Ludlow "The Perfect Historic Town"
Ludlow with St. Laurence's Church

A Town Full of History

A walk through Ludlow's main streets and quiet lanes is to experience over 900 years of history. 

Ludlow's History
Broad Street, Ludlow

Ludlow Castle

Ludlow Castle is one of the most interesting castles in the Marches, in a dominant and imposing position high above the River Teme.

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Ludlow Castle
Broadgate, Ludlow
The Buttercross, Ludlow

The Shropshire Hills

Situated on the edge of The Shropshire Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Ludlow is the perfect base to explore this glorious area.

Places to visit near Ludlow
Cardingmill Valley, Church Stretton

An Area Full of History

With many beautiful  historic buildings in and near Ludlow, the area is a fantastic place to step back in time.

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Stokesay Castle
Ludford Bridge, Ludlow

Ironbridge Gorge

Ironbridge Gorge Museums are a series of museums, spread along the banks of the River Severn. The Ironbridge Gorge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

More Things To Do Near Ludlow
Ironbridge, Shropshire

Welcome to Ludlow

Walking in and Around Ludlow

Ludlow is situated on the edge of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is an ideal base for walking and walkers wishing to explore the hills, valleys and forests of The Marches. Ludlow also offers gentler walking opportunities into the surrounding countryside, and Whitcliffe Common, with its panoramic views, overlooks the castle and town - is an essential visit for any newcomer to Ludlow.

There are numerous walking guidebooks and pamphlets available in the Ludlow Visitor Information Centre and local bookshops. Accommodation for walkers and hikers can be found in our Where to Stay pages. Below is just a flavour of what Ludlow and its surroundings have to offer:


Whitcliffe & Breadwalk

A view of Ludlow from Whitcliffe

15 - 30 minutes. Easy but with some steep steps.

With this walk you will get the wonderful and famous view of Ludlow Castle, the Church and the Ludlow’s historic town centre. Start at Ludlow Castle entrance, walk along Dinham (through the castle gardens) follow the road downhill, you will cross over the River Teme via Dinham Bridge. Under the bridge is Ludlow Millennium Green, a favourite with locals and visitors.

Immediately after crossing the bridge take the footpath on the left. There is a useful tourist information map board here. The Breadwalk path continues for about a mile up and over Whitcliffe along the line of the river. It is here you will get the famous view of Ludlow Castle and town. At the other end the footpath re-joins the road near Ludford Bridge; The Charlton Arms is right by the river if you need a well-earned drink. Follow the road over the Ludford Bridge, up Broad Street and under Ludlow’s sole surviving medieval town gate. You are now back in the centre. From here you can either turn left and follow the old medieval town walls, or continue up the hill in Broad Street.

This route is unsuitable for prams and wheel chairs, due to the steps on the Breadwalk part of the walk. As an alternative you can follow the road which climbs to the top of Whitcliffe, turn left at the junction and follow the road back to Ludlow. 

View Map


Ludlow Castle Gardens & The Millennium Green

Ludlow Millennium Green

15 - 30 minutes. Easy.

No visitor to Ludlow should miss out on this short but wonderful walk. From the entrance to the castle, turn left and walk through the Castle gardens around the Castle wall. Follow the footpath through the gardens, under the arch through a small public section of Ludlow Castle, continue along the footpath until you come to a fork, turn left downhill. You will come to a road (The Linney). On the opposite side of the road, just a few yards to the left are the Millennium Green. This is a favourite for visitors and locals. Ideal for a picnic, sitting on a bench watching the river amble by or feeding the ever hungry ducks. There is a small licenced café here if you need a refreshment break.

Head back the way you came from the footpath but continue along the road. The Linney public park is on the left, continue up the hill until you come to a path way on the right handside (you will see some metal railings). Walk up here, bear left where the path splits and this will take you back to the starting point underneath the castle walls.

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Halton Lane to Bromfield

Burway Lane

Approx 2 hours. Easy.

The lane starts just over Dinham Bridge and provides a quiet, straightforward walk in the countryside. You can take a detour over fields, just before you reach the Cliffe Hotel, along a footpath which re-joins Halton Lane just past the farm complex. As the lane approaches Oakley Park, the trees become more mature and stately, giving a semi-formal parkland feel to the countryside. In the settlement of Bromfield there are some charming old buildings, including an old mill and church. Get some refreshments at The Clive before heading back to town either along the bridleway which runs parallel with the A49 and then across some fields to Burway Lane or back the way you came, for another look at those trees.

View Map


Caynham Camp

Caynham Camp

1-2 Hours. Moderate

Caynham Camp is an Iron Age Hill Fort dating back to around 500bc. This walk takes you to the top of the small hill where the fort is. From you here you can get a good view of the eastern side of Ludlow, the Clee Hills and south towards Herefordshire. The camp is a lovely place for a picnic, very quite and peaceful with some interesting earth defense works constructed by the ancient Celtic people of Britain.

