Ludlow - Walking in and around Ludlow

A Walkers Paradise - Long Distance Footpaths
Days Out for Walkers - Short Walks

Ludlow is situated on the edge of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is an ideal base for walkers wishing to explore to explore the hills, valleys and forests of the Marches. Much of the landscape around Ludlow can be accessed by bus and train, as well as by car. The town itself also offers gentler walking opportunities into the surrounding countryside, and Whitcliffe Common, with its panoramic views, overlooks the castle and town - it's an essential visit for any newcomer to Ludlow.

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

Long Distance Footpaths

These are generally clearly marked and well used routes, offering many panoramic views and rambles through places of historic and architectural interest.

THE MORTIMER TRAIL: This 30-mile 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.

THE SHROPSHIRE WAY: This long-distance path meanders and winds its way across the whole county, encompassing most of Shropshire's points of interest along the way. The Shropshire Way passes through Ludlow, and you can leave the town by either taking the route north to Bromfield, or east across to Titterstone Clee Hill.

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 breathtaking 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

Here are just a few of the many walking opportunities accessible from 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 bus (No 435 every two hours daily) or train from Ludlow.

THE CLEE HILLS are Shropshire's highest. 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. (Bus service 141/2). 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. (Bus service 192/292).

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, bus service 745).

Short Walks Around Ludlow

If you fancy a stroll for an hour or more, at a gentle pace, you couldn't do better than try one of the following walks:

WHITCLIFFE COMMON: a mixture of grassland and deciduous woodland just outside the town above the River Teme, from where you get wonderful views of the old town centre in all its glory. Leave town on foot by either Dinham bridge or Ludford bridge and head straight up onto the common.

MORTIMER FOREST: Up above Whitcliffe Common, there are a large number of waymarked trails through coniferous woodland owned by Forest Enterprise. For the more adventurous, head for High Vinnals, the highest point with views across the Wigmore Rolls of north Herefordshire.

HALTON LANE TO BROMFIELD: 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 rejoins 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 Cookhouse before heading back to town either along the bridleway (which is quite noisy along the A49) or back the way you came, for another look at those trees!





A Walkers Paradise Long Distance Footpaths Days Out for Walkers Short Walks		Walking in and around Ludlow A Walkers Paradise - Long Distance Footpaths Days Out for Walkers - Short Walks Ludlow is situated on the edge of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is an ideal base for walkers wishing to explore to explore the hills, valleys and forests of the Marches. Much of the landscape around Ludlow can be accessed by bus and train, as well as by car. The town itself also offers gentler walking opportunities into the surrounding countryside, and Whitcliffe Common, with its panoramic views, overlooks the castle and town - it's an essential visit for any newcomer to Ludlow. There are numerous walking guidebooks and pamphlets available in the Tourist Information Centre and local bookshops. Accommodation for walkers and hikers can be found on our 'Where to Stay' section. Below is just a flavour of what Ludlow and its surroundings have to offer: Long Distance Footpaths These are generally clearly marked and well used routes, offering many panoramic views and rambles through places of historic and architectural interest. THE MORTIMER TRAIL: This 30-mile 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. THE SHROPSHIRE WAY: This long-distance path meanders and winds its way across the whole county, encompassing most of Shropshire's points of interest along the way. The Shropshire Way passes through Ludlow, and you can leave the town by either taking the route north to Bromfield, or east across to Titterstone Clee Hill. 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 breathtaking 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 Here are just a few of the many walking opportunities accessible from 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 bus (No 435 every two hours daily) or train from Ludlow. THE CLEE HILLS are Shropshire's highest. 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. (Bus service 141/2). 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. (Bus service 192/292). 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, bus service 745). Short Walks Around Ludlow If you fancy a stroll for an hour or more, at a gentle pace, you couldn't do better than try one of the following walks: WHITCLIFFE COMMON: a mixture of grassland and deciduous woodland just outside the town above the River Teme, from where you get wonderful views of the old town centre in all its glory. Leave town on foot by either Dinham bridge or Ludford bridge and head straight up onto the common. MORTIMER FOREST: Up above Whitcliffe Common, there are a large number of waymarked trails through coniferous woodland owned by Forest Enterprise. For the more adventurous, head for High Vinnals, the highest point with views across the Wigmore Rolls of north Herefordshire. HALTON LANE TO BROMFIELD: 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 rejoins 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 Cookhouse before heading back to town either along the bridleway (which is quite noisy along the A49) or back the way you came, for another look at those trees!
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