A Guide to the County of Shropshire, Naturally
The phrase ‘blue-remembered hills’ is from a poem by A E Housman, inspired by the rolling hills near the tranquil town of Clun and Bishop’s Castle (1.5 miles from Wales), which look blue in the distance and are filled with ancient hedgerows and wildflowers, with views over the Welsh border.
Shropshire is (along with Northumberland) one of England’s least-populated counties. And one of its most beautiful. From ancient woodlands to many canals, this is a county of rolling hills, green meadows and clean rivers. Even the main town of Shrewsbury is charming, nothing like a ‘city’.
Always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. Shropshire has more sheep than people!
Learn how to right an overturned sheep or it will die. Just firmly turn it back up, then hold upright until rain has drained off).
The Shropshire Hills are old! Long Mynd is 560 million years old, the Stiperstones are 480 million years old and Wenlock Edge is 430 million years old. These areas feature deep narrow valleys, carved by ancient snow and ice melt.
It’s believe the ‘blue’ is due to an atmospheric ‘mirage’ caused by the area’s coniferous trees.
Who Was Edward Housman?
Edward Housman was a poet who lived from 1859 until 1936. He only published two volumes of poetry in his lifetime. Born in Worcestershire, he studied classics at Oxford University and worked as a London clerk for 10 years, then taught Latin at Cambridge University.
He died in the city as a recluse, rejecting honours and avoiding the public acclaim that his poetry had given him:
Into my heart an air that kills
From yon far country blows:
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?That is the land of lost content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went
And cannot come again.
Walking the Sandstone Trail (Shropshire & Cheshire)
Sandstone Trail is a popular long-distance walking trail in north west England. The 34 mile route takes in both counties’ beautiful countryside: a forest, two castles, ancient churches and many canals and caves.
Always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe.
The walk takes 2 to 3 days (depending on how fit you are). Or you can just break things up with small circular walks, if you don’t want to walk the whole route.
The sandstone is 225 million years old (from the Triassic period).
The walk begins in Frodsham, a north Cheshire market town that’s just 9 miles east of the Tudor city of Chester. There’s a railway station here, if you’re not driving.
The walk ends in Whitchurch, another market town, this time in north Shropshire. It houses beautiful Georgian buildings and ancient inns, and is known for its town clocks.
Wear well-worn vegan walking boots and bring a waterproof, as the trail can get muddy in places, especially after rain. Carry enough water, snacks, and a map or GPS – though waymarking is good.
Public transport links at both ends make point-to-point walking easy, and local taxi firms can help with transfers for circular or sectional walks.
Ludlow (a medieval ‘foodie town’ in Shropshire)
Ludlow is a little town in southern Shropshire, that is known for being a ‘foodie place’. The town’s medieval streets are packed with independent delis, local bakeries and weekly markets.
Known for its medieval streets, poet Sir John Betjeman once described this place as ‘the loveliest town in England’ (he also adored Sidmouth in North Devon).
The town name is old English for ‘loud roaring hill!’ Here you’ll find almost 500 listed buildings and an 11th century castle (which once was the capital of Wales!)
No McDonald’s!
Ludlow is one of the few towns in England (though the number is growing as councils increasingly refuse planning permission for new outlets) to not have a McDonald’s. Like Tavistock in Devon, here the local food is so good, that people simply would never dream of eating it!
The local Squirrel Pub serves its own homemade vegan burgers for those who prefer to eat out. Served on seeded buns with lettuce and burger sauce, they are served with onion rings and skin-on triple-cooked fries. Sounds appetising, doesn’t it?
