Secret Hills Walking Holidays

Location:	Shropshire Hills
From:	10th September 2010
Days:	5, 5, 5
Nights:	5, 6, 7
Price:	£425, £490, £555

The Shropshire Way and Wild Edric's Way

We walk the Shropshire Hills section of the Shropshire Way - recently updated and with excellent way markers. This route is also known as Wild Edric's Way - celebrating the life and achievements of this local legendary figure. This route is linear and links up the historic market towns of Church Stretton, Bishops Castle, Clun, Craven Arms and Ludlow. We stay in two locations in Church Stretton and Bishops Castle.

The Walking

Walking the glorious Shropshire Hills - simply magical walks, with upland scenery all around - a panorarama rarely beaten. We walk 10/11 miles per day, plenty of breaks, and at a moderate pace. No rushing about, too much to see. walks for you.  The route commences at Church Stretton, and travels across the Longmynd, Bridges and onto the Stiperstones, before sweeping over the Onny Valley to Bishops Castle, nestling up to the hills of Mid Wales.. We then go to Clun, with it's castle gaurding the Clun Valley, then over Bury Ditches Hill Fort, Hopesay Hill and round Stokesay Castle to Craven Arms. Lastly , we walk along the Onny, Teme and Corve valleys to Ludlow, that most beautiful Georgian town, with it's imposing buildings and castle.

The route, showing the diversity of countryside in the Shropshire Hills, has magnificent views at each turn,

Walking - Grades and difficulty.

There are hills to ascend  - we go up to a maximum of 500 metres over two miles of walking, but the climbing is gradual and we won’t rush. What’s the point of huffing and puffing, being exhausted then not being able to enjoy this fabulous land. Descending is not precarious, and is gentle in relationship to many walking areas.

Shropshire is a land of ever changing vista’s - on any walk we get four or five different landscapes to enjoy. The views over 360 degrees are unrivalled - we see into Mid Wales to Cader Idris, the Berwyns, Malverns, Clee’s and Staffordshire peaks, as well as Shropshir’es own individual hills. Walking boots or shoes are obligatory, and many walkers find a walking pole useful, especially on the downhills. You will also need wet weather gear—generally we have a mild climate, lovely springs and autumns, and winter walking too is outstanding in theses secret hills.

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation en suite rooms. We stay in The Longmynd Hotel for two nights and The Old Brick House Guest house in Bishops Castle for three nights - www.longmynd.co.uk and http://www.oldbrick.co.uk- The Old Brick House Guest House bed and breakfast– en suite two nights

What you get on a Secret Hills Walking Break

• Three course dinner
• Lunch
• Personal service
• Expert guiding
• Flexibility
• No single supplement- there will be a number of single people on each break. No sharing unless you state so.
• A social, relaxed approach

The Shropshire Way/Wild Edric's Way route

Day one

Church Stretton, The Stretton Hills, The Longmynd and Bridges.

Day two

Bridges, The Stiperstones, Linley Hill, More, Lydham, Bishops Castle.

Day three

Bishops Cstle. Colebatch Hill, Offa's Dyke Path, The Cefns, Clun

Day four

Clun, Bury Ditches Hill Fort, Kempton, Hopesay Hill, Stokesay Castle, Craven Arms.

Day five

Craven Arms, Abdon Gutter, Teme Valley, Bromfield, Ludlow.