Canrug three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Yesterday, under a canopy of autumnal splendour, I undertook this most agreeable route beginning in Cannock and concluding in Rugeley. Though the walk includes brief encounters with urbanity, they are neither intrusive nor unpleasant, and the route as a whole deserves the highest commendation, five stars without hesitation.

The journey commences with immediate charm, entering Mill Green Nature Park, a sylvan enclave where the trees, dressed in their seasonal finery, shed leaves like confetti upon the path. It is a place of quiet delight, and in autumn, a painter’s palette spilled across the woodland floor. The path leads gently out alongside the railway, where the hum of passing trains adds a curious rhythm to the walk.

A short spell of pavement walking follows, leading to the Old Hednesford Road roundabout. Here, the route brushes past an industrial estate, briefly and without offence, before returning to green grace along a brook that escorts the walker into Hednesford. This town, modest yet characterful, offers the weary traveller a choice of refreshment, and a glimpse into the life of a modern English market town.

Leaving the bustle behind, the path skirts a large supermarket and enters Hednesford Park, a well-kept space with a pleasing openness. The route then briefly follows the ghost of a dismantled railway line, a quiet corridor of memory, until it meets the Rugeley Road. Another short pavement section ensues, leading to the threshold of Cannock Chase Forest.

Here begins the heart of the walk. The Chase, beloved by cyclists and walkers alike, is a place of enchantment. The marked paths wind through woodland ablaze with colour, and though shared with others, the experience is never diminished. There is a mutual respect among those who tread these trails, and the forest seems to welcome all with equal grace.

Emerging from the trees, the route joins the road near Hazelmoor Farm. A worn verge provides safe passage to the next footpath, which follows Rising Brook, a gentle companion that guides the walker almost to journey’s end. Before Rugeley is reached, there is a final flourish: a footbridge beside a small waterfall tumbling over a small sandstone escarpment, a scene worthy of pause and admiration.

There are no stiles to trouble the limbs, only gates, steps, and bridges to navigate. The urban sections are brief and benign, and the countryside more than compensates. I am pleased to be the third to verify this route, and I would gladly walk it again. It is a fine traverse between two towns, and I commend it to all who seek beauty and gentle adventure.

I made my first ever visit to Cannock Chase and spent a morning walking all the way across it. Landing on a bus route, I reckoned that I had enough time to be able to catch a bus to Rugeley and walk one of the Slow Ways to Cannock. This one seemed like the best option. As soon as I left Rugeley bus station I was looking at a waterfall in a splendid park. This was followed by a pleasant riverside walk that wasn't marked on the OS map. This is where Slow Ways wins... by offering local knowledge about well-used paths that visitors wouldn't even realise existed. The riverside led to Slitting Mill, then after a short road walk I followed a forest track uphill. The track linked with Marquis's Drive, which I'd used in the morning. A gradual descent from forest onto grassy slopes led me to Hednesford. Again, I found myself using paths that aren't marked on OS maps, but are clearly very well-used by local walkers. Leaving Hednesford, you need to look out for Stookie's Alley, then for the final path to Cannock, you need to look out for an 'elderly people' sign, as there's no other marker for this path. Despite being litter-strewn at the start, and hemmed between fences later, the last part runs through a wonderful woodland, landing on a road beside the railway station. Cannock Chase is noted for deer, but if you don't see any on the walk, there are lots of pictures of deer posted along the railway platforms.

I commend this walk to you as a 5 star Slow Way. No stiles but some steps and a sign on the Chase did report cattle as summer visitors. Good services at Hednesford and/or with a detour to the Visitor Centre via Canrug-2.

Canrug has been failed due to a locked gate. David Sanderson offered a way around this but didn’t enjoy the long pounding of pavements so here on offer is a tried and tested off road walk from Cannock (station) to Hednesford then a roam over the Chase with a slight variation from Canrug-2 so an opportunity to mix and match. Only today another suggestion that the pavement section needs a better route. I hope you agree this could be it.

I started from Cannock platform 1 and wondered if we need a node on platford 2? I also wondered why maps showed a detour to the green space? I can confirm that it encourages use of the Pelican crossing. The excellent tarmac path needs treating with care because we soon bear left onto a well trodden earth path alongside the railway. Initially open among trees it then crosses a stream and a short section is between the railway fence and industrial buildings but it remains friendly and ends with a wide green corridor heading east to a road.

I had originally plotted a route along Phoenix Road as shown but not fully explored by Google. This was gated and signed private so a short detour under the railway, now plotted, added little distance to the route. Back in green space alongside blue the tarmac path offered an excellent and easy surface for the Slow Way.

Meeting another road, there is a light controlled crossing. Orange dots on the map offer a cycle route while signs encourage bikes to take a different route. Onto the shopping street of Hednesford where lots of services are on offer including a well known pub chain and a large supermarket both likely to offer a loo and lots more.

The town exit is across the front of said supermarket and then down steps, I couldn’t see an alternative slope, into a park. Here I spotted signs for Rugeley but we do stray from the promoted route so beware. The path uses a short section of disused railway then drops to the road where we cross the active line, by bridge, and turn north.

The plot may appear to be along the road but there is a path just over the hedge offering an excellent approach to Cannock Chase. The path climbs gently and information boards inform us of previous site use. At an area of concrete apron we turn right and the climb continues. Grass and other plants struggle to grow here confirmation of the map, 'disused workings', which stripped any decent top soil.

I decided to offer a direct route but if you need services at the visitor centre then look at Canrug-2 because we take a different line to Marquise’s Drive and Jockey Hill which provides good open view to the east and seats to take a break. This area was cycle free as I passed through on a Saturday.

From Marquis’s Drive we rejoin Canrug-2 and here bikes may suddenly appear on rough cross tracks. It’s now down hill with limited views to the road which provides a short link to the next footpath along Rising Brook.

This path offers a very pleasant and interesting walk into Rugeley. I was pleased to see that the path by the mill pond, popular for anglers, has been repaired and is well used but there is an alternative that stays east of the brook. There is a gate leading to the cross field footpath but this is unused, walkers and cyclists preferring to take the surfaced path to the south as plotted here.

The fast flowing clear waters of the Rising Brook are a good companion, that is unless the brook is in flood across the path and into the fields. The path stops being a right of way and at the same time improves, now with a tarmac surface. The final path through the park leads directly into the town centre through the bus station.

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