With the seemingly everlasting summer weather that we’re currently experiencing here in the UK, it’s prime time for barbecues, long walks and playing games at the park.
This time every year, hordes of people flock to Cannock Chase to enjoy the great outdoors. After all, there are plenty of things you can do up the Chase when the weather works out. With a couple of visitor centres dispensing ice cream, toilet facilities, open fields, marked tracks for walking and cycling and well.. loads of other stuff, what more reason do you need to head up to the Chase for a fun day out?
Pokemon Go
If you can’t stand the game, that’s perfectly fine (not understandable, but fine). For those off you (like me) who just gained an added benefit to being a bit of a curious explorer, you’ll probably be majorly enjoying the nostalgia factor; just one of the many benefits of the hugely popular app.
But, like me, there are a great many people who didn’t know about the sneaky work around of running from each of the starter pokemon to attain a Pikachu early on. If you (rightly) chose Squirtle, or just happened to misclick and accidentally take Charmander or Bulbasaur, you’ll be wondering..
Where can I catch Pikachu in Cannock?
The answer to that is Cannock Chase.
The two visitor centres, at Marquis drive and Birches Valley are the easiest places to start. Birches Valley has vastly superior parking facilities but will cost you a few bob (£4 last I heard) where Marquis drive is mostly free to park. A few set routes link the two centres together so you can enjoy a short walk (about 2.5km each way) between them.
The best part about this walk is the number of wild pokemon you can catch on the chase. I’ve seen quite a few Pikachus now at Marquis drive, smack in the middle of the one way road around the main playing field – and a Vileplume.
Cannock Chase is essentially riddled with Pikachus and Clefairys, so if you’re in need, it’s definitely worth a trek.
As mentioned above, there are other facilities and it’s a great place to spend the day, get a nice cold ice cream and just walk around.
The route between Marquis Drive and Birches Valley also takes you past a few small ponds/lakes/bodies of water, which will provide a great opportunity to capture one of the ridiculous number of Magikarp you’ll need to get that Gyarados – plus there are a few other shinies like Staryu, Goldeen, Growlithe (Surely a forest fire risk).
You’ll have plenty of PokeStops to restock your pokeball supply, There are 6 within close proximity at Marquis Drive (4 within 10 steps of eachother) and a few hidden gyms around too.
What can be better than a day out in the sunshine, walking around a beautiful landscape, playing your favourite game, all for free? Probably not much.
Just don’t forget to take sunscreen (and water, just because).
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