Location
North of Shrewsbury on the A5 half way between Shrewsbury and Oswestry, grid ref SJ 390198. A map showing the location of the site can be found via the link on this page.
About the site
Nesscliffe Hill and the Cliffe covers two wooded hills and part of a heather covered ridge, and gives expansive views over the Shropshire countryside and Welsh hills.
Visitors have an area of mixed woodland and heathland about the size of 140 football pitches to explore. Within the site there is an iron age hill fort, a series of impressive quarries which supplied stone for some of Shropshire's' castles and churches, and a cave hewn into the sandstone, which is said to have been the hideout of the medieval outlaw Humphrey Kynaston.
If you or your organisation would like to hold a public event on this site please contact us.
Recreational Activities
Walking, horse riding and cycling
- Waymarked circular routes provide easy off-road cycling and horse riding as well as walking.
- Some easy, reasonably level walking from Pine car park.
- Long walks over mixed terrain. Stout footwear recommended for this as some paths can be very muddy.
Three new family-friendly routes have been designed at the site and are available for download on this page.
Orienteering
Nesscliffe Country Park is the latest countryside site to have its own permanent orienteering course. The course has been set up by Wrekin Orienteering Group and consists of an easy (2.3km) and medium route (2.9km). The controls are 10cm square flat, red/white markers with letter codes on. Many, but not all, are on posts. Further information can be found via the orienteering link on this page.
Climbing
The site is an important climbing area, and the sandstone outcrops have a range of climbing routes on them which are recognised as being extremely challenging. For more information, follow the 'Climbing at Nesscliffe' link on this page to the British Mountaineering Council's website.
Nesscliffe and surrounding areas
We work closely with the communities in Great and Little Ness Parishes and Ruyton XI Towns parish. You will find links to the parish websites on this page if you would like to find out more about the surrounding area.
The Nesscliffe Volunteers hold conservation tasks on the first Sunday of the month from November to April starting at 10am. Meeting at the Pine Car Park. If you are interested in getting involved please contact us using the details on this page.