Albrighton Boningale and Donington
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Albrighton is an attractive village between Wolverhampton and Telford, within three miles of junction three of the M54. The small villages of Boningale and Donington, each with AlbrightonAlbrighton their own churches and individual character, are close by. Before starting the walks, please cross Station Road from the Crown PH car park to see Albrighton’s village hall, the BoningaleBoningale andand Millennium Clock and the village maps. Maps of the local areas are on the wall of the shoe shop and nearer to the Red House entrance is a map by a local artist which depicts places and buildings of interest. DoningtonDonington The walks in this series take the rambler through prime Shropshire farmland. From the ridges on the longer walks there WALKS are extensive views over the county to the Clee Hills in the south and the Wrekin in the west. Hedgerows and banks are home to many species of native flower, depending on the season, from primrose and bluebell in the spring to dog rose and honeysuckle in late summer. Early purple orchids and ragged robin grow in damp areas. Listen out for the call of the yaffle bird – the green woodpecker, whilst nuthatches and treecreepers may be glimpsed in the woods. The mewing of buzzards, once disappeared from this area, are now often heard overhead since these majestic birds have returned to our countryside. Listen out for ‘a little bit of bread and no cheese’ the call of the yellowhammer, the melodious song of the skylark high overhead, and the plaintive cry of the lapwing. THE COUNTRY CODE • Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone • Take your litter home • Help to keep all water clean • Protect all wildlife, plants and trees • Take special care on country roads • Make no unnecessary noise • Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work • Guard against all risk of fire The Millennium Clock and the Red House • Fasten all gates • Keep your dogs under control 6 circular walks of between • Keep to public paths across farmland • Use gates and stiles to cross hedges, fences and walls 4 and 14 kilometres from Albrighton. This series of walks was compiled by Four walks may be completed in ALBRIGHTON & DISTRICT FOOTPATH GROUP Thanks are due to all the farmers and landowners who have about an hour and two walks are of co-operated in the project. Designed by MA Creative. Artwork by Gordon Ashman 3 to 4 hours. ROUTE FINDING Boscobel All footpaths are signed and waymarked. The approximate time required for each Tong Norton walk is given on each individual walk A41 sheet. Tong 5 WALKING CONDITIONS Generally, for much of the year, conditions underfoot are good, and whilst walking boots are recommended, stout shoes may be adequate. A small Shackerley number of low-lying areas can be muddy at any time of year. M54 CAR PARKING & TOILETS All of the walks start from the car park of the Crown PH where ample free parking Cosford can be found. There are public toilets AIRFIELD DONINGTON Codsall available at the car park. 1 Wood ALBRIGHTON PUBLIC TRANSPORT A41 Albrighton is on the main Wolverhampton — Shrewsbury train line 2 3 and there are reasonable numbers of trains from either point. There are buses Whiston to Albrighton from Shifnal, Telford, Cross Wellington and Wolverhampton. Kingswood 4 Oaken Common REFRESHMENTS & SHOPS Four public house can be found along 1 6 BONINGALE A464 Albrighton High Street, as well as a café and many shops. There are also several food take-aways and a fish and chip shop. There are other public houses at Boningale and Kingswood and two cafés at Cosford. 6 NEARBY ATTRACTIONS • The Aerospace Museum, RAF Cosford • David Austin Roses • Boscobel House • Chillington Hall • Weston Park • White Ladies’ Priory Turn right over the stile and Distance 4km • Time 1hr 3 WALK 1 continue across the field to the Albrighton — Humphreston — Donington — footbridge. Go straight ahead Cosford — High Street —Albrighton across the next field to meet the lane at a metal gate and stile to the left of the cottage. M54 Shackerley Lane Turn right for 40m and R.A.F 4 Cosford opposite the cottage take the stile left into the field. The 5 footpath runs along the fence e n that is followed by a hedge. a A41 L Donington Blackthorn in Spring y e 4 l r House e k c a h At the stile turn left into the S Blue FOOTBRIDGE 5 House 3 2 lane, bear left at the cottage and Humphreston continue over the A41 into Hall MOAT Rectory Road. Cross the railway-bridge to meet DONINGTON Albrighton High Street just after Donington Church and pool. 6 ALBRIGHTON ALBRIGHTON POOL d oa STATION Turn left and continue along R n 6 H ig o h S ti tre ta the High Street to return to The et 1 S PH Crown PH car park. Blackthorn (sloe) in Autumn 1 From The Crown PH leave Albrighton by Station Road, go under the railway-bridge, across the A41 and continue up the lane opposite. 