Walking the Shropshire Way

Benthall Edge to Ironbridge update (P97/98)

Landslip in the region has made the Shropshire Way as described in the book tricky. Final decisions on the route have yet to be made but this is an interim solution.

Go through a kissing gate behind the houses and climb to a stile in the top left-hand corner of the field. Now follow the hedge to another stile, which leads into Benthall Edge Wood. A path runs along the high edge of the wood.

The path soon divides and a route decision has to be made as recent landslides have made the old main route tricky. The Shropshire Way Association has devised an alternative route by way of Benthall Hall and there is a slight diversion to avoid the landslips, which may be rather muddy in places, although useable.

Main route:

Take the left fork, then a few paces later follow the right fork which angles steadily down through the woods. On reaching a kissing gate near the bottom turn right along an undulating path that eventually descends to the old railway trackbed of the Severn Valley line.

A short way on, at Bower Yard,are the remains of an old siding and lime kilns.

Continue along the old railway to a road, where a left turn takes you over the famous old dusky red-painted Iron Bridge to the Square in the centre of Ironbridge.

Alternative foul weather route

Benthall Edge to Ironbridge update (P97/98)

Take the right fork path then turn right through a walkers’ gate next to a farm gate. This leads to a farm track which should be followed along the field-edge. Soon after passing the brick-built farmhouse and outbuildings of the Benthall Estate the track comes to Benthall Hall’s visitor car park. Turn left here and go through the smaller of two gates onto another track passing St Bartholomew’s Church, beyond which there are glimpses of the main hall. Through another gate go straight on along a field-edge track which passes beneath rows of pylons before coming across more gates close to a junction of tracks. Take the track on the right. This comes to a road-end. Follow this down to the outskirts of Broseley, ignoring a right fork lane. At the bottom of the lane turn left downhill towards Ironbridge. As you approach Ironbridge follow the pavement on the right side of the road as it veers slightly away and down towards some houses. Some steps at its end take you down to the old Iron Bridge in the centre of town.

Correction

Altitude chart pages 6 and 7

The first summit should be labelled Wilderley Hill. Stiperstones should point to the next summit at 530m and 18 miles.

Diversion at Mountfields (p161)

Shrewsbury council says the Shropshire Way path in Mountfields is unstable and has prohibited its use between its junction with Mount Street to the steps at the bottom of Hunter Street. The Order expires in June 2023.

To avoid this turn right up Mount Street then left along Alma Street. Turn right down to the end of Hunter Street where you turn right along the continuing Shropshire Way signed path).

Route west of Brown Clee Hill

The Shropshire Way Association has made a change to the Shropshire Way due to constant poor ground conditions over some land.

The route change is between SO 57527 88108 and SO 57923 87771 around New Earnstrey Park in Abdon and Tugford Parish, Shropshire, so the new route will follow the County Road rather than cut across the fields. New route is shown in red on the map.

On P87 of the guidebook it should now read:

Turn left along the lane, passing New Earnstrey Park Farm before turning left at the next junction. Follow the stony, grass-islanded track to Earnstrey Hall.

Stage 8

Pages 97 and 98 map below)

In 2024 landslides below the Benthal Edge near Ironbridge made the old Shropshire Way route tricky and the Shropshire Way Association have devised a new route as follows:

Take the right fork path then turn right through a walkers’ gate next to a farm gate. This leads to a farm track, which should be followed along the field-edge.

Soon after passing the brick-built farmhouse and outbuildings of the Benthall Estate the track comes to Benthall Hall’s visitor car park. Turn left here and go through the smaller of two gates onto another track passing St Bartholomew’s Church, beyond which there are glimpses of the main hall.

Through another gate go straight on along a field-edge track which passes beneath rows of pylons before coming across more gates close to a junction of tracks. Take the track on the right. This comes to a road-end. Follow this down to the outskirts of Broseley, ignoring a right fork lane.

At the bottom of the lane turn left downhill towards Ironbridge. As you approach Ironbridge follow the pavement on the right side of the road as it veers slightly away and down towards some houses. Some steps at its end take you down to the old Iron Bridge in the centre of town.

Teashop closed

Page 63 The guide says that the route turns after passing the Tea on the Way teashop. Unfortunately, this has now permanently closed therefore there will be nothing for a walker to use as a marker to make a left turn.

Temporary closures

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT A TEMPORARY CLOSURE ORDER FROM THE SHROPSHIRE WAY ASSOCIATION

Temporary closures

The SW main route is closed from Monday 24th May for up to 6 months at the moment from the north end of Drinkwater Street SJ48681308) in Frankwell to Doctor’s Field SJ48421315) and vice versa, while the riverside footpath is closed for embankment stabilisation works.

There is a suggested description of the alternative route. It adds some 250 metres to the route.

From the top of the steps at the north end of Drinkwater Street SJ48681308), follow this street south for 80 metres to Hermitage Walk. Turn right and follow this path for 170 metres until it becomes the pavement of The Mount. Continue along this for a further 160 metres until a narrow footpath between brick walls goes right. Descend this footpath for 120 metres until it joins the riverside footpath at SJ48421315.

At SJ48421315, at a noticeboard, a footpath leaves the riverside route to the right, crosses Doctor’s Field and climbs up to meet The Mount after 120 metres. Turn left along the pavement for 160 metres until a tarmac path Hermitage Walk) bears left. Follow this path for a further 170 metres until it meets Drinkwater Street. Turn left and follow this street for 80 metres until you reach the top of some steps. Turn right here SJ48681308) onto the narrow footpath which is the SWMR.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF MONTGOMERY CANAL TOWPATH BETWEEN REDWITH BRIDGE AND CRICKHEATH WHARF

The canal towpath used by SW main route is closed until 31 October 2021 between Pryce’s Bridge and Crickheath Bridge and for canal restoration works. This will necessitate a diversion NW along the road from Redwith Bridge SJ 301 241 then a cross-field path SW to the B4396, followed by another field path in the grounds of Tankard Hall. A lane then leads back to Crickheath Bridge where the towpath continues to Llanymynech. see diagram)