The Shropshire Hills - A Walker's Guide

Explores Shropshire’s hills from Ludlow to the Wrekin, Bewdley to Stiperstones, Wenlock Edge and the Long Mynd in 21 half- and full-day walks. Special features on Ironbridge, Ludlow, Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth and Sabrina Fair.

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Walk 2 - High Rock

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Maps: 1:25,000 Explorer 218 Wyre Forest & Kidderminster Bridgnorth; 1:50,000 Landranger 138 Kidderminster & Wyre Forest area
Distance: 11 miles approx.
Car parking: Low Town, off A442 near Fox Inn (grid ref 721929)
Toilets: Opposite Fox Inn

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Basic route: Bridgnorth, east bank of Severn downstream, Quatford, Stanmore, Hoccum, Roughton, Burcote Rocks, Rindleford, The Knolls, Batch Lane, High Rock, Hermitage Caves, Low Town

From the car park, turn left and, in a short distance, left again, signposted to Bridgnorth town centre. On reaching the bridge, turn left to follow the River Severn downstream on the eastern bank. From the riverside walk there are good views of Castle Hill beneath which are Castle Hill Caves once used as dwellings.

Castle Hill Caves
As well as being used as dwellings – there is one opening that was intended to serve quite a different purpose. During the Civil War there was an attempt by the Parliamentarians to tunnel through the easily worked sandstone into the town – a venture which probably says more for the enterprise and enthusiasm of the besiegers than for their consideration of practical strategies.

The southern end of the island in the river provides a haven for wildfowl. The feathered residents include Canada and greylag geese and the inevitable mallards. The Severn flows swiftly beneath tall chestnut trees whose branches dip down to the water, making a green protective canopy for the wildfowl and their young in season.

Follow the river, passing under the concrete span of the bypass, until it bends very close to the road at Quatford, just over 2 miles downstream from your starting point. Ahead can be seen the high bluff of Camp Hill and Quatford church. As houses are reached a stile is crossed to take a path sharp left, to reach the road after a few yards, opposite the old post office. Cross the road and walk up Chapel Lane as it climbs away from the river, soon to leave the village behind. (Note there is a path through Quatford Woods that might be used to reduce the road walking a little.)

It is a quiet lane edged by woods with sandstone outcropping here and there. The sandstone has been inscribed in a literate, not to say artistic manner with initials, dates, words, even faces and symbols, but their meaning is not clear, leaving a small enigma for walkers to puzzle out as they make their way uphill. At the top of the hill the views open out to a gently rolling countryside of fields and low wooded hills.

When the T-junction with the A458 is reached cross the road to join a metalled lane opposite, which soon becomes a wide track. There is open country to the right and for a while the Stanmore Industrial Estate is bordered on the left. This is a sharp demarcation between country and industry, so much so that at one point my attention was divided by the deep red glow of hot metal from a forge on one side and the startled flight of a covey of partridges on the other.

Ignore the turning to the right as the factory sites begin to fall back and maintain your forward direction on a much narrower path with a hedge on the left and a wire fence on the right. The path widens again and, when a lane is reached, go forward towards Hoccum. From here we are following little used lanes giving the flavour of the country roads of the past.

When you reach Hoccum House follow the lane sharp right downhill, eventually to pass a house that still retains an old hand water pump in its front garden. When the road divides, ignore a turn to the right and continue forward, the garden of the house to the right is full of snowdrops in the early spring.

After passing Willowbrook Cottage on the left, a road is reached, turn left to make a junction with the A454. Turn right and cross the road. In a few yards join a path on the left at the foot of the steep roadside bank. Head diagonally left across a field to a stile, which is found between two willow trees.

Once over the stile and a tiny brook turn right following the path with a field boundary on your right. Cross a further waymarked stile, then turn left along the field boundary with a hedge on your left. Davenport House is seen on its hilltop site to the north east.

At the end of a large field pass through a metal gate with the path now swinging slightly to the left. At the top of a slight rise go forward towards a gate situated between a cottage and a barn. Once through the gate cross a short grassy paddock and over a further stile. Here turn right to take the path running behind the cottage. Pause at the stile for a moment to take a look at the brickwork of the barn with its pleasing patterning, worth a photograph if the light is right.

From here on we enter on the best of the walk, passing through similar but in their own ways, quite different environments, with contrasts of scale. One a small, almost secret, river valley, the other the more expansive scenery associated with the Severn.

