Ironbridge and Much Wenlock (From Worcester News)

Ironbridge and Much Wenlock

12:05pm Monday 18th July 2011 in Local walks By Julie Royle

THERE’S some fine countryside to enjoy on this walk, particularly the beautiful woods which clothe Benthall Edge. The route through the woods described here is a centuries-old sunken track which now forms part of the Shropshire Way.

However, there are many other paths through the woods and they’re all open to the public so you can explore freely. Towards the end of the walk, you’ll pass Workhouse Coppice, a Woodland Trust property which is also open to the public and worth exploring.

Not far from Workhouse Coppice stands Benthall Hall, a National Trust property of great charm. It’s not open every day so check the opening times in advance on the trust’s website if you intend to visit the hall.

The walk links Ironbridge and Much Wenlock, two of the most delightful small towns in the Midlands, each with its own unique character. Though the route is described from Ironbridge you can just as easily start from Much Wenlock if you prefer.

FACTFILE

Start: Ironbridge, which is on the river Severn between Bridgnorth and Telford; grid ref SJ672033.

Length: 9½ miles/15km.

Maps: OS Explorer 242, OS Landranger 127.

Terrain: Woodland, pasture, arable; mostly flat, but there are a few slopes.

Footpaths: Mostly excellent, but two are overgrown. Waymarking varies from first-class to completely absent, and is misleading in places.

Stiles: Eight.

Parking: Station Yard car park, on the south bank of the river Severn at Ironbridge, next to the Iron Bridge itself.

Public transport: Bus (First 295/300/303) or train to Kidderminster, then Whittle’s 125 or Arriva 297 or Severn Valley Railway to Bridgnorth, then Arriva 99 to Ironbridge or Arriva 436 to Much Wenlock; alternatively, train to Telford then Arriva 88, 96 or 99 to Ironbridge; shropshire.gov.uk or 0871 200 2233.

Refreshments: Ironbridge and Much Wenlock.

DIRECTIONS

1 Take the Severn Valley Way, which runs through Benthall Edge Wood, on the south bank of the Severn, west of the Iron Bridge.

Keep straight on at two junctions but fork left at a third, signed ‘cooling tower by ridge path’. Fork left again when you meet the Shropshire Way, at a sign for Benthall Hall. The Shropshire Way is easily followed for more than a mile, through the woods then across sheep pasture and past Vineyards Farm to a lane at Wyke, where you turn right, then shortly right again.

Walk along the lane for about half a mile.

2 Turn left into woodland, still on the Shropshire Way. About 200m after passing a farm, look for an easily missed field-edge path junction. Go diagonally left, passing a solitary oak tree then proceeding to the field corner. Turn left in the next field and then keep straight on along the edge of another for 200m before going diagonally right towards Bradley Farm; there is no waymarking but there is a trodden path. Waymarking resumes at the farm and you continue opposite along a clear track. At the end of the track the path enters dairy pasture and the waymarking seems to indicate you go left. In fact, the path goes roughly straight across to the far right corner, where a footbridge, a fenced path and then the Downs Mill driveway take you to a lane.

3 Follow the lane for 200m until it bends left. Go straight on along a footpath, then turn left on the route of a dismantled railway and follow it to Much Wenlock. Go down Station Road then left on Sheinton Street.

Once you’ve explored the town, walk along Bull Ring, passing St Milburgha’s Priory, and then following the lane back to the junction with the railway path.

Turn right to return to the Downs Mill driveway but this time go through a gate on the right to join a footpath. Cross a brook then walk through a long, narrow meadow to the far right corner. Keep to the right-hand edge of the next field to a corner where you turn right on a track then immediately left through a gate. Follow an overgrown, fenced path which leads to a stile into another field.

4 Bear left to meet a line of trees running along the side of a shallow valley and follow the trees, keeping to the right of them. Cross a stile at the far side and then just keep straight on, guided by excellent waymarking until you reach Arlescott Farm. Cross the farm drive and keep roughly straight on across pasture, towards Arlescott Cottage. The route soon becomes clear again. Keep straight on at a junction beyond the cottage, but use a new gate on the left rather than an old stile directly ahead.

Proceed to a road (B4375) and turn left, then soon left again at Posenhall, on to Wyke Lane.

5 When the lane bends sharp left, take an overgrown path on the right. It runs between two fields but one short section is so overgrown that you may need to use one of the adjacent field edges instead. If so, return to the path as soon as you can see it’s clear again. When the path enters a pasture walk beside the right-hand hedge then cut across a corner before rejoining the hedge to follow it into the far right corner. Walk along the right-hand edge of the next field to meet a bridleway by Benthall Hall Farm.

Turn right, then cross the Benthall Hall driveway to join a footpath.

Walk along the edge of parkland, then through a gate and along the edge of a field. Ignore branching paths until you meet a bridleway.

Turn right, soon passing a handful of houses and Workhouse Coppice.

Keep left at a road junction, proceed to another junction and turn left to Ironbridge.