The Hills Ride Route 9 Ancient Roads, Castles and Spies Travel a track used for the last 6000 Ride Ravens and Buzzards Hills AONB years, see the remains of Norman castles, the handiwork of a World War 2 Shropshire This upland area is territory of ravens Most of these rides are within the German spy and some of the best and buzzards. Buzzards are easy to spot Shropshire Hills Area of Oustanding scenery in the country on this ride. with their wide outspread wings and Natural Beauty. The purpose of this mewing call. Listen for the ‘pruk’ call of designation is to conserve and When you reach the top of the the raven, the largest and rarest of our enhance the natural beauty of the Betchcott Hills you follow the Portway, a crows. Both these birds feed landscape.The Shropshire Hills were Stone Age axe trading route. Tools extensively on carrion. one of the first areas to be designated made from picrite rock found on in 1958.The AONB covers an area of Corndon Hill, just over the Welsh border, 802 square kilometres, extending were carried along this route. But why a from the Wrekin to the Forest track on top of a ridge? 6000 years ago and from the Stiperstones across to the Clee Hills. when the Portway was first used the surrounding valleys would have been forested, with river crossings, boggy land and fear of ambush.The ridge ways were easier and safer. The mounds or tumuli that you see on the way are Bronze Age. The Portway was also used throughout the Iron Age and Roman times for transporting locally mined iron and lead. In the The picturesque village of Picklescott Middle Ages it became a drover’s road lies at over 900ft above sea level. The used to drive large herds of Welsh settlement huddles around the Bottle cattle to market. The unpaved surface and Glass a 17th century inn. was kinder to the animal’s feet and there were no tolls to pay. At and you will see the remains of Norman motte and bailey castles built in the 12th century and many medieval buildings. One of the most fascinating places you KEY to maps Public House Cafe / Shop will pass is Betchcott Hall. This was owned before WW2 by a German called Telephone Church Ride Route with direction number Max Brenner. It is rumoured that the Car Parking Public Toilet Jack Mytton Way large fishpond, built just before the war, Visitor Information Buildings was dug as a landmark for German Bridleway Bombers. Brenner disappeared Footpath INFORMATION mysteriously before the end of the war! Byway Bottle and Glass, Picklescott: 01694 751345 A Road / B Road Other road Design and artwork: www.MACreative.co.uk Your route for the day... Route 9 Betchcott Hills: 8.5 miles / 14 km

Start: Womerton OS map 217 • Grid Ref: SO458973 10 Turn right to Smethcott Church then follow hedged track Alternative parking at Picklescott Village Hall Telephone: down to road. A McVittie 01694 751758 11 Turn right and go through the wicket 1 Parking is at Womerton. When gate on your left and follow the approached from the A49 and bridleway past the cottage Lower Wood there is a continuing down to the stream. parking area on your left just after a cattle grid 12 Go through wicket gate turning which leads onto the left into stream. Keep straight . To start ahead fording the stream and the ride follow this follow the cross field bridleway unfenced road, bearing right until it joins a farm past a road track which takes you to junction on Betchcott Hall. your left. 13 Turn left off the drive, 2 Keep left before pool, and follow following road. a short stretch of bridleway that leads 3 At T junction cross you to the road. straight over onto stone track. Continue uphill 14 Turn left and continue 1 following fenceline for along the road for ⁄3 approximately 1 mile mile (0.5km). (1.5km). 15 Take hedged lane on 4 Cross road onto stoned track. left. Follow track for Turn left towards 1 mile (1.5km). 16 Woolstaston. Where there are two gates in front 5 At road junction of you take the one on the right. Keep 17 turn left into the straight on with fenceline on left through village. gates. Fork right at village After gate onto tarmac lane, where it is fenced 18 6 green. Follow road for each side, turn right almost immediately through about 1 mile (1.5km). wicket gate into large field. Go diagonally uphill to lone trees then bear right downhill towards cottage. 19 At road junction by cattle grid turn left and follow road back to parking place. 7 Go through gate and keep to track downhill to road. 8 Turn right and follow road to Picklescott. 9 Keep straight ahead at crossroad in village. Take first right after village hall to Smethcott. Follow road for approx 1 mile (1.5km).

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