Independent Trails: Fact File.WEW1
Total
distance: 49 miles (79km)
Duration:
5 nights, 4 days walking
Minimum/maximum
daily distances: 12 miles (19km)/18 miles (29km)
Waymarking:
The trail is clearly waymarked with Wild Edric's Way symbols.
Season:
All year
Starting
point of holiday: Church Stretton
End
of holiday: Ludlow
Code:
WEW1
Day 1: Travel to Church Stretton where your first night's accommodation has been booked.
Church Stretton is a pleasant little town in an idyllic setting. On one side of the town rise the heathery slopes of the Long Mynd, one of the most distinctive upland areas in Britain. The other side of the valley is dominated by shapely Stretton Hills. Church Stretton was a minor spa in Victorian times, when it was known as 'little Switzerland'; it is easy to see why - the houses peeping out from the wooded slopes look like chalets in an Alpine valley.
On arrival either explore the town or follow the short walk provided to Caer Caradoc, the highest and shapeliest of the Stretton Hills. Caer Caradoc is crowned by an impressive hill-fort built by the Cornovii people whose leader Caradoc led a heroic campaign against the Romans.
Day 2: Church Stretton to to Bishop's Castle. 18 miles (29 km)
Wild Edric's Way begins by following the Burway into the Carding Mill Valley, one of the most beautiful of the steep-sided 'batches' that cut deep into the flanks of the Long Mynd. Beyond the mill that once combed wool ready for spinning, the trail follows Mott's Road, an old track named after the local doctor whose practice must have taken him regularly over these hills. At the roads highpoint, the views stretch from Snowdonia to the Cotswolds. The Long Mynd is a wide sweep of heather moorland criss-crossed by ancient tracks once used by Bronze Age traders, monks and Welsh cattle drovers. Wild Edric's Way follows one of these tracks called the Portway, across the plateau to Wildmoor Pool, before descending to the hamlets of Bridges. From here the trail follows lanes and tracks to the Stiperstones. One of the highlights of the trail, the Stiperstones are famous in form and legend. Stiperstones comprises a rugged ridge of heather moorland with a crest of rocky pinnacles. The highest of these is the Manstone Rock, where witches gather on the longest night each year to elect a new leader. Most impressive is the Devil's Chair. According to legend the Devil was carrying an apronful of stones to dam the Severn and flood Shrewsbury, but spilt them here when he stopped for a rest. Another tale has him believing that if only Stiperstones can be made to sink into the bowels of the earth England and all God-fearing people would perish, and so he tries to weigh it down with boulders. When the rocks are hidden in mist it is said that the Devil is in his chair.
Wild Edric's Way follows the line of tors along the ridge to an eyrie called The Rock, which gives a superb view of the borderlands. From here the trail continues over Linley Hill and then descends through an avenue of beeches planted by Napoleonic prisoners of war to the hamlet of More, where beautiful timber-framed houses huddle round 13th century St Peter's Church. After exploring the village, the trail follows lanes and field paths to Bishop's Castle.
Bishop's Castle is a charming little town with a mix of architecturally diverse buildings. The High Street climbs steeply uphill from the church with its sturdy little border tower to the 18th century Town Hall that has an interestingly prim façade. Next to it a narrow cobbled alley is straddled by the House on Crutches, an Elizabethan half-timbered building with its upper storey supported by two wooden posts. Other interesting buildings include the Porch House and the Castle Hotel, that stands on the site of the now vanished bishop's castle.
In 1837 the town was reported as having 'twenty beer shops and no Sunday school'. Although many of the beer shops have gone and there is Sunday school, Bishop's Castle is still famous for its ale. The Three Tuns is a historic brew pub that obtained its licence in 1642. The Six Bells, a 17th century coaching inn also brews ale on site.
