Family Guide to Cannock Chase Red Route: Moving Up from the Blue Trail with Kids

We’ve officially become those people. The ones who rave about Cannock Chase mountain biking every chance they get. If it wasn’t for the distance and the cost of fuel (thanks, economy), we’d be there every single weekend. Up until recently, we’d stuck religiously to the blue route – and if you’re new to mountain biking with children, it’s a cracking place to start.

👉 In fact, I wrote all about why we loved the blue route for beginners in this post here.

Watching our lads grow in confidence has been a real highlight – every lap they’ve taken on more, gone faster, got braver. Even I’ve been getting stuck in, learning the ropes right alongside them, and only occasionally screaming (internally). 😅

The Day We Accidentally Took On the Red Route…

A few weeks ago, we turned up with a new bit of kit: a bike rack! No more playing bike Tetris in the van. We were buzzing to get back on the trail and had every intention of hitting our trusty blue route again. Well, that was the plan. There was an excitement in the van on the way and the boys were talking about maybe taking the Red route today – but the reality was a little different, and when we got to where the blue and red trails split, we all wimped out and headed back onto the blue. I won’t lie, I wasn’t sad about it. 😂

And we were having a brilliant time… until we hit our favourite section: the rollers.

CLOSED
Nooooooo!

We sat staring at the signs with two clear options. One, we follow the diversion, missing out the best section of the Blue route, and rejoin it further up, or two, we get on the red route! At this point, helpfully, you can also join the red route. Was this fate??

The decision was made, both the lads made a beeline for…. Yup, the red route! No hesitation – from them, anyway! I followed nervously behind them wondering what hell would await me – and you know what?

I had a bloody brilliant time!!!

I won’t lie – I had big fears that jumping from blue to red would be a huge leap. But honestly? It wasn’t that bad. Yes, it was faster, more technical, and the Devil himself had sprinkled tree roots everywhere. But aside from a few steeper drops and some jumpy bits (all of which are avoidable), it wasn’t the beast I expected.

It was actually fun. Really fun!

And even better, the trail is broken up into short, fun-named sections, making it far less overwhelming for younger riders. There are plenty of chances to stop, refuel, and hand out the Flix Mix to keep morale high. Parenting win!

How Hard Is the Red Trail at Cannock Chase?

In our experience, it’s a realistic next step from the blue route – especially if your children are confident on the features but just not racing-speed yet.

✅ There’s more technical riding
✅ A few punchy drops and jumps
✅ But no unmanageable climbs* or massive commitment features

It’s around two times longer than the blue, but it’s not a slog. The route weaves through (mostly) gentle gradients, so it feels more like a fun loop than a draining endurance challenge. (*Apart from Cardiac Hill… we don’t talk about Cardiac Hill 😅)

Our boys are still building speed but are totally confident with the technical features – and that’s enough to make it doable.

Tips for Families Trying the Red Route

• Go midweek if you can – it’s way less busy (even during school holidays).
• Expect to stop – faster riders will often zoom past, especially on weekends. Just be courteous and pull in when safe to do so.
• Don’t worry about speed – as long as you’re confident in the features, pace doesn’t matter. And remember, a huge number are on e-bikes, so you don’t stand a chance 😅
• Bring snacks, water, and bribes – because obviously.
• Bring a picnic – roughly halfway around, just before the caravan site, is this perfect spot for a picnic and some mucking around on your bikes! Of course, both boys had to have videos for the blog!

Why We Prefer Cannock Chase Over Hanchurch

We’ve done both, and while Hanchurch (our ‘local’) has epic downhills, it also has epic uphills. And believe me, in a child’s mind, the joy of the downhill is quickly erased by the suffering of the climb. 😂

Cannock Chase, on the other hand, has a much more even up/down balance. The terrain flows, the climbs feel manageable, and the overall experience is just more enjoyable for a family ride. It’s also more accessible for different fitness levels, especially when you’ve got riders with varying skills and stamina.

Quick Facts

• Trail Centre: Cannock Chase, Midlands, UK
• Blue Route (Perry’s Trail): ~3 miles
• Red Route (Follow the Dog): ~6.7 miles (~14 miles if you include The Monkey Trail)
• Difficulty: Blue = beginner/intermediate, Red = intermediate
• Toilets & Cafe: Yes, and since my last post the portaloos have been upgraded to event toilets! Small wins! 😀
• Bike Hire Available: Yes – including children’s sizes
• Parking: Paid parking (up to £12 for the entire day. Free for members)
• Busy Times: Weekends and school holidays (especially midday)

Final Thoughts

If your children are handling the blue confidently – even if they’re not quite fast – it might be time to give the red a go. It’s not the terrifying jump you might imagine, and honestly, it could end up being your favourite ride yet!

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