animal Encounters that permit entry into the lemur or meerkat enclosures for unique insights and hands-on feeding experiences.

11. Hednesford Hills Nature Reserve

Following a visit to the Museum of Cannock Chase, one can enjoy a refreshing walk across this expanse of hilly heathland and acidic grassland.

The Hednesford Hills environment has remained relatively unchanged for centuries and was donated to the local council by the Marquis of Anglesey on March 7, 1933. Timing your visit during the early autumn maximizes your experience, as the heather blooms in captivating purple hues.

This heathland serves as a crucial habitat for moths—546 distinct moth species have been recorded here, including the extremely rare Welsh clearwing, which is seldom found outside Wales.

The heathland’s biodiversity is maintained through grazing, offering visitors the chance to encounter gentle cows during their walk.

12. German Military Cemetery

Cannock Chase is steeped in military heritage, which can be experienced through a poignant visit to the German Military Cemetery in Brocton.

This cemetery was established following a treaty between Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany in 1959, which included provisions for a burial site designated for German nationals who perished on British soil during the First and Second World Wars.

The cemetery’s location was notably chosen due to the resemblance of Cannock Chase’s pine woodlands and heathlands to the German countryside.

Nearly 5,000 individuals are interred here (2,143 from WWI and 2,786 from WWII), encompassing crews of the four zeppelins downed over England during the First World War, as well as flying aces, a general, and a field-marshal.

13. Mitton Manor Gardens

Located slightly further afield, this seven-acre garden envelops a Victorian manor.

A visit today may render it difficult to envision that prior to 2001, the garden was an overgrown wilderness.

Within the grounds, visitors can explore a tapestry of varying styles, including prairie planting, stream-fringed woodlands, and elegant topiary. The gardens offer delightful views of the Staffordshire countryside alongside numerous whimsical water features and sculptures.

The garden is part of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS), welcoming visitors on several open days throughout the year, which often include afternoon tea.

14. Pelsall North Common

On the opposite side of the M6, en route to Walsall, lies Pelsall North Common, an extensive area of low wetland heath.

This habitat is increasingly rare within the UK and is crucial for sustaining species such as heathland butterflies, rare bees, and a variety of birds and mammals.

The Wyrley and Essington Canal traverses the landscape, representing the last vestige of the heavy industry that once dominated the common.

As late as the 1920s, a colossal ironworks operated at this site.

During a summer stroll, one might observe common spotted or southern marsh orchids, as well as bats at dusk, lizards, and possibly even a polecat. Like Hednesford Hills, Pelsall North Common is at its most picturesque in August and September when the heather blooms resonate in vibrant hues.

15. Hednesford Hills Raceway

Regarded as the “fastest quarter-mile oval” in Europe, this short-circuit racing track has its origins in the early 1950s.

The steep-sided raceway winds along the banks of a former reservoir and hosts events such as hot rod racing, stock cars, and banger racing.

For enthusiasts of high-octane entertainment, don’t miss the annual Civil War (January) and Bill Morris Veterans Day (June) events.

The peak events of the year include the National Championship Weekend at the beginning of August and the unusual Caravan Grand Prix during the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

If your visit coincides with early November, the raceway hosts one of the most impressive Guy Fawkes night fireworks displays in the West Midlands.