2 At the T junction at Humphreston Hall farm turn left along the lane for 200m passing the old barns. St Cuthbert’s Church, Donington Humphreston Hall Old Barn 1 A David Austin Rose – Distance 5km • Time 1 ⁄2hrs WALK 2 Brother Cadfael Kennel Lane — Windmill Lane — Church Road — High Street 5 Turn right immediately into Kennel Lane leading to Bowling Green Lane and turn Cosford right. At the Old Worcester Airfield A41 Road you can visit David DONINGTON Austin’s Rose garden and café, ALBRIGHTON otherwise go 150m to the stile ALBRGHTO POOL and the farm gate on the right. David Austin ad Roses Ro e 8 n STATO an o L ti reen H a ng G igh t wli St S Bo ree 1 PH Follow the waymark 6 3 t 6 7 aiming for the left of the house and windmill across the field in 4 which there may be roses e planted. At the house go over the stile and into Windmill Lane. an 2 L n 5 e re Turn left for Elm Road. G Whiston At Elm Road turn right. Take the third turning on the left Cross 7 Holyhead Road into Church Road. This will lead you back to High Street at the A464 Shrewsbury Arms PH. 8 Turn right on High Street. This will lead you to The Crown 1 From The Crown PH cross the road junction into Cross PH car park. Road and go down to Elm Road (450m) 2 Turn right into Elm Road then take the first road on the left – Green Lane. 3 Go down Green Lane and pass the windmill to the signpost on the right in the hedge. 4 Follow the waymark on the stile across the first field or if preferred around the edge of the first field, along the edge of the second field and cross the third field to the stile to the left of the kennels at the The Tower, St Mary’s Shifnal road. There are Church, Albrighton good views of RAF Cosford. Albrighton Hunt Weather Vane Pass over the stile or through the wrought iron gate, and 1 Distance 4.5km • Time 1 ⁄4hrs 3 WALK 3 turn right immediately. Pass through the kissing gate and follow Albrighton – Lord’s Meadow – Woodhouse Lane – the path to the left of the fence to the footbridge over the Kingswood Road - Albrighton brook. (To shorten this walk, turn left at the footbridge and follow the permissive path along Pebble Brook to 7). 4 Cross over Pebble Brook and walk straight across the field ALBRIGHTON and over a stile. Follow on through two more fields to the stile ad Ro at the lane. n STATION o H ti A41 ig a h t St S ree t Turn left into Woodhouse Lane and proceed to the farm PH 5 buildings on the left. 2 1 8 Turn left through the second white metal gate and go up ad 6 o s R os 3 the farm track. Cross three stiles into the field sloping down to Cr Albrighton Hall Pebble Brook. Keep the hedge to the left down to a stile and Pa Newhouse Lane tshull Road footbridge over the brook. 7 ok Carry on up the field to the top right corner. Cross the stile Pebble Bro 7 and follow the path to the kissing gate. Turn left into the track 4 Farm that leads to Kingswood Road. 6 oodhouse Lane W 8 Turn left and walk back 5 into Albrighton along Kingswood Road which becomes High Street at A464 Holyhead Road PH the Old Smithy. BONINGALE Bridge over Pebble Brook 1 From the Crown PH cross the road junction into Cross Road. Go down to the corner of Newhouse Lane, the third road on the left. 2 Follow the bridleway to the left that leads between a hedge on the left and new houses and the school on the right. Keep the hedge on the left and pass through two fields. Gatehouse to Albrighton Hall newly planted mixed woodland. Cross the field to the first WALK 4 Distance 4km • Time 1hr kissing gate, across the extended churchyard to the second gate and along the church path to the lane. Cross Road – Newhouse Lane – Boningale – Lord’s Meadow – Albrighton 4 Turn left to reach the main road. Cross the road and turn right. Continue past the Horns of Boningale PH until ALBRIGHTON you reach a stile in the hedge ad Ro n STATION o opposite Parkside Farm. H ti A41 ig a h t St S ree t PH 5 Cross over the stile and 7 follow the waymark signs Ragged Robin 1 over two more stiles and a d oa footbridge.