The Butts

The Butts rises abruptly from the Cannock Chase landscape just outside Rugeley, a proper hill walk rather than a stroll. It's the sort of place locals know well but visitors often miss - a genuine peak that rewards the climb with views across the Chase and surrounding countryside. The walk itself takes 30 minutes or so depending on fitness, and there's parking nearby if you're not camping at one of the surrounding sites like Chase Camping at Tackeroo or Silver Trees Holiday Park.

What you get here is a genuine Staffordshire vantage point. On a clear day the views justify the effort. It's not dramatic or Alpine - this is the Midlands, after all - but there's something satisfying about reaching the top and seeing how the landscape spreads out. History types will appreciate that Cannock Chase has been walked and worked for centuries. Families with energetic kids will find the climb manageable, though younger children might flag on the steeper sections.

The real advantage is proximity to the broader Chase. You're close enough to base yourself at Canalside Camping or Cannock Chase Camping & Caravanning Club Site and combine this peak with walks through the woodland, visits to nearby Rugeley, or exploration of the canal network. It's free, obviously. Go early morning if you want peace - weekend afternoons pull the local crowd. Worth a detour if you're spending time on the Chase, genuinely worth it. Don't expect solitude, but do expect honest countryside and a genuine sense of having gone somewhere.