Much Wenlock to Ironbridge - walking in the frost

This is an official walk on the Shropshire way You can download the route here

It's more like 6 miles rather than the five suggested on this link.

The walk starts in Much Wenlock, where you leave following a very minor lane

It was pretty frosty (this was in January)

The walk passes Much Wenlock Priory. It's in the care of English Heritage, and is well worth a visit. But it's not open till the spring.

There are good views over to the nearby hills.

The way goes through this farm yard

The unmistakable shape of the Wrekin in the distance (complete with a smattering of snow).

Though everywhere else was frozen, this bit was very much still liquid! Probably better walked after drier weather.

Ahead, the chimney near Buildwas Power Station

Some free range chickens on the way

The path passes this lovely stream

 ...and later, this old house, dwarfed by its chimney stack.

You turn left at this old farmhouse...

... down a well-defined track, with snow!

The track becomes a path again - not that the sheep seem bothered.

Looking back the way we came

Then after walking through some woods, the first sight of Ironbridge

Built in 1779, the world's first iron bridge spans the River Severn

 The bridge is fantastic

Close up, you can see that iron working on this scale was still a new skill,

...because the joints here are what would be used for a wooden structure

Tourists on the bridge

We caught the bus back to Much Wenlock from here. It runs roughly every two hours.


Back in Much Wenlock, we returned to the Gaskell Arms, where we had been staying

 It's a lovely, traditional coaching Inn. The food is especailly good - except the portions are huge (some people might prefer that, obviously).

Today's walk: Just over 5 miles through lovely countryside (not shown at its best on these pictures, because of the poor weather). The link at the top provides a map which can be printed out to take with you. Wayfinding is quite easy, and there is reasonable good waymarking. A bus will take you back to the start.Or you could park at Ironbridge, get a bus to Much Wenlock and then walk back. Highly recommended route