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Much Wenlock Walk

Lofty view of a medieval town

Much Wenlock walk map

Map illustrated by Kendall Walford from Oldbury Wells School

Start: The Square in Much Wenlock.

Grade: Easy.

Distance: Three Miles.

Terrain: Field and woodland paths which can be muddy. Gentle gradients.

Refreshments: Pubs, cafes in Much Wenlock.

Recommended map: OS Explorer 242 Telford and Ironbridge.

From the Square in Much Wenlock the route of this walk goes past the magnificent Guildhall, Holy Trinity parish church and the ruins of the Priory which date from the 12th and 13th centuries to delve into the rolling countryside to the west of this small picturesque medieval town. The walk involves a short easy climb up Windmill Hill to enjoy expansive views over town and countryside. It also takes in a short stretch of the north-eastern end of the limestone escarpment of Wenlock Edge which runs for 16 miles to Craven Arms. There are also views of two other Shropshire landmarks - the Wrekin and the Brown Clee Hill.

The Route

(1) Exit the car park with the toilets on your right and go left and then right along The Mutton Shut, taking the first short alleyway left into the Square. Go ahead along Wilmore Street, passing the Guildhall and Holy Trinity parish church. Take the first road right, at the Bull Ring - signed to Wenlock Priory - and walk along the lane, passing the Priory, on your right.

Old Windmill

(2) When the lane, bends sharp right to pass the sewage works, go left on a path - ignoring a facing path through a red metal gate - and go down steps to cross the line of the dismantled railway and up steps on the other side. Bear half left and go ahead on the clear path. Ignore the wicket gate, left, into a recreation ground and continue forward on the path to pass through a gate, continuing ahead. Within a short distance, opposite another gate into the recreation ground, strike off right on a clear path up Windmill Hill. At the remains of the windmill - now in the care of a preservation trust - bear half left and ahead to a wicket gate. Pass through, go left and ahead down to exit on to Farley Road.

(3) Cross the road and go forward to pass through a bridle gate - ignoring a stile, left. Go straight ahead up the field, keeping close to the left-hand boundary, to a stile. Cross and continue forward on an enclosed path. When the enclosed path ends go ahead on field edge, keeping the hedge on your left.

(4) In field corner, go left over a stile. Do not follow the waymarked path down through the wood, but go straight ahead up the bank into a field and go right to follow an enclosed path round the boundary. Keep this field-edge path, with Edge Wood immediately to your right, through several fields for just under three-quarters of a mile - ignoring a footpath off left - until a waymark post at a T-junction of paths in a field corner immediately before double gates.

 Steps

(5) Here go left on footpath which runs between hedge, left, and a fence. Continue forward as the path runs along the inside edge of a wood. Ignore a gateway, left, cross a forestry track and continue forward on the woodland path a short distance to emerge, left, into a field. Go right and continue down the field on the right-hand boundary. Follow the field-edge route - ignoring double gates - to eventually arrive in the corner of a second field.

Much Wenlock Guild Hall

(6) At the corner, go right, ignoring a facing wicket gate. Go ahead in this next field on the enclosed path up to a wood. Follow the well-walked path on the inside edge of the trees. When the woodland ends, go left to the outskirts of Much Wenlock. At the road, go straight ahead over the bridge along Bridge Road. At the T-junction go right on Smithfield Road to the Gaskell Arms Hotel. Now go left along High Street back to the Square.

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