Craven Arms and Stokesay Castle walking and hiking route
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Walk Instructions
A circuit based on the Secret Hills Discovery Centre
at Craven Arms. Although of modest length, there
is a considerable variety, traversing woodland and
meadows, before returning past Stokesay Castle.
The castle, owned by English Heritage, is open to
visitors all the year round, but the opening days
and hours are reduced throughout the winter.
Apart from the comparatively short lane after
Whettleton, there are no really hard ascents.
Walking surfaces vary a good deal but are
generally good; the most likely problem is water
ponding under the railway bridge a little way past
the half-way point.
1. Cross the bridge and go straight ahead across a
field. Near the top of the field, do not go over the stile
ahead, but cross a signposted footbridge over a stream
on the right. Continue ahead with a hedge on the left
to a waymarked gate/stile onto a track before reaching
Whettleton farm. Pass through the farm to join a
minor road. Turn right onto the road and pass a large
detached house on the left.
2. Turn left immediately, at a signpost, to walk up
an old lane, rising quite steeply, with snowdrops by
the wayside in January. To the left is the site of a Civil
War skirmish. At the bottom edge of Norton Camp
Wood turn right at a fork to follow a path near to the
edge of the wood rising gently. (At this fork ignore the
path straight ahead where there is a waymarker 20m
further on)
3. Look carefully for a Y junction where the track rises
to the left through the woodland. Fork right here next
to the boundary fence, descending. Stokesay Castle
is now in view. Continue, ignoring a stile on the right
and a waymarker on the left. Pass above detached
houses. Ignore tracks to the left. Keep straight on
when a waymarker is seen on the left, ignore a track to
the right and continue to a more distinct track at a T
junction. Turn right onto the track and just after a bend
turn left at a signpost for 3 Woods Walk Main Route
downhill where you see Keepers Cottage gate on the
right. Turn left and go left onto a surfaced road.
4. At a grassy area near house No.155 keep right
going uphill signposted 3 Woods Walk. After a house
on the left turn right to descend on an unsurfaced
road, pass through the large Park Farm and reach the
A49 along the farm access road.
5. Cross the road to a signposted footbridge over the
River Onny. Turn right over a stile and follow the farm
track around the edge of a large field to reach a railway
bridge. (Strictly, the right of way goes diagonally across
the field). Pass under the bridge - with difficulty after
heavy rain! Go over a waymarked stile ahead and
continue up the field. Turn right before the stile (which
goes into woods) and cross 2 fields (passing old kilns
on the left) returning to the side of the railway. Cross
a stile and walk beside the railway line for about three
quarters of a mile, passing an old quarry structure on
the left. Stokesay Castle is in view ahead. At a fork go
right descending and cross a level crossing. Continue
along a surfaced lane to a large pond and Stokesay
Castle. Pass the church before joining the A49.
6. Turn left along the footpath close to the road.
In 100m cross the road to a signpost ‘Meadow walks
and Visitor Centre’. Go through a kissing gate, turn
left by a post with waymark, to follow a clear path,
roughly parallel with the A49. To the right is the Onny
Meadows area. After crossing a plank bridge, the
track becomes gravelled, leading directly back to the
visitor centre.
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Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.
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