outpost of the western most provice piers for access to the private grounds of Acton ACTON SCOTT of the Roman Empire. Zooming Scott Hall. forward in time to the Norman Conquest of Britain, you will find Follow the path through the churchyard to AMBLE the Manor owned by the Acton 3 emerge on to Henley Lane. Go right and family. The Actons are one of the continue down the lane, Welcome to the Hills few ancient English families who past the Coachman’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. can trace their ownership of the Lodge to join the track on Explore the Acton Scott Estate and land to before 1066! the left, next to a cottage. where he stood, discover the sleepy hamlets of now you stand Carry on at the crossroads to Chelmick and Hatton. reach a stile on the left in the hedge. From the lane there is a splendid view south to the wooded

1 Cross the stile escarpment of Wenlock Edge ⁄2 Distance: 6 miles and bear left made famous in A.E. 3 - 4 hours 2 look out for these Time: across the Houseman’s “Shropshire Lad”. fancy gates to Terrain: Easy walking through farmland, field to cross a This long, limestone ridge was Acton Scott Hall woodland and along quiet country lanes. stile in the far formed 420 million years ago. 1 corner. Go on Imagine, where you are standing now was not only Short Cut: 2 ⁄2 miles, (1 - 2 hours) up the field Acton Scott chur underwater but south of the equator! The rock of Acton Scott Working Farm ch Start/finish: then right and yard is a haven the Edge is rich in fossilised corals and sea shells. Museum car park through the for wildlife Map: OS Explorer 217 now start your walk wicket gate into the church yard. The tower on the hill beyond, is Flounder’s From the top of the field there is an excellent view Folly, built in the Your walk starts from Acton Scott Historic north to Ragleth Hill. The 1830s by Benjamin Working Farm Museum where you can Wagoner’s Wander, the Flounder of ; experience daily life on an upland farm at second walk in this series, from its top you are the turn of the century. leads you to this supposed to be able wonderful viewpoint. to see the River From the car park, Mersey, sixty miles turn left on to the 1 There has been a church can you spot Flounder’s away! lane to pass Acton Scott Folly on the hillside? in Acton Scott since at Farm and village hall. least 1252. In 1820 the Looking north you can see the early 19th Century Actons added a north pleasure ground and shrubbery around Acton Scott Close to where you are aisle to serve as their Hall. The stonewall marks the line of the carriage standing is a Roman villa, family pew. A path drive, which would have allowed those arriving at one of only twenty or so leads directly from the Hall wonderful views across the estate to known in Shropshire. You ound this to the 17th- Wenlock Edge. d are standing near an take time to walk ar harvest is still har ch century brick gate work on the farm Acton Scott chur Burgessbank ACTON SCOTT RAGLETH HILL 10

Ragdon Manor Chelmick Ch Soudley AMBLE To e Farm lm ic k V oute a 11 l This map shows the r Ragdon le A49 Chelmick y of the Acton Scotted Amble out but it’s well mark 9 on the ground too!

