Chushr one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 80.00% of reviewers

A long, boggy hike after days of rain, through agricultural land and country lanes with lots of stiles sitting in water. However an exhilarating and elemental route. Pubs in Dorrington.

I've driven, cycled and taken the train between Church Stretton and Shrewsbury hundreds of times, but have never walked it. This was a fascinating, long, route to get insight into how the land lies along the A49. Leaving Shrewsbury on a very wet day the old village of Meole Brace looked, on foot, as it must have in Mary Webb's Day. Flooded and tricky stiles and footbridge at Chatford. Stapleton gave us a bit of shelter in its church. Dorrington village also has a lovely church. The path which goes round the back of Netley Hall feels very old. The fields wide, open, very boggy and flat but nice to have that much sky. After Leebotwood, you get some inclines and the wild, winding paths above All Stretton are very pretty. One to remember.

A long and beautiful walk through varied countryside along a route that, although skirting the A49 for much of the way, often feels a million miles from the road. We walked this on a very rainy day after a week of rain; the River Severn was high and beginning to flood the park as we crossed over. The route winds through Meole Brace and a nature reserve which was covered in wild garlic. Once out of the town, many of the fields and styles were flooded (see pics) but remarkably still passable, with some skirting along the edges of the boundaries. The way is generally well sign-posted and there are opportunities to stop for a drink at Leebotwood and Dorrington. Magical final stage into Church Stretton - it had stopped raining! - takes you into the hills before dropping back down - tough after a long day’s walk but well worth it.

Great walk at the start and end, on well used paths. Some parts of the middle section are a little overgrown - depending upon time of year walked, the crops can be tricky to wade through... and especially dampening, after some rain!
After crossing the railway line (after leaving Leebotwood) and then a small stream, the route is poorly waymarked and a detour along the road around Brook House Farm was required - and one of the stiles is also quite overgrown.
One short section was completely impassable and will need a detour, probably even in winter unless some severe vegetation clearance is undertaken.
On leaving Bayston Hill via the Shropshire Way, there is also a very dense crop which needs a detour but easily navigated around the Western edge to rejoin the route.

The route leaves Church Stretton taking in the beautiful views up the hills and across the valleys, very scenic with lovely off-road route. The route as far as Dorrington is dog friendly, however there are lot of styles on the second part.

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