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Ironbridge Walk

A walk through History

Map illustrated by Kendall Walford from Oldbury Wells School

Start: Southern end of the Iron Bridge in Ironbridge reached from Broseley or by crossing River Severn via the new Free Bridge and following signs for Iron Bridge. Grade: Energetic. Distance: Nine miles (ten with detour into Much Wenlock). Terrain: Undulating with one sustained gradual ascent. Parts can be wet and muddy. Quiet lanes. Refreshments: Much Wenlock and Ironbridge. Recommended map: OS Explorer 242 Ironbridge.

Setting out from the Iron Bridge in Ironbridge this figure-of eight walk makes a sustained ascent up a wooded escarpment followed by field paths to a hill-top hamlet. From here a quiet lane and paths take the walker on with the option of visiting the historic town of Much Wenlock. The return leg passes the site of a lost medieval village and visits a 16th Century house in the care of the National Trust.

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The Route

(1) Walk through gateway at the Iron Bridge end of the car park and immediately go left and then right on the old railway line which passes under a bridge. Keep this surfaced path for its full length. When it ends, at the foot of power station cooling towers, go left over a stile and left again to start the climb of Benthall Edge Wood.

(2) At top of the first rise go right on path to Benthall. At fork bear right and ignore all paths off. When the clear path bends sharp left continue forward on the Shropshire Way. Climb stile at open country - ignore path left - and go half left down to cross stile just left of a house to go ahead on the driveway for some distance to meet a road in the hamlet of Wyke.

(3) Go right on the lane and bear right at a junction (the walk returns to this point) keeping the road for half a mile to go left on a signed footpath which follows an unmade road. When the road bends right to a house continue forward on a track which ends at a stile. Cross and go ahead on field boundary for short distance.

(4) At a gateway and finger post go left over the field on a path signed to Bradley. At a solitary tree go half right down to cross a stile and ahead to pass through gateway. Go left on field edge and over corner stile. Continue forward and about half way along the field go half right to Bradley Farm. Cross two adjacent stiles just left of stone/brick barn and go ahead between buildings veering left and out to the road.

(5) Cross the lane and ahead on enclosed track to continue forward on field edge - hedge right. Climb corner stile and ahead to cross footbridge in far right-hand corner and ahead on house driveway. Immediately after passing through entrance gateway go left over stile (Much Wenlock is half a mile along the road). Go ahead and right over stream. Go left and head up the field gradually veering right and ahead on right-hand boundary to corner stile. Go right on field edge. In corner ignore gate and go left to climb stile. Go left and right up the field (old fence left) to cross stile. Go ahead up through wooded area to continue forward on field edge.

(6) Cross corner stile and ahead on enclosed path and then field-edge track. When this bends sharp right the path continues forward over the field aiming just right of farm. At field edge cross two stiles to go left on field edge with Arlescott Farm on your left. (Site of medieval village is to the right). When hedge goes left go half right to gateway and ahead on clear path to pass immediately to right of a cottage and ahead on drive.

(7) When drive bends right go left through bridle gate and ahead on boundary. At marker post slant half left down to another post and right to gate. The route now goes ahead on field boundaries to exit on to lane. Go right on the road returning to Wyke. At T-junction go right on the road for half a mile. When the lane bends sharp right to pass a house, go left on a signed enclosed path. Cross stile and ahead through wooded area and through gateway with pond left. Go ahead round field edge to cross a stile continuing to Benthall Hall.

(8) Go right on unmade road passing church, left. At surfaced road go left through gateway on signed path which goes straight ahead in front of the hall. Through kissing gate and forward to another gate to go right on a hedged track. Continue forward when the route becomes a surfaced road downhill. At a junction go left continuing the descent following the pavement to the Iron Bridge.