Little Coppice Guidelines 8Ticklerton for walkers Birtley • Please keep your dogs under close control. t We recommend they star be kept on a lead on here Hatton farmland. 12 • When walking your Hatton Farm dog, please take care when in fields with Ironmongers livestock. Take extra Coppice care when crossing 2 7 fields with cows and 1 Roman Villa calves. • Please leave gates as Acton Home you find them. Farm Hopton Scott Wood • Always keep to the 3 Acton Scott waymarked paths. A49 Hall • Please respect the country code: protect Coachman's Lodge wildlife, plants and trees. Do not drop buildings litter, light fires or 5 walk route car park make unnecessary To noise. 4 6 short cut route church • Always carry other rights of way refreshments and wear suitable roads phone footwear. woodland railway Pay attention to the • field edges weather and dress accordingly. Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Shropshire County Council. Licence number LA 076821/05/02 FURTHER Stay on the track, with open fields on your Cross three stiles and a footbridge to right and then go through a gate, to the emerge into a field. INFORMATION left of a farm Go left and Acton Scott Historic Working Farm Museum, building and then follow the field Wenlock Lodge, Acton Scott, Church Stretton, turn left. edge crossing Shropshire, SY6 6QN numerous stiles to Tel: 01694 781306/7 Fax: 01694 781569 www.actonscottmuseum.co.uk cattle have been over- eventually enter a e for more Email: [email protected] wintered her wood, known than 100 years locally as Iron- Secret Hills, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, mongers Coppice. Ludlow Road, Craven Arms, SY7 9RS This farm building is an “outbarn” of the 1860s (see Tel: 01588 676000 the gable-end date stone). Cattle would have been The curiously named www.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/discover.nsf over wintered here and their manure spread over Ironmongers Coppice is a Discover the wonders of the Shropshire Hills from the surrounding fields as fertiliser in the following remnant of the ancient the splendour of the scenery to the complexity of year. woodland that once their history and heritage. look out for bluebells covered the land. in the springtime Follow the hedge line through two fields Travel Information For bus and train information call: 0870 608 2608 4 then through another gate on the left, on Cross the stile out of the wood then bear to a fenced track. Stay on the track, as it 7 left across the corner of the field to cross Other walks: bends to the right, to follow an a footbridge over a stream. Wagoner’s Wander – Walk to summit of Ragleth avenue of trees. Hill and enjoy inspiring views of the Stretton Hills Bear left up the field edge to cross a stile. and Wenlock Edge. If you wish to cut your Cross the corner of the next field and Secret Hills Walks – Discover the secrets of the walk short at this point cross the stile in the hedge. Follow the Shropshire Hills. There are four great walks to chose 5 and return to the car park turn left-hand hedge to another stile then bear from all starting from Secret Hills, Shropshire Hills to the SHORT CUT. right to cross a stile onto a lane. Discovery Centre. In the Shadow of the Stiperstones – Four Otherwise continue below. inspiring walks exploring the rugged beauty of the In the fields here traces can be seen ridges and Stiperstones. furrows; remnants of Ticklerton’s Mediaeval open At the bottom of the track take the path fields. These were probably enclosed about 1600, These walks have been produced by 6 on the left, through the trees then right which means the hedges you are following are at crossing two stiles in close succession. least 400 years old.

A good quality stone bridge and the foundations Cross the stile opposite and carry on European Regional of a ruined cottage lie close to where the Buildwas downhill to cross a footbridge and a stile. Development Fund 8 to Craven Arms railway, which opened in 1867, Continue on, then left, crossing three Published by Sustainable Managed Access Project. Photos by Gordon Dickins, once ran. stiles to reach a lane. Nigel McDonald and Mike Ashton. Designed by MACreative (01743) 231261. The publishers have made every effort to ensure the information in this publication was correct at the time of printing. If you have any comments regarding this publication please contact the Sustainable Managed Access Go left and follow the field edge to Cross the lane and go through the wicket Project, Shropshire Hills Countryside Unit, Shropshire County Council, Shirehall, eventually enter a small wood ahead. gate to join the Jack Mytton Bridleway, Abbey Forgate, SY2 6ND. 9 WALKS FROM ACTON SCOTT along the Chelmick Valley, to reach woodland management. In coppicing the hazel is WORKING FARM MUSEUM another lane. cut at ground level every ten years or so for a wood crop. Mediaeval woods looked much like this. The Jack Mytton Way, named after a locally Continue down through the wood in the famous horseman, is a 70- same direction, crossing two fields to join mile bridleway from a farm track. Highley to Llanfair Go up the Waterdine. track to meet a lane. In the 19th century there were eight squatters’ Turn right cottages down the 12 and follow Chelmick Valley, and the lane back to Acton agoner’s several remain. Most ask for the W would have been built Chelmick Valley Scott Farm Wander, the other walk and occupied by farm labourers. A Museum. in this series watermill stood at the north end of the valley in the 17th Century, near the modern fishing pools. SHORT CUT Continue on the lane for a short distance, 10 go through a gate on the left and climb Leave the track by crossing the stile on the steeply up the field to rejoin the lane. left. Head for the middle of the field, over boggy ground, then go left to eventually (If you do not wish to climb the steep field cross a stile in the hedge. you can follow the lane to rejoin the route at the top of the hill). Descend across the corner of the field to cross a stile next to a gate. With the fence Continue up the lane to the hamlet of on your left, carry on to cross a stile into a Chelmick. wood. Go right, up the edge of the wood, to cross a stile into a field. Bear left across At the village green take the track on the the field and cross the stile into the car 11 left, which goes downhill in between park. houses (Chelmick Barn on the left). Go through the gate and bear right across the field down into a wood, known locally as 1 ⁄2 mile Little Coppice. Enjoy this 6 to the south is Little Coppice, with its coppiced hazel and mature wander, exploring the ancient the distinctive oak trees gives an excellent idea of traditional Acton Scott Estate and the Wenlock Edge alley. 50p charming Chelmick V