You can either walk from Ludlow to the start of the walk or drive the 1 mile or so and then park your car and continue on foot. If you go by car please be sure not to block the farmers' gates

From the starting point you will go down a slight hill towards the Ledwyche Brook in the valley at the bottom. Cross the brook via the footbridge, which is actually the Elan Valley water supply for Birmingham and the West Midlands and follow the marked footpath signs to the top of the hill.

View Map


Royal Geographical Society - Shaping the Landscape: Discover the dramatic impact of glaciers in Ludlow

Dinham, Ludlow

1-2 Hours. Moderate

There is much more to Ludlow than meets the eye. This walk tells the story of the most dramatic events ever to affect this picturesque market town. Visit beautiful viewpoints, stroll along tranquil riverbanks, explore medieval streets and enjoy lush meadows whilst discovering how the landscape was utterly transformed by natural forces.

This is the story of ice and water. Three glaciers came very close to this area and the water that melted from them reshaped the landscape. Rivers changed direction, gorges were cut out by torrents of icy water and vast amounts of sediment were dumped.

Ludlow © Copyright Shropshire & Telford TSB and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

Across the town – in street names and road layouts, in sewers and churchyards, in building stones and cobblestones – there are clues to what happened tens of thousands of years ago. Find out how humans have made use of the landforms created by melting glaciers and how the area's geological history still affects life in Ludlow today.


Download: Walk Flyer: PDF 500KB,
Written Guide: PDF 2.3MB
Audio Guide: MP3(Zipped) 47.12MB

For more information visit the Royal Geographical Society's Discovering Britain website


Walking

in Mortimer Forest

Mortimer Forest

Mortimer Forest Car Parks

Mortimer Forest is about 1 mile west of Ludlow, here there are a large number of marked trails, footpaths, bridleways and tracks through woodland owned by The Forestry Commission. Three car parks (marked on map) serve as the starting point for the trails and other footpaths.

The landscape of the Forest is dominated by limestone ridges. The sometimes steep slopes and moderate height of the forest provides magnificent views in clear weather.

If you are travelling a long way or making a special journey you are advised to check that all the paths are open with the Forestry Commission directly. For more information please visit the Ludlow Office Forestry Commission Web Site.

Or download The Forestry Commission's map of the available trails in Mortimer Forest PDF(3.1mb)


Mortimer Forest: High Vinnalls

High Vinnalls


Vinnalls Car Park, marked A on map, is the starting point for several trails, offers ample parking and picnic tables.

The Easy Access Trail
1 Mile. Easy. 15-30 Minutes

This trail is a loosely shaped figure of eight providing two loops of 0.5 miles each or a single loop of 1 mile. As the name suggests is suitable for all abilities including wheelchairs and prams. The trail encompasses a variety of habitats including broadleaved woodland, mature conifer and two wildlife ponds on an all weather, easy access surface.

There are several picnic tables and a number of seats along the route.
View Map

Vinnalls Loop
3 Miles. Average to Difficult. 1 Hour

This trail ascends to the summit of the High Vinnalls giving panoramic views in all directions and then passes through a variety of timber crops and open deer lawns. This is a moderate to hard walk with some steep climbs, good footwear is essential, especially in wet weather.
View Map

The Climbing Jack Trail
9 Miles. Average to Difficult. 3-4 Hours

This trail takes in the majority of Mortimer Forest. Passing through a variety of woodland types and habitats and provides the walker with superb views across the forest and surrounding countryside, the Wigmore Rolls and into Herefordshire. Given the distance and the steep nature of some sections of the trail, this walk is designed for serious walkers with appropriate footwear and equipment.


Mortimer Forest: Whitcliffe Car Park

Whitcliffe Car Park

Whitcliffe Loop.
2 Miles. 1 Hour. Average
Whitecliffe Car Park, marked B on map.

This trail runs within an area of the forest called 'Evens' and provides the walker with good views down Mary Knoll Valley and beyond.

Once an ancient woodland the trees are now mostly douglas fir and larch however the Forestry Commission intend to revert the area to native, broadleaved trees over the coming decades through a programme of felling, natural regeneration and replanting.

There are five benches along the trail.
View Map


Mortimer Forest: Black Pool Car Park

Black Pool Car Park

Black Pool Loop
2 Miles. 1 Hour. Average
Black Pool Car Park, marked C on map.

This trail runs through Hay Park Wood, an ancient woodland site although mostly stocked with conifer (douglas fir and larch)at present.

Over the coming decades this area will be reverted to a woodland of mixed native trees as part of the Forestry Commission's commitment to biological diversity and cultural heritage.

Archaeological features in this area include quarries, charcoal burning platforms, saw pits, holloways (ancient sunken cart tracks), a deer park pale and an Iron Age/ Romano British settlement.


Long Distance Footpaths

& Days Out for Walkers

Long Distance Footpaths

Croft Castle

The Mortimer Trail:
This 30 mile (48Km) route begins in Ludlow and travels along a series of ridges south-east to the border town of Kington. The walk takes you through forests and woods, along leafy river banks and past celtic hill forts and medieval castles. A relatively recent trail, it was established in 1996, and its guidebook provides details of overnight accommodation, bus links and refreshment stops.

