This hike was led by Sarah Meharg from Marquis Drive visitors’ centre, WS12 4PW. Parking: cost £2 till 6pm. Distance: 10.6 miles. Landscape: forest, lakes, streams and a couple of hills.
Take in the stunning scenery of Cannock Chase as we follow a figure of 8 route, meaning if anyone wants to do a 5mile route then this will be possible.
We go from the visitor centre to Fair Oak Pools and crossing stepping stones we head back to the woodland, home of Cannock deer, to a disused mine. We then head over a railway line bridge, cross a main road and are in the beautiful forest (watch out for the odd mountain bike or adder - the bikes are scarier!) From Seven Springs, we head to Horse Pasture Pools before joining the Heart of England Way which leads us to an Iron Age hill fort. We circle the castle ring fort before cutting back through forest to the train line. We then pass a monument in honour of the WW2 airbase that was on the site before heading back to the visitor centre for a well earned brew.
