Mecca to Midlands riders, Cannock Chase is home to the massively popular Monkey and Follow the Dog trails. With a huge catchment area that includes the UK’s second city, Birmingham, the trails keep on getting busier. The Monkey launched in 2010 and swings around undulating woodland on a tight, near continuous singletrack ribbon, blending machine-made berms and features with more natural, volunteer-built segments.
The Cannock singletrack is tightly policed and maintained as a strictly one-lane highway — any shortcuts or sneaky lines have rightly been shut down with strategic logs in the name of keeping the trail in good condition.

“Key to the Monkey’s character is a distinct trail surface. The ‘rumble strip’ pebble-strewn aggregate mix can sap rolling speed and prove slippery in all conditions”

Key to the Monkey’s character is a distinct trail surface. The ‘rumble strip’ pebble-strewn aggregate mix can sap rolling speed and prove slippery in all conditions — polished and dusty in the dry, greasy in the wet. Dropping tyre pressures a tad improves grip and momentum over the small bobbles, and 29ers are also a popular Cannock choice to eat up the rolling kilometres.

Use the slideshow above to scroll through the trail sections.

About this trail – Monkey Trail

● Length 13km
● Grade Red
● Total ascent 345m (1,131ft)
● Other options Follow the Dog
● Location Postcode is WS15 2QU for the Birches Valley Visitor Centre that serves both loops. Closest town is Rugeley in Staffordshire. Park for free on the south side of the A460 where the trail crosses if you only want to ride the Monkey trail.

Your expert – James Green

● Local ripper and Trailhead-sponsored racer James is one of the UK’s top gravity enduro pilots. Cannock is one of his most frequent and favourite training grounds.