Walking the Shropshire Way by John Gillham

Author:John Gillham
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783626687
Publisher: Cicerone Press
Published: 2019-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

Go up Wilmore Street past the half-timbered Guildhall and the church, then turn right along the Bull Ring to the priory car park. On the near side of the car park opposite the priory turn left on an enclosed path, then take the left fork. Turn right on Station Road to pass the Old Station House before continuing ahead on a path bordering Linden Fields. Go right on a dirt path onto the old railway trackbed, where you should turn left, but after 360 metres leave it for a stepped path on the right next to an information board. This leads to a lane by the town’s sewage works.

Follow the eastbound lane past the sewage works, then turn left to Downs Mill. Keep to the right of the mill and its pretty surrounding cottages to cross a wooden footbridge over a dyke, then head northeast across a field (a Shropshire Way sign highlights the direction). Keep to the hedge-line on the left edge of the next field before continuing on a hedge-lined track leading to the brick buildings (some derelict) of Bradley Farm.

After taking the track round to the right side of the farmyard go through a kissing gate at the back and head northeast across a large field before turning left alongside a hedge across two fields. At a waymarking post go right down some steps and over a culverted stream (SO 637 020). Head ENE towards a large tree slightly to the left of the brow of the hill. On reaching this turn left, then right along the nearside of the far hedge. Go through a kissing gate onto a track, which passes Woodhouse Farm. Follow the track through the woodland of Acklands Coppice out to a country lane.

Turn right along the lane to reach the hamlet of Wyke. After taking the left fork lane leave it at a sharp right-hand bend by Vineyards Farm for a stony track. This leads to a cluster of cottages marked as the Vineyards on current maps.

Go through a kissing gate behind the houses and climb to a stile in the top left-hand corner of the field. Now follow the hedge to another stile, which leads into Benthall Edge Wood. A path runs along the high edge of the wood. Ignore the left fork path descending towards Buildwas but stay high for now.

The Benthall Hall bridleway soon comes in from the right and the woodland path goes straight ahead through a gate. The path undulates and passes former limestone quarry pits, now leafy hollows. The limestone geology allows the proliferation of rare species, including butterfly and bee orchids.

Beyond this the path divides. Take the lower left fork, which angles down towards the River Severn. At the time of writing the cooling towers of the old Ironbridge coal-fired power station were still standing but after considerable debate they are about to be demolished.

On reaching a kissing gate turn right along a path that descends to the old railway trackbed of the Severn Valley line, which ran from Shrewsbury to Kidderminster.

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