A wonderful and much needed day out as I was going stir crazy being inside due to work and lots of rain lately. Celebrating the new publication and completion of the Shropshire Way main route Cicerone book by trying to follow a bit of it today. Cutting it very fine to make it to 52 hikes this year but it’s still worth a try. I got up early for a lift into Shrewsbury with Cath and very quickly got a train to Wellington through no timing ability of my own which was great. Followed my phone/the Shropshire Way signs out of Wellington and through muddy woodland to the Ercall before descending steeply back to the lane to start climbing the Wrekin. Steep climb and very busy with dog walkers and runners but a beautiful part of this walk. It was a bit misty at the top but could see the Shropshire landscape below at times as the wind blew the mist around. I sat at the top with my coffee and decided to make a day of it and go to Ironbridge instead of going back to Wellington, i figured the distances wouldn’t be too different anyway.
Turned out to be a good plan in the end and I was so glad I made the effort to do the full 11 miles. The main thing i worry about is cow fields and too much mud/floods but it was totally fine. I was still covered in mud but at least didn’t fall in it/have to walk past any cows. Coming down off the Wrekin was very steep and slippy but a flat easy lane along to Little Wenlock at the bottom/ Crossing a couple of fields and over hills then to Coalbrookdale and more woodland trails was lovely. From then was an easyish walk past the museum into Ironbridge where I got out of the cold with a hot chocolate in a glasses- steamingly warm cafe before getting the bus back to Shrewsbury.
Outdoorsy solitude bliss
#48 11 miles on the Shropshire way- the book said 6 hrs but took me 4 which is unusual, though i didn’t stop much due to daylight concerns (shortest day of the year!)
1Year/52Hikes 2019 