Rawnsley Hill

The walk up Rawnsley Hill takes about twenty minutes from the car park, and on a clear day you get views across Cannock Chase that justify the slight huff and puff. It's not dramatic - this is Staffordshire, after all - but there's something satisfying about reaching the highest point in the area and seeing the landscape roll out properly beneath you.

The hill itself is fairly open moorland, dotted with heather and gorse. You'll spot the old Forestry Commission plantations from up here, and if you time it right with decent weather, the Shropshire hills loom up to the west. It's decent walker territory, though nothing that'll tire out experienced hikers. Families with younger legs might find the paths a bit muddy after rain, but there's no scrambling involved.

Rugeley sits just a few miles south, so this works well as part of a broader Cannock Chase circuit. The various camping sites - Cannock Chase Camping & Caravanning Club Site is barely over a mile away - make it straightforward to base yourself here for a few days without faffing about. Worth combining with the broader chase trails rather than treating it as a standalone trip. Go early on a weekend if you want to avoid the crowd, though it's never rammed. Allow an hour for the walk and views, less if you're just after the exercise.