Cannock Chase

They call it the Jewel of the West Midlands. Cannock Chase, England’s smallest AONB, lives up to the title with ancient woodland, river valleys, wetlands and heaths contained in just 26 square miles. The Iron Age Castle Ring hill fort has fine panoramas, then it’s on to the 18th century and the splendours of Shugborough Hall and its 900 acres of parkland. A forest, known as the Chase because of its hunting history, lies between them. It’s home to a large herd of roe deer, ancient oaks, snakes and lizards, nightjars and woodlarks. Great walks. Look out for the rare Cannock Chase Berry – a cross between the bilberry and the cowberry.  The area is criss-crossed by the Trent and Sow rivers and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, which helped develop the iron and glass works and coal mines. During the First World War, the area had one of the country’s largest military training camps. The legacy of world conflict is maintained in the Cannock Chase War Cemetery, containing Commonwealth and German graves. The Birches Valley Forest Centre rounds off a day in the Chase. A little gem.