Shrewsbury

OS Map: Pathfinder 869; 889

The county town of Shrewsbury, nestled in a loop of the river Severn, has managed to retain the old world charm of it's attractive centre. The old town has a compact layout of outstanding half timbered black and white buildings, perhaps the most famous of which are Abbot's house and the gabled Ireland's Mansion. Narrow alleyways such as Grope Lane have great character and take one's mind back to Elizabethan times. Exploring these narrow medieval streets is a pleasant way to pass an hour; and if you have a little longer a visit to the splendid Rowley's house museum will improve your knowledge of Shrewsbury's history. If military matters are of interest the castle houses the Shrewsbury Regimental Museum.

Minsterley and the Stiperstones can provide some dramatic walking. Plan an ivigorating walk from Minsterley [SJ375049] mainly across heather moorland and some woodland and bog to reach the facinating Stiperstones at 560m elevation. The spikes of rock and crumbling scree are unique to the area, a geologists paradise. We advise you not to attempt this walk on midwinters night, as legend has it that the devils gather here to choose their leader who is crowned in the Devil's Chair. The southbound outward route is via Ploxgreen and Snailbeach and then, after passing Snailbeach mine, climbing towards the Stiperstones ridge. Continue south to the Bridges road car park, from where the northerly return begins following the Shropshire Way. Return via Eastridge Wood and Bank Farm. A walk based on this route will be about 19km.

Go to: Catalogue/Shropshire guides