Darnford Walk

IN THE SHADOW OF The walk starts from Bridges, the settlement river bank to reach a track to Puulverbatchlv & Loongden WALK ROUTE car parking THE STIPERSTONES The Horse Shoe Inn, Bridges. around the Horse Shoe Inn, going down to a ford. Cross Neww Leasowewes Farm Wilderlederleyley Hill The route sets off following The was once the name of the the track and go over the stile other rights of way public houses inn itself. The inn served into Rookery Wood. Shropshire Way, Shropshire’s 140 mile A roads public telephone DarnfordDarnford WalkWalk long distance footpath, which “passes a major coaching road between Shrewsbury 4 After the next stile minor roads camping & ThreshT resholds through countryside as beautiful and as T Ramble along the caravan sites h continue through the e and Bishops Castle and other roads/tracks varied as any that can be found in the o Shropshire Way to discover garden with the stream on r boasted a smithy, which was w British Isles”*. The Way, which starts a a hidden, golden valley. your right, (please keep to the y and finishes in the market town of working until 1940 and still survives Then enjoy panoramic views path and keep dogs on leads). These walks have been produced by Shrewsbury, explores the main uplands on the corner of the road to the left of whilst following a 3000 year the pub. Working until 1940, the smithy’s of the Shropshire Hills, designated in 5 Cross the next stile and go Thorny old thoroughfare. purple sandstone walls, quarried nearby, Upper 1958 as an Area of Outstanding Natural left past Ratlinghope ford to follow Stitt Farm Knoll are obvious in many of the buildings The Horse Shoe Inn, Beauty. This identifies the Shropshire an obvious track past a small Loowerwer locally. The Inn changed its name in 1890 Stitt Farmm Bridges (Grid Reference Hills as a place of national importance quarry. Goldenenn Stitt SO 393 964) to reflect the activity next door. Vallelleeyy for its natural beauty and diversity. This Ratlinghope (often called Ratchup and BetchcottB hc walk will help you discover what makes The Bridges Youth Hostel was a school, marked Ratchop on 19th century plans) Stittttt Hill OS Explorer™ 217 this area so special as you experience built in 1866. It became a youth hostel in HiHillH is a settlement of much less importance Castle Ring the inspiring views, wildlife and history 1931, one of the first 10 in England. Lowerwer today than in the past. Across the Darnfordnfordo d Parking at Horse Shoe Inn of the Golden Valley. 2 Continue along the track, with stream, the old mill building probably * From ‘A Ramblers Guide to the Shropshire Way’ by RW Moore dates from the 18th century. There are Ratlinghopeat ghope Allow 3 hours Darnford Brook on your right to Hillll cross a stile on your left opposite records of a mill here from 1291, that last 1 With the pub on your right, go worked about 1900. 1 an old brick built bridge. 6 ⁄2 miles to the junction and turn right 1 Short cut 4 miles (1 ⁄2 hour) (signposted Ratlinghope). Follow 3 Continue on following the river into 6 Keep going as the path skirts the HillsideH Farm the road past the Youth Hostel a conifer woodland known locally bottom of Ratlinghope Hill weaving Pleasant walking to cross a stile on your left, just as Garden Coppice. Keep to the through bracken sloped, often through woodland, before the bridge. boggy, open country to eventually open farmland, reach an impressive stand of beech trees. and on quiet BridgesB ese Manor Housese country lanes. These beeches were planted at least Some gentle 150 years ago. You can tell this by too Wentnorntn climbs. Can be very & Norburyry 1 kilometre measuring their girth at chest height. 1 Mile wet and muddy An unpoll-arded beech is aged at Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. in places. Shropshire County Council. approximately one year per inch of girth. Licence number 100019801. 2008 Discover Shropshire Further Information 7 Carry on with the trees on your 9 Turn right along the road, passing ! Continue along The Long Mynd is known for its harsh IN THE SHADOW OF right, to cross a stile and continue the Thresholds Centre on your the Port Way, to winters. One locally famous tale is that of 4 Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, THE STIPERSTONES until you reach the old county road right. Stop when you reach a eventually cross a stile Reverend Donald Carr who nearly lost his School Road, Craven Arms SY7 9RS. life crossing the Mynd in the snows of Tel: 01588 676060 at Lower Darnford (now a rough turning on to the Port Way on your on your right, taking you