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Ditton Priors Walk

In the footsteps of quarrymen

Map illustrated by Amy Walford from Oldbury Wells School

Start/parking: Roadside at the parish church in Ditton Priors. Grade: Moderate. Distance: Three Miles. Terrain: Principally level walking on field and woodland paths. The woodland stretch can be wet underfoot and, in height of summer, slightly overgrown. Quiet lanes. Refreshments: Howard Arms Inn opposite the church. Recommended map: OS Explorer 217 Long Mynd.

The parish church in the centre of Ditton Priors is built from dhustone quarried from the nearby Brown Clee Hill. Quarrying has influenced the life of this now peaceful Shropshire village and many of the paths used today for leisure were once the way to work for the quarrymen.This walk sets out from the church to follow field paths and a short stretch of lane to make for the foot of the north eastern flank of the Brown Clee - Shropshire's highest hill. The route offers views of Brown Clee and the countryside around Ditton Priors - an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A path through woodland brings walkers to another quiet lane which leads back to the village with a final section following field paths passing near to the site of a Cold War underground bunker. An interpretation board details its history.

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The Route

(1) With your back to the church gate go right on the one-way street for about 40 yards. When the road bends right, go left on a signed footpath which follows a metalled driveway down past homes to a footpath finger post. Follow the Hall Yard Path with the stream on your left. Cross the water and go ahead on an enclosed path - ignoring footpath, right. Go forward through a gateway to pass immediately to the left of a barn conversion on a gravel drive.

(2) At the end of the building and blue fencing go right on a footpath - not signed -which runs between a holly hedge, left, and the stream. Cross the stream and go left over a stile, continuing forward to cross another stile. Bear slightly right and forward to cross a stile. Go half right and ahead over the field to exit on to Chapel Lane. Go right on the road.

(3) Within a short distance, when the lane bends sharp right, bear left on a signed path which follows a lane, passing cottages on the left. Go straight on to pass through a facing gateway. Continue ahead keeping the hedge on your right. When the hedge-line goes off at a right-angle continue forward to follow the wheel tracks to a stile and gate. Go ahead up the field left-hand boundary.

(4) In the corner cross the stile and immediately go right. The route follows the right-hand boundaries of fields - ignoring a footpath off left - and crossing four stiles to eventually exit on to a road.

(5) Go left for a few steps to cross a stile just left of a gate into the wood. Go ahead in the field keeping the hedge/wire fence on your right to arrive at a gate. Pass through, ignore waymark directing left, to veer half left and go across the field to a concealed stile in the top left-hand corner at the edge of woodland. Go straight ahead through the trees on a path, crossing over a forest track and ignoring a path, right, to emerge from the wood via a stile. Go forward on the field left-hand boundary passing to the left of barns. At a marker post, in fencing left, go right, as indicated, keeping to the track to exit on to a lane crossing a stile just left of a gate.

(6) Go right to follow the quiet Ashfield Road for half a mile - ignoring two signed footpaths to the left.

(7) When the lane bends right with a metalled farm driveway to Oakridge, left, cross the second stile to the right of the drive. Go forward across the field, keeping the line of conifer trees on your left. Over a stile in the facing hedge and go straight on gradually bearing right to follow the hedgeline to cross a stile and footbridge in the top right-hand corner. Ignore a path, right, and go ahead to cross the sports field to a gate in the top right-hand corner. Cross the road and go ahead along the one-way road back to the church.

To view other walks in the district click here.