Hillwalking in Shropshire

Author’s Note October 2023: The eight years since the route was first written has seen the forestry tracks reduced to narrow paths by growing trees and thick vegetation. Many of the unused tracks are not now obvious on the ground making the previous description superfluous and the right of way shown on current maps as mentioned in the previous text, does correspond to the lines shown on the map.

P61 para 2

On entering Strefford Wood the gradients steepen. On reaching a hollow with a path crossing ignore a muddy path climbing through a deep cutting and instead follow a parallel one a few yards to the left (Note; Not the slimy wider track 20m to the left). This starts uncertainly but soon becomes clear as it takes you on an embankment overlooking the main path. As the cutting ends the routes join forces and the going gets easier, raking up to the top of Wenlock Edge. Leave the edge path for a pleasant hedge-lined farm track on the right. This eventually joins the tarred access lane from Moorwood Farm, which in turn leads to a country lane with a triangular grassy island. Turn right towards the afforested Callow Hill. At the first corner leave the lane to go straight ahead on a forestry road – there’s a Flounder’s Folly information sign here.

P62 Para 1

Not far up the track there’s a crossroads of tracks. Go straight ahead on the track that then rakes half left uphill. Ignore the left fork bridleway but stay with the main track, which is crowded by birch, beech, rowan, ash and sycamore. Near the top of the ridge it doubles back right – now raspberries, elders and bramble are added to the rampant vegetation so there’ll be plenty of nourishing berries in the summer. The stone tower of Flounder’s Folly appears suddenly as you go through the gate at its foot. There are superb views and lots of seating to enjoy them.

Continue on a narrow path through the trees then go left through a kissing gate to follow the edge. The right of way shown on the map as descending into Callowhill Plantation does not exist on the ground but there’s a waymarked path just beyond wooden duckboards and railings at SO 459 849 that replaces it. The path down through the forest is signed with light blue Flounders Folly signs and waymarker arrows that don’t correspond to the right of way marked on current maps. The narrow path angles back right then, at another waymarker post, descends steeply left in steps to reach a forestry track path, which will zig zag down to the bottom of the plantation. Many of the marked forest tracks are now overgrown and will not be noticed.

Turn left along the bottom path, which is currently narrow and overgrown.