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SHRO Tucked between flat Midlands and ru walks of the Shropshire Way and Ordnance WORDS NICK HAWSSEY PHOTOGRAPHY BOB ATKINS hurch Stretton and the hills around it occupy some bizarre bubble of alternate space, floating ephemerally somewhere west of Shrewsbury. C This pocket paradise of underused paths and trails shouldn't be there; it's been sneaked in, between pancake-flat Midlands and Welsh gnarl, like a bit of late school homework. Arriving here feels like you've broken into another dimension, one where time stopped several hours ago and where the place names are a tongue-twisting mish­ mash of Old English, Welsh and something else entirely. I had never set foot in Shropshire before this feature. Now, I'd happily rank it among my favourite places to walk. Anywhere. And here's why...

THE SHROPSHIRE WAY A few years ago, ex-Army officer and adoptive Shroppie lad Jim Stabler took a look at the Shropshire Way and found it wanting. It skirted some staggering beauty spots, as if paranoid of going too near them. It failed to link some of the best walking country that Shropshire has to offer. And it was full of stiles, tricky river crossings and other navigational tripwires. Jim resolved to do something about it. and with help from Shropshire County Council. he has. As walkers, we owe the man a pint, especially as he's done it in a couple of years and for a mere £160,000 - most of it coming from the European Union. His work has concentrated on the southern section, which is at the heart of Explorer 21Z This stretch takes in the big hitters of the trail. some of them for the first time. Brown Clee, the highest point in Shropshire, was missed by the trail in its previous form; now it is the jewel in its crown. The Way now connects the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge, the pin-up boys of the Shropshire scene. The paths are now clear, the waymarking is excellent and each horizon naturally follows the last. Most crucially, Jim has made the southern section circular in its own right, making it a true celebration of this area and all its gems. At the heart of it all is Church Stretton; the perfect base for exploring the fruit of Jim's labours.

MAP FACTS & AREA COVERED

Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 217 Title The Long Mynd IS. Wenlock Edge

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH e sprayway IOf a n adven ture called II le 108 WWW.LIVEFORTHEOUTDOORS.COM JUN E2008 Post-walk pit-stops Places to reward yourself with a sit-down and a pint or cuppa ...

The Bog Centre, Stiperstones Founded a few years ago as a walkers' tearoom, run exclusively by local volunteers, the Bog Centre has rapidly become the stuff of legend. It offers essential information and truly awesome home-baking. Open 10am-5pm Wed-Sat, plus all school holidays and Bank Holiday Mondays. Tel: 01743 79484 or 790875, www.bogcentre.co.uk

The Plough, Wistanstow Home of the Wood Brewery, which is producing a special Shropshire Way Ale later in the summer, and a damn fine place for a lunchtime or evening meal as it nestles between Church Stretton and Craven Arms. Wood's flagship is Shropshire Lad (4.5%) but there's a range of ales and stouts to suit every post-walk need. Tel: 01588 672523, www.woodbrewery.co.uk

Victoria House Tea Rooms and B&B, Church Stretton Right at the heart of the chocolate box, this is a wonderfully cosy place for afternoon tea, with the decor mixing host Linda Smith's passion for African antiquity with celebrations of all things Shropshire. The B&B lodgings are comfy and welcoming, and the hosts are full of friendly advice. Tel: 01694 723823, www.bedandbreakfast-shropshire.co.uk/index

IN ASSOCIATION WITH e sprayway JUNE 2008 COUNTRY WALKING 109 MAP OF THE MONTH

Walking Options Three different walking options depending on the time you have ..

Afternoon walk: The Stiperstones. Rising from the earth like the knuckleduster of some stirring behemoth, the Stiperstones are a series of rocky bluffs so legendary, their name has been exported to the entire ridge they stand on. They even have their own classical music symphony. Perched at the north-western edge of Explorer 217, they are the last bastion of English high ground before you're being croeso'd in Cymru. There's a car park just south of Cranberry Rock; from here it's an easy matter to nip up and pay your respects, with varied options for a return route running either east or west of the ridge. All the better if the evening sky is moody; the contrast of grey-white boulders set beneath a brooding welkin is truly special.

One-day walk: Brown Clee and Titterstone Clee. We've said enough about Brown Clee and its glorious makeover as a walkers' peak. Now try it for yourself with Route 10 in this issue.

Multi-day walk: The Shropshire Way (southern section). Runs from Wilderhope Manor Youth Hostel to the Stiperstones, but lim Stabler has also turned it into a new nO-mile circular trail, taking in the hills of Ragleth, Brown (lee and Caer Caradoc, as well as the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge. The circular trail barely leaves the soil of Explorer 217, so it's the perfect proposal if this feature has tempted you. You can find all the details at www.shropshirewalking.co.uk.

Geocaching Find Jim's 'hidden treasure' .. .

As a former soldier, lim Stabler has a passion for mapping and orienteering, so an innovative geocaching project forms part of his upgrade of the Shropshire Way. At the Secret Hills Discovery Centre, near Craven Arms, you can borrow a GPS for a day to follow clues and hunt down some 'treasure'. All the boxes are in plain sight but there may be a bit of a puzzle to solve before you can reach them. High atop the Long Mynd, and after an initiative test worthy of the Royal Engineers, we found one of lim's ammo boxes, stuffed with keepsakes from the many folk who've been there before. We left a copy of CW, so if you missed the April issue, there's a spare one up there somewhere ... Above: A copy of Country Walking is added to www.shropshirewalking.co.uk/events/ the 'treasure'. Left: In a re-make of 'The Plank', geocaching.htm Nick's bridge-building skills are put to the test.

110 WWW.UVEFORTHEOUTDOORS.COM IUNE 2008 Useful Information Bus services ... places to visit ... events On The Buses Walking Festival The whole of Explorer 217 is covered by an Church Stretton Walking Festival runs from excellent bus network, including a special Wednesday, June 4th to Sunday, June 8th, National Trust service designed for walkers, the offering 15 guided walks from six to 12 miles. Shropshire Hills Shuttles. They connect almost For more details, tel: 01694 723600 or visit all the showpieces mentioned here; for more www.churchstrettonwalkingfestival.co.uk details visit www.shropshirehillsshuttles.co.uk Party Time Wilderhope Manor Discovery Centre On June 4th (the first day of the festival), Wilderhope Manor Youth Hostel is the start of Secret Hills is an interactive discovery centre Church Stretton will host a party to celebrate its the Shropshire Way. It's a 16th-century manor which tells you the story of the Shropshire hills 'Walkers are Welcome' accreditation. For more house, with grand dining hall, and it frequently and invites you to make the most of them. details, tel: John Wool mer on 01694 751245. hosts society weddings. You don't get that at Great for families. Alternatively, visit www.churchstretton.co.uk or Black Sail. www.shropshire.gov.uk/discover.nsf www.walkersarewelcome.co.uk Tel: 0870 770 6090, www.yha.org

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