Cannock Chase Sunday coach walk

Thank you for your interest in this Sunday coach walk.

To book a place:

- click the blue + symbol above to increase the ticket count to 1 - only one ticket can be booked per booking since we ask for the name of each walker - then click Next

- on the following page click the Checkout button then complete the questions, click the Accept box and press the Confirm button. You will receive an automatic acknowledgement when you submit this form.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DURATION OF THIS EVENT SHOWN ABOVE IS ONLY APPROXIMATE AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED; IT WILL DEPEND ON FACTORS SUCH AS THE WEATHER AND THE WALKING PACE OF THE GROUP.

Our Sunday rambles usually have three levels of walk, strenuous (A), moderate (B) or leisurely (C), led by Birmingham Ramblers group leaders. Join us and enjoy a great day of social walking with our friendly members.

Please note: Our walks are often on rough tracks and rights of way through fields, woodland and hills. Walkers should preferably wear walking boots and other clothing suitable for the weather. Unless otherwise described, please bring a packed lunch and refreshments for the day.

This Sunday walk has 3 levels of walk:

- A walk: 11 -12 miles, about 1200 ft total ascent.

- B walk: 9.5 miles, about 1000 ft total ascent, Linear walk.

- C walk: 7.6 miles; rolling hills, total ascent 824 ft. No stiles!

Walk leaders:

- A walk: Peter Searle

- B walk: Andy Bates

- C walk: Eva Hyde

Walk Details:

- A walk: Starting at the bus stop on the A460 in Hednesford, we will cross the Hednesford Hills then follow a track alongside the Beau Desert Golf Course, on the Rawnsley Hills. After crossing the Rugeley Road, we will follow woodland paths to Castle Ring, an Iron Age hill fort and the highest point on Cannock Chase. From here we will follow the Heart of England Way northwards, crossing the Rugeley Road again at its junction with Stile Cop Road, before branching north down Miflins Valley. After crossing the A460, we walk a short distance along Slitting Mill Road before turning onto a woodland track. Turning right, we cross the lane and follow a footpath between fields and Rising Brook, rejoining the road next to the Horns Pub at Slitting Mill, for refreshments (time permitting). From here we will follow woodland paths again, passing Lady Hill Coppice and the Stonybrook and Fairoak Pools. Depending on the time, a choice between 3 alternative paths will take us to Marquis’s Drive, which we will follow back to the A460 and the waiting coach. Bring a picnic lunch.

- B walk: Starting at the bus stop on the A460 in Hednesford, we will cross the Hednesford Hills then follow a track alongside the Beau Desert Golf Course, on the Rawnsley Hills. After crossing the Hednesford Road we walk through various forest paths to reach Slitting Mill Road which we follow for a short distance before turning right, and follow a footpath between fields and Rising Brook, rejoining the road next to the Horns Pub at Slitting Mill. We will have lunch just before pub. From here we will follow woodland paths again, passing Lady Hill Coppice leading to Birches valley centre, then from there we head to Fairoak Pools. From Fairoak Pools we head to Marquis’s Drive, which we will follow using paths nearby back to the A460 and the waiting coach. Bring a picnic lunch

- C walk: C route is from Hednesford to Cannock Chase. Starting near the Hednesford War memorial, we walk towards the Museum of Cannock Chase (closed on Sundays) and across open heathland on the Hednesford Hills Nature reserve. Descending and crossing a road (1.3 miles) we skirt Beau Desert Golf club to cross the Rugeley road again and enter Cannock Chase (2.2 miles). This is mainly mixed woodland and is one of only 34 designated National Landscapes in England, (previously called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) We gradually ascend to the Castle Ring, an Iron Age Hill Fort, a schedule ancient monument. This is close to the Park Gate entrance and the Park Gate Inn, which should be open for drinks (4 miles). Returning to the Chase, we follow woodland paths, past some pools, back across the Rugeley road, and finally to the Miflins Valley to the coach

There are a limited number of total places for the walks, which is set by the capacity of the coach. Whilst we hope that everyone will be able to be accommodated on their walk of choice, the allocation of places for each walk will have to be done on the day. No-one will be expected to walk at a higher grade than they prefer - thus, for example, if you prefer the B walk you will not be asked to join the A walk but may be asked to join the C walk. The booking form allows you to specify your preferred walk

It will only be possible to join the walk by coach, which will be picking up at 09.00 at the layby at the side of St. Chad’s Cathedral, Queensway, Birmingham B4 6EU. The coach fare will be £20 with 3 options for payment:

- Cash on the day in an envelope with your name and the date of the walk. We are unable to give change for cash payments

- Cheque on the day, made payable to COBRA, in an envelope with your name and the date of the walk.

- Bank transfer in advance of the walk

For payment by bank transfer the walk coordinator will contact you about a week in advance of the walk with bank details. For payments on the day, please put the exact fare in an envelope with your name and date of the walk on it, which will be collected on the coach - unfortunately we are unable to give change for the coach fare.

Note that you cannot pay the coach fare through our Eventcube account. Your booking for the walk will still show £0.00 but you do have to pay the £20 coach fare on or before the day of the walk.

Bookings for this walk will close at 06.00 on Monday 5th February 2024. After this, please email bhamramblersenquiries@gmail.com or contact us through our contact form at https://cobra.eventcube.io/support/contact to enquire about any late availability for the walk.

If you later find that you are unable to join us it would be helpful if you let us know by sending an email to bhamramblersenquiries@gmail.com or let us know though our contact form at https://cobra.eventcube.io/support/contact - this will be passed on to the walk leader and will prevent any delay to the start of the walk should the leader be waiting for you.

General Information

This is one of several walks and activities offered by the Birmingham Ramblers. If you have found this page through a web search or other means and would like to find out more about the group then please visit the Birmingham Ramblers web site; new members are always welcome.