Ludlow Country Walks Castle Square to Sunny Dingle and Lower Evens

Walk more … feel the difference Explore Shropshire Whatever your age or fitness, you can benefit from doing a bit more physical activity. Try to get out and walk as much as possible within your own limitations. Ludlow Country Walks Build walking into your daily routine Any activity is better than none, but to get the most benefit you need to do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity ( such as brisk walking ) in bouts of 10 minutes or more – Castle Square to Sunny Dingle one way to achieve this is to do 30 minute on at least 5 days of the week. and Lower Evens in Mortimer Forest

Moderate activity is anything which involves: Breathing a little faster Length: 5 miles or shorter version 4.5 miles approx. Walk 9 Feeling a little warmer Having a slightly faster heart beat Time: About 3.5 hours or shorter version 3 hours

You should still be able to Start: Castle Square or Whitcliffe Common car park – see map talk – but not sing! If you can’t carry on a conversation Walk Grade: Easy to moderate; the two stiles on main route are beside unlocked then you are going too fast. gates and both routes are dog friendly. Why not join a Walking for Health Group? Walking in a group is a great way to start walking and stay motivated, make new friends and find out more about your local area. For details about the local Walking for Health groups go to www.walkingforhealth.org.uk and use the ‘walk finder’ to search for the walks in your area.

Ludlow Parish Path Partnership (P3) is a group of volunteers who, in conjunction with the Outdoor Partnerships Team of Shropshire Council, help maintain public rights of way in and around Ludlow. They meet monthly to clear vegetation, to keep footpaths open by waymarking routes and assisting landowners by repairing stiles and installing gates. They have produced this series of leaflets to encourage people to utilise Ludlow Parish Paths Partnership the valuable heritage of paths. Follow the Country Code and ensure you are properly equipped with suitable footwear and clothing. Check the weather forecast and let friends know of your intentions and whereabouts before you set out. Information on walking in Shropshire: www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk Information about cultural, sporting & countryside activities: www.discovershropshire.org.uk Ludlow Visitor Information Centre: Assembly Rooms, Mill Street, Ludlow 01584 875053 www.visitsouthshropshire.co.uk / www.ludlow.org.uk / www.shropshiretourism.co.uk How to get to & around Ludlow: www.shropshire.gov.uk View towards Forest from near Hucksbarn by Michael Holland Contact Shropshire Council to report a problem with a path:Tel: 0345 678 9000 / Web: www.shropshire.gov.uk Every e ort has been made to ensure the information in this publication was correct at the time of printing. Part funded by the Department for Transport. November 2012 Revised December 2015 A mix of farmland and forest giving an interesting, dog-walker friendly ramble.

Walk prepared by Ludlow Parish Path Partnership Group Halt on L Contains Ordnance Survey data ane © Crown copyright and database right 2012 NORTH Walk Directions Ludlow 1 From the Castle entrance take the path 9 The route passes a cottage on the left and Approx Scale Church 0 1/2 km Ludlow to the right, the” Mortimer Trail,” down to bends to the right. It is joined by a path College Dinham Bridge. from the left, waymarked with two colour 0 1/4 m 1/2 m Ludlow 1 signed trails, “Climbing Jack” (white) and Weir Castle Mortimer Trail 2 Cross bridge, turn left, leave the “Mortimer Trail” (green). It climbs a hill 2 18 Dinham Bridge Dinham Lower Wood Road Dinham Mortimer Trail, take the path beside the under a rocky cliff. Bridge

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Jo h River Teme, the ‘Breadwalk’. In just over Whitcliffe n ¼ mile, climb steps. At the top after an 10 At the top where the road bends left the Common River Teme information board turn right 90deg. up to path from 5) “Starvecrow” joins from the Toposcope the road at a layby. Cross the road and right. Climb a little more to the end of this Weir Park 17 Whitcliffe Road R walk down to the left about 30 yards. section. North Forestry Farm 3 Commission Office *[For the alternative car parking on Ludford Whitcliffe Common see map and join 11 At a slight bend to the left, at a junction of Whitcliffe route at layby.] tracks, with bench on the left, leave the Wigmore Farm Mortimer Trail and turn right on the narrow 16 3 Take the path on the right by a path, the “Whitcliffe Loop” (red discs). 15 fingerpost through trees to exit on the Mortimer Trail Overton Road (above the famous 400+ Upper million years old fish bone beds). Turn 12 At the junction, turn left on the red disc Evens right and walk for ½ mile. trail uphill. 14 Mortimer Forest 4 At a property named Mabbit’s Horn, 13 Follow the trail to turn right. 4 (opposite fingerpost ), turn right up the Overton Road

drive, pass the house on a path, to a 14 A track joins from the right. Carry on. 13 gate and into a field. Continue for ¼ 12 Mabbit’s Horn mile. (This is the line of the old toll road 15 At a junction follow the red discs and bear south out of Ludlow.) left. Mortimer Hucksbarn Lower Forest covers 5 The path diverges :- the main route 16 At the forestry road turn right on the Evens carries straight on. (There is an option to Whitcliffe Loop and the Mortimer Trail, 5 over 2400 acres, take a short cut right, past “Starvecrow” down a slope past an F.C. barrier and a over largely cottage. Rejoin at paragraph 10). The District Office, to the Wigmore road. Ludlovian limestones main route continues to a kissing gate. of Silurian Age, about 17 Cross over and from the layby left side Mortimer Trail Starvecrow 400 million years old. 6 Cross two fields with stiles beside take the footpath down right of a Forestry Commission field gates to a metalled drive and down prohibition notice for horses and cycles. 11 began planting in the a bridleway to the road in Overton.(Note The Mortimer Trail bends to the right and 6 1920’s. The main timber was the sunken nature of the track descends for over ½ mile, joined by a path Douglas Fir with other suggesting that it is a section of the old on the right, down to Lower Wood Road. 9 coniferous types using land toll road.) Turn right, then right again up the hill for Sunny Dingle that had been old, coppiced 40 yards. Cottage 10 woodland. In Norman times it 7 At the road turn right. Take the first turn right on a vehicle track with “Private 18 Beside an information board on the left for 8 was a Royal Forest with crown hunting rights. Haye Park Road” and barrier into woodland. Whitcliffe Common, follow the Mortimer Overton Trail to a short flight of steps down to Farm nearby takes its name from the 8 After a Forestry Commission sign, for Dinham Bridge for Castle Square. *[See Haye Park Saxon word “Haye” or “Haigh” 7 Overton “Sunny Dingle” the route reaches map for route back across Common to for a deer enclosure. another track bending tightly round and alternative car park.] rising to the right. Take this right, forestry road.