Day 56: Castle Ring, Cannock Chase to Kingsbury Water Park
📍Distance: 22.44 miles / 36.21 km
⛈️ Weather: Overcast with sunny spells, squally rain, and strong gusty winds
🕘 Start Time: 09:10 | 🕡 Finish Time: 18:33
Today’s walk began with a climb up to Castle Ring, the site of an Iron Age hill fort perched at the top of Cannock Chase, the embankments form a distinct circular outline.
From there, I joined the Heart of England Way, heading toward Lichfield. Being Bank Holiday Monday the city was buzzing with life—its annual festival in full swing, bringing music, crowds, and a change of pace from the usual quiet trails. It was a lively, if slightly overwhelming, contrast to the solitude of the countryside.
Unfortunately, the way marking just outside the city had been tampered with, which led to a frustrating detour. After some time retracing steps, I eventually found the correct route. I then came across a pub that my good friend and fellow hiker Geoff Yates and I had visited years ago while walking this same stretch in the opposite direction. It was good to see it was still open!
Further along, I passed some of the HS2 construction site, which looked deserted and like a ghost project
The final stretch took me along the towpath of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, a peaceful contrast to the earlier chaos, winding toward Kingsbury Water Park, where tonight’s campsite is located.
Weather-wise, it was a tough day. Squally showers came and went, prompting frequent changes in gear—waterproofs on, waterproofs off, repeated many times. Add to that a persistent headwind, and the day became somewhat challenging.
Tomorrow is a well-earned rest day, and I’m very much looking forward to it. Next blog will be Day 58.
