Things to do

Chasewater Country Park visitor guide

July 11, 2024

From water skiing to heritage railway trips, Chasewater Country Park truly provides everything you need for an action-packed day out. The park spans 900 acres which includes woodlands, wetlands, meadows, and, of course, the huge reservoir in the middle. A magnet for cyclists, birdwatchers, and daytrippers alike, Chasewater Park is a must-visit when exploring South Staffordshire.

Forming part of the Forest of Mercia and falling within the district of Lichfield, it’s easy to travel to this park from wherever in Staffordshire you’re staying. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Chasewater Country Park before visiting, including top tips and recommended activities.

Overview

The man-made reservoir that serves as the centrepiece of Chasewater Park was built as a canal feeder in 1797. It was vital during the Industrial Revolution as water was in great demand throughout the Black Country region.

The area was originally known as Norton Pool and Cannock Chase Reservoir. However, as canals became less essential during the 20th century, the purpose of the area changed and it gradually became a popular tourist destination.

Despite its repurposing, it still holds some impressive records, including the fact that it’s the largest canal feeder in the West Midlands. It is also the third-largest reservoir in Staffordshire.

Two embankment dams maintain the water in the reservoir. One runs along the reservoir’s eastern side while the other runs along the western side.

Getting there

Burntwood is the nearest town to Chasewater Country Park, being just over a mile away.

The drive from Cannock via Cannock Rd/A5190 takes about 12 minutes.

If driving from Lichfield, you can follow Walsall Road and Watling Street until you reach the A5195. You can then follow this road right up to Chasewater.

You can find the car park for Chasewater on Pool Lane, Burntwood.

Alternatively, you could get the 60 bus from Lichfield to the Sankey’s Corner stop in Burntwood.

The nearest train station to the park is Cannock railway station, which is five miles away.

Best things to do at Chasewater Country Park

Chasewater Country Park features a wide range of fun things to do, which includes the following:

Hike

It’s possible to hike right around the 90-hectare reservoir, allowing you to admire the water from all angles. From the Shed coffee shop, you can follow the tarmac in front clockwise or anti-clockwise around the water. Either way, if you walk for three miles, you’ll end up back where you started. You’ll walk over paths, trails, and wooden boardwalks, and get a close look at wildfowl such as swans and ducks.

Not only popular amongst hikers, the trails that circle Chasewater Park are also popular with runners and cyclists.

Water sports

This park provides sailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, and water zorbing experiences. The Chase Watersports Centre is right beside the water and the Chasewater Railway Line. This is a membership-based club, however, you can easily sign up for membership on their website. Members gain access to the company’s waterski jump and wakeboard kicker and slider.

You also have Go Paddling, which is located next to the lake on Pool Lane. Here, you can book yourself in for canoe and kayak sessions. Also on Pool Lane, you have Pier 52, who provide stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking experiences.

Birdwatch

Chasewater Park is a nature hub, with opportunities to spot birds, wildfowl, and deer. Several bird hides can be found positioned around the lake, allowing bird spotters to get up close and personal with the 231 species of birds you can spot at the reservoir.

In the summer, you may encounter a merlin, a red kite, or a fulmar. You may even catch a glimpse of white storks, which have recently been spotted in Staffordshire.

In the winter, dunlins, smews, and pintails have been known to explore the Chasewater area.

Chasewater Railway

You can explore the shores of the Chasewater reservoir from the comfort of a carriage by hopping on a steam train at Chasewater Railway. This former colliery railway line is two miles in length, taking you through a stretch of the Country Park. The heritage line runs on Saturdays and Sundays, in addition to bank holidays.

The train runs between Brownhills West Station and Chasewater Heaths Station. At Brownhills West, you’ll find a tea room that’s open 7 days a week from 10.00am to 4.00pm. There’s also a gift and model shop located here which is open from 11.00am to 3.00pm on Thursday and Friday and from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday and Sunday. There’s also a second cafe and gift shop at Chasewater Heaths.

Picnic

You’ll find plenty of great beauty spots around the reservoir, with plenty of opportunities to lay down a rug and enjoy a picnic. Right on the reservoir, you can find some sandy beach spots that are great for wiling away an afternoon. Alternatively, the surrounding meadows are also prime picnic spots.

Essential visitor information

Here’s some information you should bear in mind before visiting this Country Park:

Toilets

You can find public toilets at the Chasewater Innovation Centre on Pool Road. These toilets are open from 11.00am to 3.00pm and provide disabled access.

Opening hours

Chasewater Country Park’s car park is open Monday to Sunday from 9.00am to 4.00pm. However, the exit barrier is open 24/7. This means that you can stay after 4.00pm.

Food and drink

There is an onsite cafe at the park called the Shed. Here, you’ll find cake, ice cream, coffee and tea. The Shed is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10.00am to 5.00pm. There are also station cafes at Chasewater Heaths and Brownhills West Stations.

If you’re looking for lunch or dinner, you’ll have to head to one of the nearby towns. Lichfield is also home to a wide range of restaurants and pubs, which makes it the perfect post-Country Park spot.

Accessibility

Chasewater Country Park is wheelchair friendly and has accessible toilets.

Nearby attractions

There’s also plenty to see and do near the Country Park. Here are a few spots that are worth visiting:

Cannock Chase Visitor Centre

If you’re looking to explore the nearby Cannock Chase Country Park, you can head to the Cannock Chase Visitor Centre to receive an introduction. Here, you can learn some great tips about the walking trails and other attractions found within the 4.5 square miles worth of outstanding beauty.

Cannock Designer Outlet

Near Cannock, you’ll find the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands. Here, you can shop for a host of big brand names including Barbour, Boss, Adidas, Swarovski, Ted Baker, and Yankee Candle.

This Cannock designer outlet is open seven days a week, 10.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday, 9.00am-8.00pm Saturday, and 10.00am to 6.00pm on Sunday.

Cannock

Besides designer outlets, Cannock has a host of other attractions on offer, including the Prince of Wales Theatre, Go Ape Cannock, and the Electric Palace Picture House.

Lichfield

Being just a 13-minute drive away, it’s definitely worth visiting Lichfield for its many attractions, which include the Lichfield Cathedral, the Samual Johnson Birthplace Museum, and Beacon Park.

FAQs

Is parking free at Chasewater Park?

Parking is not free at Chasewater Country Park. As of 1 April 2024, the car park charges £1.20 for two hours and £3.50 for the full day. It’s also possible to buy an annual parking pass for Chasewater which costs £38. This annual pass also grants you parking at the Marquis Drive and Milford Common car parks.

What year was Chasewater drained?

Concerns regarding reservoir leask and flooding led to Chasewater being drained in 2010. The drainage project cost £5.5 million. Once the water was drained, a boat that sunk in 1959 was recovered. A brick chamber was also discovered for the first time. This chamber is not recorded on any maps of the reservoir.