Take the path that runs behind the cottage with wooded slopes to your left. Soon you are following a delightful terraced path high above the little River Worfe. As the path descends, cross waymarked stile and go forward with sandstone cliffs to your left. The path swings round the cliff and the way then crosses the stile by a large gate on the left to pass through the garden area of a white house, before crossing a cattle grid. Go forward on a metalled track to cross the river by a small hump backed bridge.

Pause here to take in the scene. You are in a narrow river valley, with the wooded heights of Burcote Rocks and Soudley Rocks walling in the gorge to create one of nature’s hidden gardens. The tree lined banks of the river and the woods provide a sheltered habitat for birds. I once watched a heron glide gracefully up the stream to land just a few feet from where I stood.

From the bridge bear left along the track, with the river winding through the valley to your left, to reach Rindleford Mill in just over ½ mile. Do not go beyond the mill, but turn left as it is reached to cross the Worfe by way of a little wooden bridge. Follow the path upstream with the rock outcrops to your right. About 200 yards from the bridge take a track on the right which makes its way through the woods with high banks on either side.

The rising woodland track is followed for ½ mile to join Batch Lane which is followed for ¼ mile to reach a metalled lane. Here turn left and, in a few yards, take a signed footpath on the right; this is a wide track as far as Woodside Cottage where it narrows to run between hedges, busy with blue and great tits. On reaching the wood, about ¼ mile from the lane, turn left to follow a narrow but clear path along the inside edge of the wood. After a short distance a junction of paths is reached, take the right fork, which runs downhill but, after only a short distance, turn left up a stepped path to follow a narrow terraced path through the centre of the wooded hillside. The slopes to the right fall sharply away with the River Severn glimpsed through the trees, the veil which hides the view will shortly be thrown back as the walker arrives at a high bluff thrust forward to give an exciting prospect of the river.

It is a superb position with every incentive to stop for refreshment and enjoy the magnificent views at a giddy height above the road with the Severn immediately below. Upstream the river flows under the high wooded cliffs on the east, whilst on the west bank diminutive players people the golf course. Below are the towers of Fort Pendlestone, a fake military-looking building of the mid 19th century, built by William Whitmore of Apley Park whose house we shall see, at a distance, on the next walk. Downstream Severn Park is laid out, with little blue and white figures racing towards the matchstick-like posts of the rugby pitch. The eye is carried quickly to Bridgnorth on its commanding height. At the day’s end it is a rewarding place to pause and watch the fiery light of the setting sun spreading a great wash of orange behind the blackly silhouetted Clee Hills beyond Bridgnorth.

When the last of the rocky observation points is reached, the view somewhat occluded by its crown of Scots pine, and the rock much decorated with the initials of Bridgnorth’s younger generation, a fish hook turn is made through the woods. From this last high point the path now swings to the left behind the rocky bluff. The terraced path should now be followed, still through the woods. As the path falls a little it bears to the right and then rises again, to join a crossing path coming in from the left, turn right with this. After 100 yards or so the path divides, take the left fork, (upper path) and continue forward to meet the road, having passed a reservoir on your left.

The road (B4363) is reached by a public footpath sign. Cross the busy road to join a path opposite that climbs steeply. Ahead are a series of large caves. Local legend has it that a witch lived in one of these caves and took flight in traditional style each evening as darkness fell.

An inspection of the caves will show evidence of the working of the stone to create a small chapel-like chamber. Alfred’s encouragement of learning is well known and it is interesting that this passed down to his grandson who decided to retire to these quiet caves to devote his time to a study of literature.

Having viewed the former retreat of the learned hermit, retrace your steps a few yards to take the path that runs along the inside edge of the wood above the caves.

About 100 yards after passing the green banks of a reservoir take the distinct path on the right, soon to meet a crossing path. Here turn right downhill to meet the edge of a wood; cross the stile and carry on through the field to the edge of a housing estate. On the skyline will be seen the long line of the Clee Hills and, nearer at hand, the now familiar prospect of Bridgnorth’s High Town.

Make your way through the housing estate; at the end of the first road, Hazel View, bear right; at the end of Oaklands turn right again and at the end of Elmhurst turn left. On reaching some shops by a telephone box turn right down St Nicholas Road. At the top of this road there is an excellent view of the town across the river. Descend a long series of steps to meet the main road close to the Fox Inn and your starting point.