Helen’s guidebook
For walkers and lovers of outdoors
Plenty of good walking, starting right from the house.
Search for Shropshire's Great Outdoors for the link, with loads of info - the most local walks are in the Walking with Offa link.
The Stiperstones National Nature Reserve is visible from the house. Popular and varied walks there, with stunning views from the top.
Keen walkers can get there on foot, or drive to the NNR car park and follow tracks up to the top, or a level accessible track around the ridge. You’ll pass the Bog car park on the way there, with the excellent visitor centre, lots of historical information about the mining and old settlements, and great cake.
Another route to the Stiperstones is via Stiperstones Inn in the village of the same name, popular with walkers. It has the Stiperstones Inn Story Cache app:
https://www.stiperstonesinn.co.uk/page-3/story.html
And another way is from Snailbeach village hall, access from A488 at Plox Green near Minsterley. From there you can walk up to the Snailbeach leadmine heritage site with well conserved remains and a guided tour into the main shaft on Sundays. There is a longish walk to the restored miners’ settlement of Blakemoorgate, can be visited any time but the cottages are open on the first Sunday of every month.
21 locals recommend
Stiperstones National Nature Reserve
The Stiperstones National Nature Reserve is visible from the house. Popular and varied walks there, with stunning views from the top.
Keen walkers can get there on foot, or drive to the NNR car park and follow tracks up to the top, or a level accessible track around the ridge. You’ll pass the Bog car park on the way there, with the excellent visitor centre, lots of historical information about the mining and old settlements, and great cake.
Another route to the Stiperstones is via Stiperstones Inn in the village of the same name, popular with walkers. It has the Stiperstones Inn Story Cache app:
https://www.stiperstonesinn.co.uk/page-3/story.html
And another way is from Snailbeach village hall, access from A488 at Plox Green near Minsterley. From there you can walk up to the Snailbeach leadmine heritage site with well conserved remains and a guided tour into the main shaft on Sundays. There is a longish walk to the restored miners’ settlement of Blakemoorgate, can be visited any time but the cottages are open on the first Sunday of every month.
Wild moorland and steep ravines make this National Trust land a favourite with walkers and lovers of wild landscape.
Further on from the Stiperstones, and bigger and wilder, it includes the tourist hotspot of Cardingmill Valley, accessed from the far side via Church Stretton (a 40 minute drive).
But you can get there nearer to hand via the Bridges pub, also a popular walkers’ pub, by carrying straight on from Stiperstones car park and dropping down into the lovely hidden valley between Stiperstones and Long Mynd.
81 locals recommend
Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd
Wild moorland and steep ravines make this National Trust land a favourite with walkers and lovers of wild landscape.
Further on from the Stiperstones, and bigger and wilder, it includes the tourist hotspot of Cardingmill Valley, accessed from the far side via Church Stretton (a 40 minute drive).
But you can get there nearer to hand via the Bridges pub, also a popular walkers’ pub, by carrying straight on from Stiperstones car park and dropping down into the lovely hidden valley between Stiperstones and Long Mynd.
Atmospheric spot - Stone circle, lovely open walking area and views to the coast.
Up the hill from the house on the lanes, and along the top takes you through the forestry (Black Marsh Forest) through a gate to Stapely Hill, an open access common with many tracks and paths. You can miss out the walk to the Forestry by driving to that point. The wide track is prehistoric and an old carriage road, and a clear route to Mitchell’s Fold Bronze Age stone circle. To extend the walk go straight on through another gate, along a track and short stretch of lane to another track over Corndon Hill – crossing the border into Wales.
11 locals recommend
Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle
Stapeley HillAtmospheric spot - Stone circle, lovely open walking area and views to the coast.
Up the hill from the house on the lanes, and along the top takes you through the forestry (Black Marsh Forest) through a gate to Stapely Hill, an open access common with many tracks and paths. You can miss out the walk to the Forestry by driving to that point. The wide track is prehistoric and an old carriage road, and a clear route to Mitchell’s Fold Bronze Age stone circle. To extend the walk go straight on through another gate, along a track and short stretch of lane to another track over Corndon Hill – crossing the border into Wales.
Favourite pubs
Nearby, welcoming local drovers’ inn the Stables with all its original character, has good food and a cosy woodburner. In good weather the spacious garden has great views of the Stiperstones
Stables Inn
HopesgateNearby, welcoming local drovers’ inn the Stables with all its original character, has good food and a cosy woodburner. In good weather the spacious garden has great views of the Stiperstones
Sightseeing
Welshpool is another border town half an hour away, with a light railway running at the weekends to Llanfair Ceireinion. https://wllr.org.uk/. Powys Castle with world-famous gardens is on the doorstep.
37 locals recommend
Welshpool
Welshpool is another border town half an hour away, with a light railway running at the weekends to Llanfair Ceireinion. https://wllr.org.uk/. Powys Castle with world-famous gardens is on the doorstep.
Food scene
Ludlow is 25 miles away, popular with foodies and has a huge castle and many festivals (mostly about food). I recommend the Millenium Green and Csons café, by the river Teme at Dinham Bridge below the castle.
206 locals recommend
Ludlow
Ludlow is 25 miles away, popular with foodies and has a huge castle and many festivals (mostly about food). I recommend the Millenium Green and Csons café, by the river Teme at Dinham Bridge below the castle.
Family outing with plenty to do
Lovely meadow walks by the river, good cafe,
Activities for children 8th to 12th August : Iron Age Camp –
Experience life two thousand years ago. Have flat bread cooked over a fire, paint your face with woad and try out a slingshot.
Recommended age 4 – 11 year olds.
29 locals recommend
Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre
Market StreetLovely meadow walks by the river, good cafe,
Activities for children 8th to 12th August : Iron Age Camp –
Experience life two thousand years ago. Have flat bread cooked over a fire, paint your face with woad and try out a slingshot.
Recommended age 4 – 11 year olds.