Footpaths across South Shropshire
South Shropshire has long been and remains a walkers’ paradise. It is rich in hills, hedgerows, heathlands, woods, rivers, mixed farming land, hill-forts, valleys (some called ‘gutters’), small market towns and villages. Together, their geology, wildlife, human history and beauty match many of the famous National Parks, but they are largely free of the crowds which those attract.
Most of South Shropshire is within the designated Shropshire Hills National Landscape.
These Shropshire Hills are accessible by a multitude of Public Footpaths, Bridleways and/or quiet lanes:
The Long Mynd is indeed a very long hill, running north-to-south. Its famous for its delightful steep valleys (‘baches’), wild open heathland top ridge, Cardingmill Valley and Bodbury Ring hill-fort. It can be walked lengthways or from the east or west, with the three Stretton villages (Little, Church, All) being the most popular access points.
Staring across the Stretton gap at the Long Mynd are the famous Stretton Hills of Caer Caradoc, Ragleth, The Lawley, Hazler and Helmeth Hills, and Hope Bowdler. You can walk as few or as many as you like in one trip. Caer Caradoc in particular, looks and feels like mountain even though its hill-fort top is only 459 metres above sea level.
Wenlock Edge is a fine long limestone escarpment (two escarpments for much of its length) from Craven Arms in the southwest to Much Wenlock in the north-east. Much of its length is in the caring hands of the National Trust, with fine stretches of deciduous woodland, Flanders Folly and historic Wilderhope Manor.
The two Clee Hiils (Brown, Titterstone) are the highest in South Shropshire and their impressive shapes dominate the eastern side of the area. Although much ravaged by a fascinating industrial and mining history, that history has also left a vast network of old miners’ paths on which to explore them.
Dramatic Stiperstones, to the west of Long Mynd, is also much protected by the National Trust, Natural England and the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. Topped by iconic quartzite outcrops, including the Devil’s Chair, covered in heather and bilberry (known locally as whinberries) its flanked by the workings and cottages of old lead mines. The Bog Visitor Centre is a good base for exploring it.
South Shropshire it peppered with the remains of well-walked Iron Age hill-forts, with Bury Ditches and The Burrows above the Clun Valley being fine examples. Caynham east of Ludlow, Norton Camp above Craven Arms and Bank on the Brown Clee are also well served by Public Rights of Way.
The wild (and little forested!) Clun Forest at the western Welsh end of South Shropshire is a particularly remote and wild walkers’ haven, with the Kerry Ridgeway and Offa’s Dyke both ‘avenues’ for exploring part of it.
Other hills well served by Public Rights of Way and/or Open Access land include Linley Hill, Heath Mynd, Clunbury a hill, Hopton Titterhill, Black Hill, the other Caer Caradoc in the lovely Redlake Valley, Colebatch Hill, Hopesay Hill, Wart Hill, The Rowls (home to the wonderful Mitchell Fold stone circle), The Hope. To the east of South Shropshire beyond the lovely market town of Cleobury Mortimer is the edge of the Wyre Forest.
Other towns - or large villages - which are good walking bases, as well as being being worth a visit in their own right, are Ludlow, Bishops Castle, Craven Arms and Clun.
The Shropshire Way crosses much of South Shropshire and is a good way of exploring the Shropshire Hills. The Jack Mytton bridleway also goes though much of the area, and the Mortimer Trail from Ludlow tempts you into neighbouring Herefordshire.
Public Rights of Way in Shropshire are looked after by Volunteer Parish Paths Partnerships (P3) supported by Shropshire Council. The quality of maintenance and way-marking often reflects how many and enthusiastic the volunteers are in any particular P3 group!
