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

Walking through history - Oaken and the Monarch's Way

Here's a short walk on the Monarch's Way a long distance path tracing the route taken by King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

I started in Oaken. This is a typical picture of an English village - post box and phone box, walled garden and village notice board. 

The Monarch's Way follows Oaken Lane

...past this old barn which appears to have been attacked by masonry bees.

It's a lovely old barn though.

Oaken's impressive Manor House

Plenty of wild snowdrops on this walk

The Way (which is well-signed throughout) is just visible here at the field edge.

The next section follows this bridle path.

...past Oaken Lawn Riding School with its gate made from horseshoes.

The remote house nearby is being renovated

Parts of the afternoon were quite sunny.

Past on old tree. (I am looking forward to seeing the Boscobel Oak shortly)

The path crosses the railway line at Husphins Bridge

Quiet now, but it's a main line to Wolverhampton

A little further along, I passed the remains of a moat at Wood Hall farm

The original house has been rebuilt, or at least, greatly altered.

A lovely Monarch's Way Sign

A closeup of the logo - the oak tree, a crown, and a ship to escape to France

I passed Pendrell Hall - the Penderel (earlier spelling) family assisted Charles when he reached this area.

The next section was along a road - the route goes all the way to Boscobel, but it was so very windy that I couldn't hear the oncoming traffic - dangerous as there was no foot path.

So, I turned back early, to Whitehouse Lane, and this unusual church. This made my walk a circular one, not the out and back route that I had planned.

I followed a field path past Pendrell Hall, but it was hidden from view. Ahead, Codsall's church on the skyline

This hill was steeper than it looked. Or I wasn't as fit as I thought

At the top, the modern extension to the churchyard

St Nichols's Church, and some early blossom. Very early, in fact. (This was Feb 1st)

And next to it, behind a wall, the old school building with its bell

Old houses in Codsall

An Edward VII post box

Codsall Station

I followed the Staffordshire Way back to my start - passing more snowdrops on the way

Today's route:  Just over 5 miles. Park in Oaken, and follow the Monarch's Way to Codsall Wood. From there ,I followed a lane and path to Codsall, and then the Staffordshire Way back to the car.
The Monarch's Way is a 615 mile path following the escape of King Charles II. At first, he rode north, stopping at Whiteladies Priory (I'll be walking there very soon) and then on foot to the river Severn near what is now Telford. Finding the river too well-guarded, he then turned back to Boscobel (avoiding the Parliamentarian troops by hiding in an oak tree). From there, he headed south to the coast.
The way was established by visionary local walker, the late Trevor Antill. More details can be found by clicking here
I've walked the route to this point. You can see my earlier walks by clicking the links.
Wombourne to Oaken
Stourton to Bratch2
Stourton to Bratch 1
Hagley to Stourton 2
Hagley to Stourton 1
Chaddesley Corbett
Droitwich to Chaddesley Corbett
Worcester to Droitwich
Worcester
Into Worcester
The start at Powick