The Shropshire Way

This long distance trail devised by the Ramblers Association in 1980 takes you through some of the most beautiful countryside in Shropshire. Over valleys and hills with spectacular views and history at every turn.

Through Shropshire’s wonderful Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Across the great hogs back of the Longmynd, the mysterious rock outcrops of the Stiperstones and the geologically unique Wenlock Edge.

You will walk along Bronze Age ways, Roman Roads, Drover’s trails and stage coach highways. It will lead you past Iron Age forts, Abbeys, a ruined Priory, Norman castles and ancient churches. You can explore the birthplace of the industrial revolution and see an aqueduct built by Thomas Telford and the World Heritage Site at Ironbridge.

A wonderful walk that shows you Shropshire’s geological roots, its historical importance as a borderland and the heart of Britain’s Industrial Revolution. All of which have formed the County’s character to make it Uniquely Shropshire.

The Southern Section from the Stiperstones to Wilderhope Manor on Wenlock Edge is being upgraded with financial help from:

• Shropshire Council
• Ramblers Association
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• European Regional Development Fund

In 2007 funds were found to upgrade the Southern Shropshire Hills section of the Shropshire Way. A project officer was recruited and work started in July 2007.

The project has concentrated on upgrading the existing path and ensuring it is made available to a much wider ability of users. The funding allowed for upgrading the Southern Shropshire Hills sections south from Lutwyche Hall and the Stiperstones. New routing, logos, waymarkers, stiles, gates and bridges have been installed. The Shropshire walking website has been expanded and a new guidebook written.

The project undertook the following work:

• Upgraded and improved the Shropshire Hills section of the route to a standard above statutory.
• Tweaked route sections to take it to key locations such as the top of Bury Ditches and Brown Clee.
• Added extra sections to make it more accessible to day walkers, especially using public transport.

The links are::

• Wilderhope Manor to the Long Mynd via Church Stretton.
• Wilderhope Manor to Craven Arms.
• Added an extra link into the Herefordshire Trail.

• Created a memorable new brand and image.
• Developed new interpretive media, literature and guides.
• Developed the existing walking website with a map based section for the Shropshire Way.

This will allow the viewing and downloading of::

• Route guides.
• Maps.
• Route notes.
• GPS waypoints.
• MP3 downloads.
• Town maps.

It also provides links to::

• Safety notes.
• Weather sites.
• Transport.
• Accommodation.
• Feedback forms.

• Created 6 new short circular routes for people who do not wish to or are not able to walk a whole section of the main route.
• Creating 10 new “slow travel” linear walks that start and finish at public transport links.
• Developing community skills and commitment to the way in the form of P3 groups and path wardens.
• During the work an extra 27 miles of main route and 25 miles of circular walks have been added.

The following have been replaced or installed::

• 300 fingerposts.
• 260 waymarker posts.
• 200 stiles.
• 35 field gates.
• 80 wicket and kissing gates.
• 20 sleeper bridges.
• 15 wooden bridges.
• This includes 32 stiles that have been replaced by gates.

For further information on the Shropshire Way Project follow the link on this page.

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