From Ludlow the trail crosses the River Teme, enters Mortimer Forest, passes Croft Castle, the Iron Age hill fort Croft Ambrey close to Wigmore and then passes through Aymestrey. Near Aymestrey it passes through Puckhouse Wood which was reputed to be haunted by Pucks - or wood sprites. The path crosses the River Lugg and the River Arrow and ends in Kington.

Five loop walks depart from and return to the main waymarked trail at various points along the route, enabling investigation of surrounding attractions, villages and features. The Mortimer Trail Official Route Guide details these.


The Shropshire Way:
The Shropshire Way Main Route is a long distance path of some 200 miles, covering not only the wonderful Shropshire Hills in the South but also some of the historic towns and unique natural features in the North of the county.

The Southern Main Route of the Shropshire Way follows much of the original path as conceived by Ramblers in 1980. For more historical details see our History. The path links Shrewsbury with the historic towns and villages of Bishop's Castle, Clun, Ludlow, Much Wenlock, Ironbridge and Wellington.

Walking the Shropshire Way will reveal to you some of England’s best kept secrets. You will discover the stark rocky crags of the Stiperstones with its unique landscape. You will walk over ancient hill forts, stay in Mediaeval towns and villages, wander through beautiful woodland and then realise you don’t have to climb a mountain for a spectacular view as you reach the summits of the Clee Hills and the Wrekin.

www.shropshireway.org.uk


Offa's Dyke:
This Anglo-Saxon earthwork runs north-south along the English -Welsh border and passes through the town of Knighton, at which there is an Offa's Dyke Visitor Centre which explains the dyke's past and present. Although some miles from Ludlow, one of the most spectacular stretches of the Dyke is within reach of the town. Between Knighton and Newcastle on Clun, the Dyke rises over Llanfair and Panpunton hills, offering breath-taking views across mid-Wales and south Shropshire. Much of the original dyke remains intact over this section, giving walkers a feel of how it might have looked at the time of King Offa. A convenient way to cover this stretch of the Dyke is to take the bus from Ludlow to Clun, head west onto the Dyke and then south to Knighton, from where a bus will bring you back to Ludlow through the lush landscape of the Teme valley.


Days Out For Walkers

Cardingmill Valley

Here are just a few of the other excellent walking opportunities near to Ludlow:

Church Stretton is the starting point for a number of hill walks. The Long Mynd is a vast, sprawling hill covered with heather and bracken with superb views from the summit. The ascent from either Ashes Hollow (at Little Stretton) or Cardingmill valley (a National Trust base near the town centre) is well worth the climb. Caer Caradoc, on the eastern side of Church Stretton, has an iron age hill fort on top, from where you can look out across the north Shropshire plain. Church Stretton is easily reached by train from Ludlow.

Bury Ditches: Is an impressive Iron Age hill fort above the Clun Valley, again with amazing views across unspoilt countryside. Walk up from either Clunton or Clun (both on the B4368).

The site is encompassed by Forestry Commission pine plantations but storms in the 1970s and 1980s led to the removal of woodland from the hill fort site on the crown of the hill, from which today the views are open in all directions.
There is a car park within an easy uphill walk of the summit.

Bury Ditches is often rated as a spectacular example of a surviving hill fort as it forms a neat oval or elliptical shape and is situated on the crown of a hill called Sunnyhill and comprises up to four multi-vallate ditches and rampart banks as part of its defensive earthworks and two well preserved entrance ways.

From the summit views are clear to the Long Mynd, Corndon Hill and The Shropshire Hills.
Waymarked walks cross the site and pass through the woodlands below. The Shropshire Way and Jack Mytton Way pass below the site and Wild Edric's Way crosses adjacent to it also.

The Clee Hills:
Brown Clee has various points of access and a good selection of paths through woodland and open grassland. There is a Forest Trail one mile north-west of Cleobury North with a well marked route and access to the summit.

Titterstone Clee has large expanses of open hillside. Public footpaths and tracks permit varied walks on the common with fantastic views and much special interest, botanical, geological and industrial.


Ludlow Walkers Group

Brown Clee viewed from Nordy Bank Hill Fort

Ludlow Walkers is a group of local walkers who have organised regular walks in the area for the past 25 years. 

Come and explore the beautiful area around Ludlow. Everyone will receive a friendly welcome. We usually start at 10.00 am, take between 2½ to 3 hours, and end with an optional pub lunch. We arrange occasional shorter or longer walks, but this will be clear in the programme. Walks are cross country, and there are stiles to climb, so boots or walking shoes are needed. While the leader has always checked the walk in advance, you come at your own risk.

We have been making voluntary contributions to Citizens’ Advice for many years, - Total to date over £12,000.

If you want general information about the group, ring Roy on 01584 874011; or for individual walks, the leader.

Walks organised by Ludlow Walkers can be found on our What's On in Ludlow Pages or download their latest programme (PDF).