www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk track). right and admire the view. down the Golden Valley 1865. The story “A Night in the Snow” DARNFORDDARNFORD Discover the wonders of the Shropshire Hills from the so named because it is details his epic journey. If you wish to cut your walk short at this Thresholds is an isolated farmstead splendour of the scenery to the complexity of their aflame with yellow gorse history and heritage. point and return to The Horse Shoe Inn, dating back 300 years or more, high on Stop in Ratlinghope and take a in summer. look at the church. WALKWALK Travel Information turn right and go to point $, otherwise the northern flank of the Long Mynd, continue below. now used as a craft-based activity centre. # Go left at the bottom of For bus and train information the hill to cross a stile in The ancient yew trees in Go left up the track through the Cutting across the tops of the hills, the call: 0871 200 2233 8 a fence. Continue down hill the churchyard and field gate, cross the next stile then bear Port Way, thought to be Bronze Age in bearing right at the bottom to cross to the east of the church Guidelines for walkers left following the track up the hill. origin dating back 3000 years, runs close Be safe, plan ahead and follow a footbridge. Then bear slightly left, reflect the antiquity of this religious • Follow this track through a series to several burial mounds or “tumuli”. any signs heading for the stile and gate by site which can be traced back to a 13th Leave gates and property as of gates and stiles, passing fishing This ancient track has been a vital route, • an old beech tree. You were at this Century priory. The interesting inscription you find them pools on your right, until you reach perhaps initially linked to the trade in Protect plants and animals and take your litter point earlier. Retrace your steps for on the south door dates the present • the road. bronze age axes from the axe factory on home a short distance, heading back to building to at least 1625, though it was • Keep dogs under close control Corndon Hill to the west and later as a probably old then. The churchyard is Keep looking back along the ridge of Stitt Lower Darnford. • Consider other people main drovers road. managed for conservation under the Hill behind you until you can see Castle Darnford from “dearne-ford” meaning “Caring for God’s Acre” scheme. Ring, the earthworks of a small Iron Age Look over the gate opposite the junction Other walks in this series “hidden ford”. Certainly this is a hidden Adstone Walk: An inspiring 5½ walk following the Shropshire enclosure dating back some 2500 years. and you will see a solitary standing valley yet the sunken lane descending to & Go on through the village, going Way over the summit of Adstone Hill. If you love a good To the west stands the jagged skyline of stone. If you walk over to the stone you view, you’ll love this walk! the ford suggests a route that has seen straight ahead at the junction the Stiperstones – the landscape which will see that it bears a plaque dating to Mucklewick Walk: Wander the hills and valleys of this quiet much use in the past. at the top of the hill (signposted borderland. If you want to get away from it all, this is the walk inspired the writings of local author Mary 1791 and appears to be a gatepost left Medlicott & Bishop’s Castle). for you! Webb (1881-1927) in The Golden Arrow isolated by the disappearance $ Keep on the track towards Lower Continue to cross the next stile on Flenny Bank Walk: The view from Flenny Bank is one of the and Precious Bane. of a field boundary. Darnford, crossing over the stream finest in the land! Discover the story of this landscape, said to the right, just before Manor House. have been shaped by the devil himself! and following the track to cross Go on down the field to cross the stream again. From the bridge, To find out more about walking in Shropshire visit the Darnford Brook, turn left and bear right to follow the track up the www.shropshirewalking.co.uk retrace your steps back to Bridges. hill to meet the road. To explore more of Shropshire’s beautiful landscape and to find out more about its people, “The Horse Shoe Inn at Bridges has always % Turn right and follow this quiet been a haven for travellers. nature and history go to country lane all the way to the At the end of a good walk it’s a great place to www.discovershropshire.org.uk village of Ratlinghope. stop for a drink and a bite to eat” One of four walks exploring the Designed by MACreative • www.macreative.co.uk • June 2008 rugged beauty of the Stiperstones 50p