Cannock Chase Geotrail
A 21-mile long-distance walk exploring the rocks, landscape, and geological industrial heritage of the Cannock Chase area lying southeast of Stafford. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SJ 984 207
Distance: 21 miles (34 km)
Time: 8–10 hours
Duration: 1–2 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000):
244 Cannock Chase and Chasewater
Summary
The Cannock Chase Geotrail is an easy geological trail designed to give a glimpse of the rocks, landscape, and geological industrial heritage of the Cannock Chase area, which lies to the southeast of Stafford. Cannock Chase is an undulating plateau some 150–250m in elevation—a landscape evolved from past deserts, swamps, and overlying ice as Britain was carried around the globe over geological time by tectonic movements. From the trail start at Satnall Hills Quarry, Cannock Chase, it can be completed anti-clockwise in sections using other car parks at Glacial Boulder, Birches Valley Forest Centre, Castle Ring (the southernmost point), and the Wolseley Centre. Trail directions can be found on the reverse of the leaflet together with background information. Some sections of the trail are uneven and can be muddy, so the use of suitable footwear is advised. (Source: LDWA)