Cannock Chase

Cannock Chase is a stretch of countryside in Staffordshire, managed as a National Landscape and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Once a royal hunting ground, it now mixes woodland, heathland and open water with traces of old industries. The highest point, Castle Ring, is an Iron Age hill fort standing 242 metres above sea level. The Chase draws millions of visitors each year because of its varied wildlife and landscapes. Around 800 fallow deer roam the open heath, while rare birds like nightjars nest in the woods. Geologists value its Triassic sandstones and glacial features such as dry valleys and erratic boulders. A model First World War battlefield built by German prisoners of war still lies preserved beneath the soil. Visitors find marked trails like the Heart of England Way and purpose-built mountain bike routes. The Birches Valley Visitor Centre marks the start of technical trails including Follow the Dog and Monkey Trail. War memorials, including German and Commonwealth cemeteries, stand alongside a memorial to the Katyn massacre. Shugborough Hall overlooks the Chase’s northern edge, while Castle Ring offers wide views from the highest point.