Shropshire Hills Unique Country Estate Experience

There are other walking holiday companies that cover the countryside but we believe we offer the best value for many reasons….

• We specialise in organising guided walking holidays for solos and singles.
• We are a small friendly company
• We have a loyal customer base who return again and again (so we must be doing something right) – read our testimonials page on the website
• We offer a lot of flexibility – you can stay extra nights which we are happy to organise for you. We are also very flexible on the walks we provide, adapting to suit walkers and weather conditions
• Our walk leading is second to none. Unlike some other large Walking Companies, we use LOCAL leaders who live in the area and who love their surroundings. They have expert knowledge of everything you need to know to make an area come alive.
• You are safe in our hands – our guides are experts, fully qualified in first aid. Also, because of their local knowledge of the hills, they can respond to any situation that might for example demand cutting short a route. They don’t need to consult maps – they know the hills intimately.
• Our leaders are all easy-going, genuinely sociable people who want to ensure that you have the best time you can with the rest of the group. They make the weekend fun by engaging with all members of a group, and ensuring that everyone feels part of the group experience.
• We give great value for money. Because we recognise that lots of walkers holiday on their own, we have negotiated no single supplement deals with all our hotels to ensure the best possible deal.
• We always use good hotels.
• We have smaller groups than some of the larger walking companies because we believe the social experience is much better in a smaller group. People can talk to everyone, especially at dinner where you can all sit at one table in a small group. Our numbers vary from holiday to holiday but an average group size would be 8-12.

Getting to Church Stretton and Eaton Manor

By train – Church Stretton is the nearest station, Contact us for a transfer to Eaton Manor from the station See http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

By car – the post code for your Sat Nav is SY6 7DH

Eaton Manor is situated four miles from the town of Church Stretton, deep in the countryside underneath the iconic Wenlock Edge.

Full detailed journey instruction will be sent with your Joining Details prior to the holiday

Its all about meeting new friends. Each holiday is designed to be a friendly, relaxed and stress free occasion. Talking is as important as walking on Secrethills Walking Holidays. We don’t go in for discos, we may use an event that is taking place in the area we are in to boost the weekends activities – but its good, old fashioned chat that makes our short breaks successful.

“Make new friends that turn into old friends” – that’s our motto.

You might be surprised by what fun you’ll have with people who are older or younger than you during a holiday with us, and that’s exactly the sort of atmosphere we encourage; people find it very rewarding. It doesn’t matter what your reasons for traveling with us are, we’ve had people who are single, divorced or widowed, people who have partners that are unable to travel, and people who can’t holiday with their friends anymore as they’ve all got married themselves. There are people who want to make friends, see sights, and experience something completely new. Whatever your reason, we’ll welcome you with open arms and our friendly hosts will help you to get the most out of your holiday.

Don’t worry if this is the first time you have ventured to join a group holiday – its always a bit daunting – but we will look after you and ensure that you get used to being amongst friends again. Trust us to to get you back into the swing of things.

Oh – by the way – its not a dating agency – over the years we have had people meet and fall in love – but that’s just chance. Our aim is that you make like minded friends – just relax and enjoy.

Just arrive and enjoy.

To reserve a place on any of our holidays, please follow these simple instructions.

Reserve online  – once you have chosen your holiday, click on Proceed Booking and complete the online form. If you have difficulty reserving online, please  contact us (tel: 01694 723600, email: info@secrethillswalking.co.uk) and we will assist you to complete your booking.

Payment

Please note we cannot take credit/debit card details over the phone. You may pay by the following methods when you book online…

• Paypal – if you have a Paypal account, simply click on the link to the Paypal website.
• Credit / Debit card – we use Paypal to host our credit/debit cards facility because it is a very secure system. So if you want to pay with a card, simply click on this option which will take you to our page on the PayPal website. Check in there as a “Guest” to enable your card payment. You do not need to have a Paypal account for this transaction.
• We will also accept a Bank Transfer – you will find our account details on the booking form.
• Finally, we will also accept a cheque payable to Secret Hills Walking Holidays and sent to: Secret Hills Walking Holidays, 35 Sandford Avenue, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6BH

Please note than an initial deposit is required with each booking regardless of which payment method you choose. Your booking will be accepted when your payment (deposit or full balance) is received. Note – if you are reserving a holiday within a month of the start date then the full amount is due immediately and no deposit should be paid.

It is important that you read the terms and conditions before you sign the booking form.

Note – if you are reserving a holiday within a month of the start date then the full amount is due immediately and no deposit should be paid.

Grades and Difficulty

The paths in the Shropshire Hills are exceptionally good underfoot. There is an active Footpaths Group which regularly surveys paths and reports problems.

This keeps the standard extremely high which makes walking in this area a real delight. You don’t have to worry about wading through waist high crops or stumbling over worn out stiles, you can simply relax and enjoy the views.

There are hills- the ascents are not great and are very gradual – we always take our time. Nor are there precarious descents, in fact the whole area is pretty safe so if you are an inexperienced walker, these are ideal hills to start on!

Exclusions

Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.

They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.

We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.

Some of the walks we will choose from …

Walk One – The Long Mynd

A superb walk-through Carding Mill Valley, ascending to the top of the Long Mynd at Pole Bank. Walking along the heather-clad ridge before descending down one of the many delightful valleys for our lunch stop at a local hostelry. In the afternoon, we ascend Ragleth Hill and walk along it’s ridgeline with superb views in all directions. We finally return to Church Stretton in time for a cuppa and transport back to Eaton Manor.

Walk Two – The Stretton Hills- Eaton Manor to Cardington and Cardington to Church Stretton

Our walk takes us to the ancient and picturesque village of Cardington, over Cardington Moor in the morning, passing ancient rock formations, steeped in local legend. Lunch is at the magnificent Royal Oak – a 16th Century hostel, in the village of Cardington offering a great menu selection. We return to Church Stretton via the Wilderness and moody Caer Caradoc’s summit, site of an ancient hill fort.

Transport back to Eaton Manor

 Walk Three – Wenlock Edge, and Corve Dale

We ascend to the ridge line of Wenlock Edge and walk over the hills to Aston Munslow in Corve Dale for lunch. We then follow the Three Castles Way, into the estate of  Millichope Park and back to Wenlock Edge before descending to Eaton Manor

Walk Four – The South End of the Long Mynd

To Church Stretton – Through Rectory Wood,and ascend Town brook valley to the top of the Longmynd at Polebank. Down Barristers Plain to Little Stretton for lunch After lunch, either pub or packed, we ascend Ragleth Hill, walk along it’s magical ridge line before descending into Church Stretton for tea. And return transport Eaton Manor

Walk Five – Ashes and Batch Valleys

Transport to Little Stretton -We walk up Ashes Valley to Pole bank and along the Longmynd spine to it’s north end. We descend down the Gallups and the Batch Valley into All Stretton for lunch. We wander out towards Caer Caradoc in the afternoon, take in wooded Helmeth Hill, and back into the town for tea and return transport to Eaton Manor

Walk Six – The Blacksmith’s Walk and Ragleth Hill

A pastoral walk, out along Wenlock Edge to Acton Scott, Then we follow the route of Blacksmiths’ who looked after the heavy horses on the Acton estate, into the Chelmick valley eventually descending through Snatchfields to Church Stretton. Packed lunch. Then return transport to Eaton Manor

Just arrive and enjoy.