Cannock chase
 

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Cannock chase

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Are there any black sections at Cannock?

Current Mrs Gooner wants to stop there for a couple of hours on Wednesday on our way up to Scotland. Apparently she has read that there are some great walks for the dogs and a dog friendly cafe so “why don’t you go and ride for a couple of hours”.

I am wondering what she’s up to as she has booked a cottage between Kirroughtree and Mabie and also a tree house at Glentress as well as “allowing” me to go to Skye and Raasay for 4 days biking. I feel that there might be something very expensive coming!!


 
Posted : 20/06/2025 5:48 pm
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Divorce?


 
Posted : 20/06/2025 7:01 pm
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Hope not. That would be very expensive and I might need to sell a bike or two!!


 
Posted : 20/06/2025 7:10 pm
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There are a couple of black sections off the monkey. Maybe 200 meters total. I find them harder than they should be as the rest of the trail is so tame my brain hasn't warmed up!

There might be better stuff off piste or at stile cop.


 
Posted : 20/06/2025 7:43 pm
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Posted by: gooner666

I am wondering what she’s up to

Cannock you say.

Is she a fan of Stan Colleymore?


 
Posted : 20/06/2025 8:09 pm
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Who’s Stan Collymore? You must be an older member of the forum if you can remember him!!


 
Posted : 20/06/2025 8:36 pm
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Posted by: gooner666

Who’s Stan Collymore?

Ask your Mrs. 😉


 
Posted : 20/06/2025 8:50 pm
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I'd say there's plenty of what you might class as black trails, but they're unofficial. 

Follow your nose. 


 
Posted : 20/06/2025 10:46 pm
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Cannock Chase does have some Black sections on the Follow the Dog and The Monkey trail.  There are no complete trails which are Black.

In my opinion, the Black sections are more challenging and enjoyable than the Black sections on many Welsh XC trails.

I do prefer riding ‘off-piste’ at Cannock - but when I started riding there - there wasn’t a trail centre and dedicated trails.

 


 
Posted : 21/06/2025 11:24 am
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Do a lap of the Monkey and keep an eye out for alternative lines. There's loads. Same round Stile Cop. It's all in a pretty compact area so you can't go too wrong. 


 
Posted : 23/06/2025 2:14 pm
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Easiest to find is the stuff off Upper and Lower Cliff and you can loop by going left up the fireroad and rejoining the waymarked climb back up.. also lots on the hill directly opposite upper and lower c


 
Posted : 23/06/2025 9:58 pm
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Thanks everyone and the weather is looking ok for Wednesday


 
Posted : 24/06/2025 6:54 am
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If you're heading to the Birches Valley, just bear in mind the main area is currently taken over by the setup for the music weekend. Lots of barriered areas, although still plenty of walk options away from the car park towards Stonybrook. Don't think the bike trails are affected too much.


 
Posted : 24/06/2025 7:07 am

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