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Wilderhope Walk

Manor and a secluded valley

Map illustrated by Kendall Walford from Oldbury Wells School

Start/Parking: Wilderhope Manor seven miles south west of Much Wenlock off a minor road from the B4371 at Longville in the Dale. Grade: Moderate. Distance: Four and three-quarter miles. Terrain: Undulating on field and woodland paths which can be muddy. Gradual gradients. Refreshments: Non en route. Pubs at Longville and Wenlock Edge. Recommended map: OS Explorer 217 Long Mynd. Wilderhope Manor (National Trust): Open to the public Oct-March Sunday 2pm - 4.30pm. April - Sept Sunday and Wednesday afternoons.

Hope Dale, lying between Wenlock Edge and View Edge, is one of Shropshire's most secluded valleys. Sitting proudly amid this delightful scene is Wilderhope Manor. This Elizabethan house, which has changed its appearance very little over the years, is now in the care of the National Trust and is used as a youth hostel. Starting from the manor this undulating walk has the prospect of wonderful views of Hope Dale and also the Clee hills.

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The Route

(1) From the car park take the track which goes off left and rises slightly to pass immediately to the rear of the manor house on your right. Pass through a gateway and continue forward as the track swings left to go ahead between hedges - ignoring a footpath off, right. Keep this track passing the entrance to Fegg Farm and continuing forward on the farm drive.

(2) At a T-junction go right passing Pilgrim Cottage, on the left, and ignoring a path, left. Go ahead on the track and upon entering the wood ignore the bridleway off left and continue forward as the wide path bends right on a gentle rise. Ignore the first unofficial path left - no waymark - continuing ahead to bear left at a blue waymark. Go ahead on this sunken path on the gradual ascent. At one point the path emerges back on to the track but continue ahead on the sunken path which eventually arrives at a stile in the top corner of the wood.

(3) Cross and go ahead on the field left-hand boundary. Ignore a stile, left, and continue forward with woodland on your left. Pass through a gateway and proceed forward as the field-edge path makes a gentle ascent.

(4) Cross a stile and continue ahead on a clear woodland path. Ignore a path, right, going downhill, and go forward on the path which runs parallel with the left-hand boundary to eventually emerge at a stile.

(5) Over the stile and go right to follow the field boundary on a track which passes through gateways. Having passed through the third gateway or over the stile continue forward on the right-hand field boundary as the path starts to descend with a farm over to your left. As the route approaches the bottom of the field you pass house TV aerials on the right. Keep to the hedge line as it bends sharp right and go ahead.

(6) Cross a stile with the house to the right. Do not cross the footbridge over the stream but go right into the field. Bear left and go ahead with the stream on your left. Ignore a footbridge, left, and keep forward. When a farm - Lower Stanway - comes into view straight ahead ignore an old stone bridge, left, and go ahead to cross a stile. Continue forward ignoring another stream crossing to another stile. Cross and go ahead on the field boundary to cross stiles and footbridge. Go forward to follow the field right-hand edge to exit on to the farm drive.

(7) Go right, over the stream and then left over a stile. Go forward on the field boundary. Cross a stile and footbridge and continue forward - now with the stream on your right. Cross a footbridge just left of the field corner and go ahead on the field edge with Wilderhope Manor up ahead. Cross a stile and go ahead on the track. At the farm buildings veer slightly right and ahead back to the manor.