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Shropshire Way 7 Wilderhope to Church Stretton

By Dave Roberts   

on December 9, 2011    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in – England, Europe, Shropshire

Shropshire Way 7 Wilderhope to Church Stretton

Route Essentials

Route Summary

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

18.01 km

Ascent

405 m

Time

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Difficulty

Hard Walk, LDP

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Shropshire Way 7 Wilderhope to Church Stretton Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

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Download file for GPS

Shropshire Way 7 Wilderhope to Church Stretton

Day 7 of the Shropshire way takes you across the limestone escarpment of Wenlock Edge. Lofty yet it never reaches 300m, and is a steady bimble across, which is most welcome if you’ve over imbibed in the Cromwell bar last night. The connections with Wilderhope Manor remain onto Wenlock Edge as a Royalist Major by the name of Thomas Smallman who lived there was chased onto the Edge by the roundheads during the English Civil War. He was surrounded and in desperation, rode his horse off the cliff rather then be captured as he was carrying some rather important despatches. His horse perished, but he survived as an apple tree cushioned his fall. He then made it on to Shrewsbury on foot to deliver them!

It is said that his ghost (and that of the horse) still haunts the place known as the Major’s Leap to this day, though why his ghost is there when he’s meant to have survived is anyone’s guess. You can end this route at Craven Arms (link) if you wanted to.

The Shropshire hills are a convenient get away if you want a hilly walk but the mountains of Snowdonia and the Lakes are too far to travel for the weekend.

The Route

Click here to view the full description and download route leaflets and podcasts

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Route Start Location:

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
18.01 km 405 m

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Hard Walk, LDP

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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