Go Ape Cannock Chase
ENTRY
from £20.95
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Rugeley
What it’s like
Treetop rope courses and zip lines through Cannock Chase forest, with a bouncy net course thrown in.
This is proper treetop stuff, not a soft play with a rope theme. The main Treetop Challenge course runs nearly 1,500 metres through the forest, so once you're up there you're committing to a decent chunk of it. There's also the Nets Adventure, giant bouncy nets slung 30 feet up in the trees, which sounds like the bit kids will bang on about in the car home.
Ages matter here because the courses are split by difficulty and height rather than one-size-fits-all. The Treetop Adventure at £20.95 is pitched at 4 to 10 year olds, Treetop Adventure Plus at £25.95 needs a six-year-old or older, and the full Treetop Challenge at £36.95 is for age 10 and up. None of that is cheap for an afternoon out, and if you've got kids at different heights in the same family you'll end up buying different tickets for different courses. Sundown Adventures adds glowing lights and a dusk ride if you fancy something a bit different, and there's a Segway option on the forest trails for the over-tens.
You book online in advance and turn up 20 minutes early, which is fair enough given how the sessions are timed. The car park charges on exit and gets properly full in summer, so early arrival isn't just about the safety brief, it's about getting a space at all. Pack light, since the storage at the cabin is small and left at your own risk, and there are no toilets out on the course itself so send everyone before you start.
There's a café near the entrance for snacks and light meals, and picnic benches dotted around the forest if you'd rather bring your own. Dogs are welcome on leads but can't join you up in the trees, which feels obvious once you say it out loud but is worth knowing before someone brings the whippet expecting a joint adventure.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- From age 4 on the easier course, but the big stuff needs age 10
- Booking
- Book online in advance recommended
- Parking
- Paid car park at Cannock Chase Forest
- Food
- Café near entrance serving drinks, snacks and light meals
- Picnics
- Picnic benches available around forest for cake and picnics with group
- Pushchairs
- Can access cabin and spectator areas
- Wheelchairs
- Main paths flat with compacted stone
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs welcome on-site on leads
- Getting there by bus or train
- Nearest train stations: Rugeley Trent Valley, Rugeley Town or Hednesford
- Parties
- Birthday parties available. Book activity online and add party bags (£5.95 each)
- Sat navs can send you wrong, so cross-check the route with a map before you set off
- The Segway option and Sundown dusk sessions are separate bookings from the tree courses
- Different courses need different ages, so mixed-age families may need more than one ticket type
- Leave valuables in the car; cabin storage is limited and not guarded
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It depends which course. Treetop Adventure for 4 to 10 year olds is £20.95, Treetop Adventure Plus for age 6 and up is £25.95, and the full Treetop Challenge for age 10 and up is £36.95.
Do we need to book?
Booking online in advance is recommended, and you can try turning up on the day at the cabin, but don't count on a spot in peak season.
How early should we arrive?
Twenty minutes before your booked slot, so leave time for parking too.
Is there parking?
A paid car park at Cannock Chase Forest. You pay at the pay stations before you get back to your car, and it fills up fast on busy days.
What's the minimum age?
The Treetop Adventure course starts from age 4. The bigger courses need older kids, from 6 or 10 depending which one.
Is it OK for wheelchairs or pushchairs?
The main paths are flat compacted stone and fine for getting to the cabin and spectator areas, but some woodland paths get tricky in wet weather. Worth calling ahead if you've got specific accessibility needs.
Are there toilets on site?
Yes, next to the café near the entrance, a couple of minutes' walk from the cabin. There's nothing out on the course itself, so go before you start.
Can dogs come along?
Dogs on leads are welcome around the site but they can't join you on the course itself, and some areas like the café keep them out too.
Is there food?
A café by the entrance does drinks, snacks and light meals, though hours can shift with the season. There are also picnic benches around the forest if you bring your own.
Can we book a birthday party?
You book the activity online and can add party bags at checkout. There's a forest shelter you can hire separately by calling their booking line if you want a base for cake and presents.
Where do we leave our stuff?
There's a bit of space at the cabin, but it's left at your own risk and there isn't much room, so it's best to leave bags in the car if you can.
How do we get there without a car?
The nearest train stations are Rugeley Trent Valley, Rugeley Town or Hednesford, and there are buses from Stafford, Cannock and Rugeley too.
Experiences
Forest Segway
ages 10+ · outdoorsAll-terrain Segway experience through scenic off-road forest trails with expert instructors.
Sundown Adventures
ages 6+ · outdoorsAutumn dusk adventure with glowing lights, run once a year.
Rides
Treetop Adventure
min 100cm · ages 4-10 · thrill 2/5 · outdoorsEntry-level high ropes course for younger adventurers over 1m tall.
Treetop Adventure Plus
ages 6+ · thrill 3/5 · outdoorsMid-level, confidence-building high ropes course with wobbly crossings and super zips.
Treetop Challenge
ages 10+ · thrill 4/5 · outdoorsOriginal high ropes course, fast zips and tough obstacles, nearly 1,500 metres long.
See all Adventure Parks & High Ropes in Birmingham · Things to do in Birmingham
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