Top Woodland Walking Routes for Staffordshire Holidays
Put on your boots and venture outside to explore Staffordshire’s lush woodland trails! Discover quiet lanes, bridleways and old pack horse trails on a woodland walk.
Start from Gradbach, following its small tracks to discover a rugged cliff and Luds Church’s deep rock cleft, before heading on a family-friendly trail at Kinver Edge where you will encounter Holy Austin Rock Houses – famous landmarks!
1. Cannock Chase
Cannock Chase is a haven for nature enthusiasts, boasting lush woodland, heathland, sandstone crags and river valleys as well as historical parks and gardens as well as two of the largest Great War training camps.
Forests offer many sights and sounds, from wild deer roaming the woodlands to bird songs from woodlarks and adders. Additionally, The Chase has long been recognized as an area rich with history, housing numerous monuments including those commemorating Lichfield Battle Site as well as two war cemeteries.
There are various visitor centers located throughout the Chase, each offering their own distinct experiences. Birches Valley Forest Centre provides an exhilarating day out; here you can enjoy some of Midlands’ premier mountain bike trails, take a leisurely woodland stroll or let off steam at one of their adventure play areas – plus there is even Go Ape treetop adventure and Segway courses!
Families will enjoy exploring Chasewater Park with its 90 hectare reservoir and heritage steam railway, or making time to visit Cannock Chase Museum situated within a former Valley Colliery site.
Cannock Chase provides plenty of trails for walking or cycling enthusiasts, from scenic paths to long distance routes. Chasewater Park also makes for great watersports opportunities with its extensive network of bridleways.
Cannock Chase boasts a rich natural and cultural heritage that often goes unseen. To bring its heritage alive, Cannock AONB Partnership has developed visitor interpretation, school and community projects as well as encouraging people to look after its landscape by building visitor interpretation.
Future Guardians program teaches children and young people about the national landscape surrounding them, with an aim of inspiring them to preserve it for future generations. Activity sheets, leader packs and challenge badges available for Girlguiding, Scouts and Duke of Edinburgh Awards can all be downloaded.
2. Apedale Country Park
Staffordshire’s newest country park covers 455 acres (184 hectares), featuring woodland, meadows and pools connected by paths. An active conservation site featuring wildlife such as skylarks and lapwings; as well as rare ferns; its wetlands attract dragonflies and swans; while golden eagles often visit its waters. Moseley Railway serves as the starting point of Apedale Valley Light Railway which will eventually cover all four55 acres (184 ha).
Reclaimed mine landscape has been transformed into an ancient rural one, in a triumph of nature over industry. Spil heaps have been replaced with ferns and trees; and restoration and management works have actively promoted the recolonisation of the landscape; all combining to form an environment rich with stories about life amid nature’s grandeur.
From the car park, follow the footpath marked to Watermills; crossing a stream via low bridge before walking along fields on either side before entering a forest and crossing a stile to reach the edge of a cliff face. Continue following this ridge until reaching another stile before skirting left into another field before arriving at another stile in Watermills Wood and another stile into Perch Pool Wood where your path bends right then left before rising to meet up with Watermills Colliery chimney for a short detour left as perch Pool Wood opens out from under Perch Pool Wood before swings right and left before climbings before emerging at a junction above Perch Pool where an important detour left will take you past former chimney of Watermills Colliery is.
Returning to the junction, our route turned right, but soon curbed left to cross a small island and then steeply rose until we met a broad crushed-stone track that led us directly towards the heritage centre.
At the end of the tarmac, pass through a gate into the heritage centre, and follow Loomer Road uphill until reaching the main car park, which is free to use; though there may be height restrictions prior to this. Walk past the Heritage Centre towards its parking area opposite, where there’s space for both cars and bikes as well as coaches dropping off passengers.
3. Kinver Edge
Wild Place with Wildlife offers plenty of wildlife such as adders and common lizards as well as heathland birds like skylark and robin. Established as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by the Lee family in 1917 when 200 acres were donated by them to the National Trust, and currently owned by them since 2016.
Kinver Edge is a high sandstone escarpment dotted with pockets of woodland, two ancient hill forts, and the world-famous Holy Austin Rock Houses. A walk along this rugged terrain will reward you with breathtaking views of Clent Hills, Shropshire Hills and Wedlock Edge.
Nature and wildlife enthusiasts will delight in exploring Kinver Edge’s many trails, suitable for all abilities. You will encounter an impressive diversity of flora and fauna here – you may even catch sight of rare species such as kingfishers or swans on one of the top-of-hill ponds!
If history is your passion, take a peek at England’s last remaining troglodytes before they were persuaded to leave in 1955. Carved from soft red sandstone cave homes, these quirky Rock Houses contain restored stoves, furniture and windows – just as they were when first lived in.
Your kids can put on costumes, handle objects and complete activities to experience what daily Victorian life was really like and compare it with how we live now. Plus you’ll visit a real Iron Age hill fort on Kinver Edge to gain more insight into life here during the Dark Ages!
Family fun starts here with this family-friendly day trip that encourages everyone to get outside and learn about our local wildlife and habitats. At an affordable cost, this day out with your children offers plenty of learning experiences; National Trust members even receive discounted tickets!
4. Harley Thorn
Harley Thorn Valley is an attractive wooded valley ideal for strolling alongside the River Churnet. There are beautiful wooded paths, up some hills, and even some scenic hillsides to discover on this trek through nature – and for dog walkers looking for an energetic excursion with beautiful scenery along the way, Harley Thorn can provide just the place.
Near Stafford lies this wetland oasis: an ideal birding location boasting various habitats that support all manner of species. Here you can spot herons, dragonflies and damselflies as well as herons, harvest mice and water shrews – not forgetting otters, harvest mice and water shrews! Additionally, bluebells and foxgloves bloom here too!
Cannock Chase offers many scenic walks, and one of the most beloved is this circular route that winds around Fairoak Pools and through scenic woodland paths. Although some parts can be hilly or muddy, you will work up an appetite just walking this course!
This excellent trail begins in Gradbach (famous for its mill) and travels over open moorland towards The Roaches, an astonishing mountain ridgeline renowned for its spectacular crags, cliffs, and dramatic ridgeline of jagged rocks covered with purple heather in late summer. Additionally, Doxey Pool, said to be haunted by an 11m water spirit, can also be found there, as can Lud’s Church with its deep rock cleft that is steeped with history and legend – two must see locations for sure!
This second Baggeridge Park walking route starts similarly, but by turning clockwise you will visit the back of the forest and an attractive brook before returning to your starting point. Although more difficult and strenuous than its counterparts, this journey offers you more views of Cannock Chase countryside!
This popular Staffordshire attraction provides three walks, but if you take clockwise you will experience an extended, more varied walk that passes through some peaceful open farmland to the south of the village and visits an 800m stretch on a quiet country lane at its conclusion – be mindful!