Day 3: Bishop's Castle to Clun. 11 miles (17.5 km)
From Bishop's Castle, Wild Edric's Way follows the Kerry Ridgeway with wide sweeping views over the Border hills to Bishop's Moat, where there are superb earthworks of a fine motte and bailey castle. The Kerry Ridgeway is known as Wales' oldest road, Bronze Age traders came this way and for 800 years Welsh drovers brought herds of cattle and flocks of sheep along the ridge to the English markets. Soon after Bishop's Moat, Wild Edric's Way leaves the Ridgeway and follows Offa's Dyke - a great linear earthwork stretching from sea to sea along the border between England and Wales that was built in the 8th century by King Offa of Mercia to defend his kingdom from the marauding Welsh. This section of the Dyke is well preserved, with the double ditch and central embankment clearly visible. Leaving the Dyke at a hill called Hergan, the trail descends with glorious views over the wooded hills of Clun Forest past Llanhederick farm - Edric's Church - to the little town of Clun.
Clun is a pleasant little town with an impressive castle. It was built in a bend of the river with a massive keep towering over all. The castle with its formidable earthworks, is believed to have been the inspiration for Garde Doleureuse in Sir Walter Scott's novel 'The Betrothed'.
The Norman church is well worth visiting. It has a massive squat tower capped with a truncated pyramidal roof that provided protection to the townsfolk of this continually threatened border town. Inside the church is a magnificent Jacobean pulpit and an unusual 'pyx canopy' over the altar. In the churchyard are several poignant memorials, including one to a family of seven that were all carried off by 'putrid fever' in the short space of three weeks, and several yews that are more than 1,000 years old.
Other interesting buildings in the town include the Town Hall, that houses a small museum, a picturesque medieval saddle-backed bridge and the Trinity Hospital Almshouses, founded in 1614 to give shelter to 12 poor men of good character; the men are said to have been locked in at 9 pm each night, presumably to ensure that they remained of good character!
Day 4: Clun to Craven Arms. 11 miles (17.5 km)
From Clun the trail follows forest tracks to Bury Ditches, a remarkable Iron Age hill-fort settlement defended by a beautifully preserved series of banks and ditches. The view from top is one of the finest in Shropshire, including Stiperstones, the Long Mynd, Wenlock Edge, the Clee Hills and the hills of the Welsh Borders. From here Wild Edric's Way goes through the hamlet of Kempton to the sleepy little village of Hopesay. After exploring the village which has an attractive Norman church, the trail continues over Hopesay Hill which provides marvellous views, before descending through Sibdon Carwood, a charming little hamlet with an unusual Gothicised country house and Gothicised church, to Craven Arms - a Victorian railway town named after an inn.
Day 5: Craven Arms to Ludlow. 9 miles (14 km)
The day begins by visiting the unbelievably picturesque Stokesay Castle that stands in lovely countryside next to a charming half-timbered Elizabethan gatehouse decorated with carved animal heads. Dating from the 13th century, Stokesay Castle is the best preserved and oldest surviving fortified manor house in England. The Great Hall, virtually untouched since medieval times, is fascinating. The church was largely rebuilt following the Civil War and is one of the few churches in England rebuilt during this period. From the castle, the trail follows the River Onny to Onibury and then cuts across Corvedale to the beautiful village of Stanton Lacy. Stanton Lacy is a Saxon village and its church is said to be the finest Saxon church in the Marches - the carvings and stonework inside the church are remarkable. Before the Normans built Ludlow the village was the local 'capital'. Edric would have known the village well. From the village the trail crosses the Rover Corve and then follows paths through farmland to join an ancient track known as The Burway which leads directly into Ludlow.
Ludlow is one of Britain's loveliest towns. Situated on the River Teme, its medieval street pattern survives almost intact, along with more than 500 historic buildings including a magnificent Norman castle. Other outstanding buildings include the cathedral-like church of St. Laurence, the 13th century Reader's House, 18th century Hosyer's Almshouse, the Butter Cross, the Tolsey and Dinham House, Castle Lodge, St Giles's Hospital, founded in 1216, the Angel Hotel, a splendid coaching inn and the 16th century Feathers Hotel.
Day 6: A chance to explore Ludlow before departure.
Travel Information
Detailed instructions on how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you on booking. A summary is given below.
Most convenient major city and International airport: Birmingham International Airport. 2 hours 21 minutes to Church Stretton Railway Station via Shrewsbury.
Outward journey from London to Church Stretton: Train from London Euston to Church Stretton (3 hours 25 minutes).
Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: Train to London Paddington (3 hours 27 minutes).
Return journey to Birmingham International Airport at the end of the holiday: 2 hours 23 minutes from Ludlow railway station to Birmingham International.