Horse riding routes
Horse riding routes
We welcome horse riders to come and explore Cannock Chase on its network of bridleways and forest roads. The network provides some of the most extensive and picturesque off-road riding in England. Local trekking centres can offer tuition and guided rides in a safe environment. Walkers and cyclists can also use bridleways.
The public bridleways are shown as long green dashes on Ordnance Survey Explorer map no. 244 Cannock Chase & Chasewater – Stafford, Rugeley and Cannock. You can use the Ordnance Survey app for free but additional features are available to subscribers.
Please see the British Horse Society (BHS) website on how to be a responsible rider and Riding Out and Hacking information.
There are a variety of routes available on the Ordnance survey app and also on the BHS website mapping pages.
Horse riding at Cannock Chase forest
Enjoy a scenic horse ride through mature pine forests, birch woodlands and open heathland on our network of bridleways and forest roads.
Horse riders are welcome to come and explore the forest, but as an extremely busy site there are a few things you should know. Cannock Chase Forest is a popular site for walking, fast mountain biking and dog walking.
We recommend riding at off-peaks times (during school term time or before 10am and after 5pm at weekends and school holidays). You will also find the car park quieter at these times if you plan on boxing in.
Please refrain from riding in the busier areas of the woodland (around the main visitor centre area) and make sure you avoid cycle trails.
There are no designated horse riding trails, but we welcome horse riding on bridleways and on forest roads (which are wide and roomy for if you are accompanied on foot).
There are a network of bridleways across Cannock Chase that horse riders are welcome to explore. We recommend popping into the visitor information point before unloading your horse to check for any forest works or large events taking place or any areas you should avoid – especially if your horse is of a spooky disposition.
There is no designated horse box parking.
Be kind to Cannock Chase
The National Landscape doesn’t have any designated horse box parking. Typically horse riders park up on the Punch Bowl, Seven Springs, Whitehouse and Penkridge Bank car parks and Milford Common car park.
Please see map on the Plan your visit page for where the car parks are located.
Activities
Find all the places to visit in the area together with routes for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Latest news
The news posts below provide more information on work in progress and latest news of Cannock Chase and our partners.
Take a look at the latest Cannock Chase National Landscape e-newsletter for May 2026. Booking is now open for the Annual Conference 2026. You can find
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Join us for Cannock Chase National Landscape Annual Conference 2026, and a day of networking, learning and sharing ideas! This year’s conference is being held
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Take a look at the latest Cannock Chase National Landscape e-newsletter for April 2026. The National Landscape offers a range of grants that can help
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We are pleased to announce that the Cannock Chase National Landscape Annual Conference will be held on Wednesday 3rd June 2026 at the Aquarius Ballroom,
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Take a look at the latest Cannock Chase National Landscape e-newsletter for March 2026. The e-newsletter will keep you up to date on news from
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This is a face-to-face meeting taking place on Monday 16th March 2026 at 2pm at the Main Conference Room, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Wolseley Centre ST17
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