Saturday 6th April - Shropshire Hills

Here are the details for the April Walk Saturday 6^th April 2013.

The walk for April will be in Shropshire and will include the sombre and forbidding-looking ridge of the Stiperstones (536m at the highest point). Stiperstones is unlike any of the other Shropshire Hills. The succession of serrated quartzite rock pinnacles that punctuate the ridge give it an appearance more reminiscent of the wilder parts of Dartmoor or the Pennines. There is a definite feeling of remoteness and loneliness in this thinly populated area. The path goes past, but not on, the rocky ridge itself. Those that want to bag the Trig Point can do by way of a small clamber (slightly away from the main path) up to it.

The terrain is not difficult at all and the walk is suitable for any newcomers who wish to come along.  There are just a few modest ascents and the views over Shropshire (including “The Long Mynd”) and the Welsh border country are superb.

The walk is about 17km (10.5 miles) in distance and will take 4 – 5 hours including stops. This can easily be shortened to about 12km (7.5 miles).

Parking is available at a place called “The Bog”  Map Reference SO358979 where we plan to start the walk at 10:00am.

For after walk refreshments there is a seasonal Tea-Room Cafe close to the car park and also a local pub in the village of Stiperstones itself. There are other pubs along the A488 back towards Shrewsbury.

The journey from Runcorn to the car park is 70 miles and takes about an hour and a half (less if the traffic is quiet).

The best routes to the car park are as follows: -

Part Route 1 (From Liverpool – Tunnel  or the Wirral)

·         Through the tunnel and down the M53 until it ends and becomes the A55.

Part Route 2 (From Liverpool - Runcorn Bridge)

·         Over Runcorn Bridge, follow the Western Expressway to the M56. Take the M56 towards North Wales. Follow to Junction 15 and take the M53 towards Chester.

·         Follow the M53 until it ends and becomes the A55.

Remainder of Route

·         Continue along the A55 Chester loop until the junction with the A483.

·         Take the slip road uphill to the junction and turn left along the A483 towards Wrexham.

·         Follow the A483 all the way past Wrexham to Oswestry. Then turn left onto the A5 towards Shrewsbury.

·         As you approach the outskirts of Shrewsbury you come to a big roundabout. Take the third exit (ie turn right) onto the A488 towards Bishop’s Castle.

·         Follow A488 through Pontesbury and Minsterley until the village of Hope.

·         Go through Hope and continue for about 2 miles before you turn left at a crossroads onto a narrow road signposted to the village of Shelve.

·         Go through Shelve and continue until you reach a T-Junction after about 2 and half miles.

·         Turn right at the T-Junction and after a 1 mile straight take the first left. The car park is then on the right.

Hope to see you there !

Brian.