Walking and Cycling in the Stunning Shropshire Hills

Walking from Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre

Shropshire is a county criss-crossed by footpaths. The Shropshire Hills provide some amazing places to walk, still relatively unknown, and yet beautiful, varied and majestic.

Here at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, we sit at a crossroads of four of the Shropshire Way routes, heading North to Church Stretton, South to Ludlow, West to Clun and East to Much Wenlock. Here you can discover Iron-age hill forts, the majesty of the Long Mynd, the limestone escarpment of Wenlock Edge, ancient villages and market towns.

For more information regarding walking in Shropshire go to http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk or http://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/shropshire

There are regular guided walks that start from the Discovery Centre. For more information visit our events page. In 2018, we launched the Shropshire Way 80K endurance walks which is now become the flagship SW80K Festival, with the 80K, a marathon, 10K race and a fun run. This takes place in April. For further details, please go to our events page.

Our circular walks

We have six Discovery Walks leaflets specially created for our visitors to allow you to explore some of the countryside immediately around the Centre. There is some incredible countryside waiting for you and whether it’s an easy ramble through the meadows, or a full day through the hills and dales, our leaflets will show you the way and point out some the interesting things along your journey.

The walks vary in length and difficulty so there is something for everyone. Please note that all the walks were re-routed in 2017. You can purchase them from the Discovery Centre for £1 each or a pack of all 6 for £5.

Inclusive Cycle Trail

We launched our all ability cycle trail in our meadows in Spring 2015. This a 200-metre circular route taking in surroundings of our site. We welcome visitors of all abilities who can use the cycle trail free of charge. The paths also make a safe place to learn to ride a bike.

Cycling out into the Shropshire countryside

Exploring the Shropshire Hills area by bike, along quiet country lanes and amongst fantastic scenery, will give you a real feel for the countryside and allow you to stop and visit our market towns and villages on the way. Six circular routes starting from the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre have been created for you. With our bike stands, you can start or end your journey with a visit to the Centre, where you can see our Shropshire Hills through Time exhibition or pop in for a bite to eat – ask the cafe staff to wrap up a sandwich to take with you.
If you would like to download one of the rides, please go to http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/cycling

Here is an outline of what is available:

The Church Stretton Saddle Shiner

Distance 16 miles, allow 2.5 hours: Pass Flounders Folly, admire Wenlock Edge, pop in to Acton Scott Historic Working Farm, and then return to Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre.

The Acton Scott Activator

Distance 13 miles, allow 2.5 hours: Head on from Acton Scott to Church Stretton, then return to Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre through Little Stretton, skirting the Long Mynd.

The Long Mynd Motivator

Distance 30 miles, allow at least 5.5 hours: Why take the easy option? Instead of skirting Long Mynd climb up it! Follow the route of the Jack Mytton Way and then head back down to Craven Arms through Plowden.

The Hopesay Hop

Distance 14 miles, allow 2.5 hours: Cycle out to Wart Hill, the site of an Iron Age hill fort, then down the valley to Aston on Clun and Twitchen and back to Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre.

The Bury Ditches Dynamo

Distance 27 miles, allow at least 4 hours, partly off road on forest tracks: A stunning 27 miles circular route from the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre taking around four hours. The route takes in Bury Ditches Iron Age Hillfort, Clun and Clungunford. It is hilly but easily achievable in a day. Partly off road on forest tracks, so not suitable for racing bikes.

The Bishop’s Castle Cracker

Distance 30 miles, allow 5 hours: A stunning 30-mile circular route from the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre taking around five hours. The route takes in Bishop’s Castle, Clun and Clungunford. It is hilly but easily achievable in a day. This route misses out the forest tracks (and very steep hill) at Bury Ditches.

The Discovery Centre is located alongside the Sustrans route 44, linking it with Bishop’s Castle and Shrewsbury. There is a railway station just two minutes’ ride from the Centre, so getting here is easy!