The best walks and hikes in Shropshire

Wreckin’ your boots in the Shropshire Hills

Many of the best hiking trails in Shropshire explore the delightful Shropshire Hills AONB. The hills are full of character and offer a rich variety of adventures. The Wreckin is a much-loved outlier of the main chain, situated in the centre of the county near Telford. Its popularity is no surprise as this distinctive peak rises 1,335 feet (407 m) above the Shropshire Plain, promising a splendid panorama. To the south is Wenlock Edge, a 19-mile (31 km) limestone escarpment that boasts excellent trails through ancient woodland.

In the west rises Stiperstones, an intriguing hill with an atmospheric 1,759-foot (536 m) summit ridge of shattered quartzite tors, such as the spectacular Devil’s Chair. These astonishing formations and the mass of jumbled scree are the result of the tremendous forces of ancient glaciation. In autumn, a purple explosion of blooming heather creates a gorgeous juxtaposition when set against the jagged quartzite of the ridge: dreamy scenes for your camera.

Mynd yourself in Little Switzerland

The heath and moorland plateau of the Long Mynd is another firm favourite for ramblers and offers accessible walking for all. Experience the traverse of its seven-mile (eleven km) reach or alternatively head out on a gentler valley walk beneath its steep eastern flanks.

Hikes in Shropshire are perfectly achievable by public transport. Church Stretton is a marvellous base for your hill adventures and a shuttle bus leaves periodically; its figure-of-eight route providing easy access to the various hills. The town is known as ‘Little Switzerland’ due to its beautiful surroundings and the range of outdoor shops, pubs, cafes and tea rooms is sure to keep you occupied post-hike.

Iron, peat, meres and mosses

There are some lovely walks in Shropshire found amongst the tranquil nature reserves, meres and mosses in the north of the county, as well as pleasant ambles along picturesque canals originally built for the transportation of livestock.

Discover Ironbridge Gorge near Telford, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of the Industrial Revolution. The iron bridge, built in 1779, was the first of its kind and is a superbly impressive objective for a ramble along the banks of the River Severn.