Walking

What better way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Shropshire Hills than to go for a walk? It’s a great thing also for exercise (or relaxation), exploration (or revisiting a familiar place) and for company (or solitude). Whatever your preference, from a short amble to a good long stomp, the paths and open spaces of the Shropshire Hills will take you along river valleys, through pastures, meadows and ancient woodlands, around pretty villages, or over hilltops of rock and heather. You can follow the bounds of the old Mercian kingdom, the footsteps of ancient drovers and take in views from Iron Age hillforts.

For the definitive guide to all kinds of walking in the area, visit www.shropshirewalking.co.uk

Some of our top suggestions for walking in the Shropshire Hills are shown below -

For easy walks around managed countryside sites try:

There are easy access routes suitable for all abilities (including wheelchairs) at:

Waymarked walks with leaflet guides start from:

Popular hills with a variety of routes include:

You can of course find your own way!  The Shropshire Hills has extensive networks of rights of way and plenty of designated open access land. The 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey Explorer maps are the best to use as they show more detail, including field boundaries. More information can be found on public rights of way and open access land (including restrictions).

Click here for details of permissive access linked to farm conservation grants.

The Shropshire Hills also has a number of long distance routes :

  • The Shropshire Way works its way for 136 miles in a series of loops around many of the best bits of the Shropshire Hills and the rest of Shropshire. Well suited to walking in sections as an alternative to one big walk, a series of circular walks linking to the route have also been developed.  For more information see shropshirewalking.co.uk with downloadable guides, maps and podcasts. A new Harvey map of the Shropshire Hills part of the Shropshire Way has been published.
  • Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail is a 177 mile linear route between Chepstow and Prestatyn along the borders of England and Wales. About 11 miles of the Trail lies within the Shropshire Hills AONB, with some of the best preserved sections of the Dyke. You can find out further information on the National Trail website, as well as details of walks near the Trail. For background information visit the Offa’s Dyke Association website.
  • The Kerry Ridgeway runs for 15 miles as a bridleway along the ancient drovers’ track from Bishop’s Castle west to the Cider House in Powys, Wales. Details of the route can be found at www.shropshirewalking.co.uk. The route is also highlighted on the Ordnance Survey Explorer maps (216 and 214).

NEW! Walking with Offa in the Shropshire Hills

  • Explore the more remote western edge of the Shropshire Hills AONB on the Welsh English border by following this series of twelve waymarked pub walks with spectacular views and glimpses of history, wildlife and archaeology. Get your boots on, enjoy the beautiful countryside and indulge in some fabulous food and drink!
  • The walks are between 4 and 9.5 miles long and are generally able to be completed in around 2 to 3 hours. It is possible to access all walks by the ShropshireLink bus service but make sure you plan in advance. Call 0345 678 9068 for more details.
  • The pub walks are all downloadable from www.shropshirewalking.co.uk/walking-with-offa – listen to the podcasts to learn a bit more about the area before you go. Walks leaflets and walks guide will be available to purchase soon.
  • The pub walks can also be downloaded as GPS apps onto a smart phone from Viewranger. Search www.viewranger.com for “Walking with Offa”.
  • For those looking for a more leisurely meander, four Days Out in some of our picturesque market towns have also been produced as part of the Walking with Offa project. These are in Ludlow, Craven Arms, Bishop’s Castle and Church Stretton. Leaflets highlighting some things to do in and around the towns, including a short circular walk to get the best views, are also available to download from www.shropshirewalking.co.uk/walking-with-offa
  • All Days Out destinations are accessible by scheduled bus or train services six days per week. Check timetables at www.travelinemidlands.co.uk

Guided Walks

Walking with Offa in the Shropshire Hills 2012 – no-one knew these Marches better than King Offa, and now his friends, the knowledgeable and passionate local guides, will be showing you some of their favourite walks with spectacular views and glimpses of history, wildlife and archaeology. For full details of these walks and how to book a place, see our Walking with Offa Guided Walks programme 2012. If you would like a copy posted to you, please contact the office.

A range of other organisations also run guided walks, see our Events page.

Walking Groups

For information on walking groups click here.

Walkers are Welcome

Church Stretton, Bishop’s Castle, Cleobury Mortimer, Knighton, Wellington and most recently Much Wenlock have been designated “Walkers are Welcome” towns. This highlights the excellent facilities on offer for walkers. All have a variety of waymarked walks and leaflets, which will guide you into the surrounding countryside. If you want company on your walk, why not join the annual Church Stretton Walking Festival or Bishop’s Castle Walking Festival which are both held in June.

Geocaching – Walking with a Difference

Popular with families and other enthusiasts, in geocaching you use a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) to find ‘caches’ which have been carefully placed. There are three specific geocaching trails in the Shropshire Hills and many other caches. GPS units are available to hire from the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre at Craven Arms. For more information click here.

Countryside Code

Please do remember to respect our special landscape by following the Countryside Code.

  • - Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs
  • - Leave gates and property as you find them
  • - Protect plants and animals and take your litter home
  • - Keep dogs under close control
  • - Consider other people