Stafford

The Staffordshire countryside around here feels properly rural, with canal towpaths threading between working farms and remnants of the area's industrial past. This patch of the West Midlands sits where rolling farmland meets the edge of Cannock Chase, offering decent walking without the weekend crowds that descend on more famous spots. Penkridge makes a good base - it's got a proper high street and sits on the main railway line to Birmingham and Wolverhampton, making it dead handy for day trips.

Birkins Wood provides lovely woodland walks, while the old Littleton Pit Wheel stands as a reminder of when coal mining defined these parts. The area's dotted with reservoirs too - Calf Heath Reservoir and Gailey Upper Reservoir are both decent spots for a quiet walk, though don't expect dramatic scenery. They're more about peaceful countryside than Instagram moments.

Canal enthusiasts will appreciate the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal cutting through the landscape. The towpath walking is flat and easy, perfect for families or anyone wanting to cover distance without breaking a sweat. You'll pass proper working locks and the odd narrowboat chugging along at a pace that makes you reconsider life's priorities.

Getting here is straightforward - Penkridge station connects directly to Birmingham in about 25 minutes, while the M54 runs close by for drivers. The nearby holiday parks make sense if you want to explore both the local countryside and venture into Staffordshire's bigger attractions like Alton Towers or Lichfield Cathedral, both within an hour's drive. It's not the most exciting corner of England, but sometimes that's exactly what you need.