Walking and hiking in the Shropshire Hills

The Shropshire Hills really do have something for every walker, from gentle Sunday strolls to traditional country pubs and tea rooms, right up to some of the finest hill-walking and dramatic views that you’ll find anywhere in England.

You’ll find ideas about some of the easier walks you might try here, while – on the ground – you’ll find good information at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, the National Trust at Carding Mill Valley, the Bog Centre, in the Stiperstones area or at any other tourist information centre.

If you fancy a longer walking holiday, perhaps taking you from place to place across the Shropshire Hills while someone else transports your luggage, then take a look at our walking breaks page.

Shropshire’s Great Outdoors is a great place to start if you’re looking for inspiration about walks in particular areas and you can tweak your search by both length and difficulty.

Longer routes

The Shropshire Hills also offer plenty of opportunities for more serious walkers, with a choice of longer trails.

At the most challenging, Offa’s Dyke Path is a wonderful National Trail in border country. It runs for 177 miles from near Chepstow, in the south, to Prestatyn, on the North Wales Coast. In the Shropshire Hills, it follows the line of the best preserved sections of Offa’s Dyke, built in the eight century to divide King Offa’s Mercia from rival kingdoms in Wales. The Dyke helped Henry VIII decide the line of the border. One of the most challenging and dramatic sections of this route is known as the “switchback”, crossing the Shropshire Hills from Knighton to Montgomery.

The Shropshire Way Main Route is a circular walk connecting Shropshire’s finest countryside. The challenging Shropshire Hills loop can be completed in ten days.  There is also a collection of circular day-walks, to explore.

Sections of the Shropshire Way and Offa’s Dyke Path can be combined with the brand new Heart of Wales Line Trail, featured in detail here. Start at Craven Arms and follow the first part of the Heart of Wales Line to the border, at Knighton. Then take on the challenging Switch-back as far as Clun.  Then finish with a stroll over hill-top fortresses along the Shropshire Way back to the start.  A week should see you home

All Walking and Hiking

  • Selected walks in the Shropshire Hills

    The Shropshire Hills are exceptional walking country: rugged enough to excite; gentle enough to pose no danger. And all the while presenting discovery after discovery, beneath a tableau of big, wide skies, commanding views, and tranquil valleys.

  • Shropshire Historic Churches

    Shropshire is richly endowed with historic churches …. There are over 350 churches in regular use, most over 700 years old. Many of our churches are Listed Buildings, which signifies that they are of outstanding architectural and historic interest. Responsibility for their maintenance and repair falls upon the individual parishes; Read more [...]

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    Tenbury Wells

    Tenbury Wells, referred to as ‘The Town in The Orchard’ by Queen Victoria, is an ancient Market Town in North Worcestershire and just a short car journey from Ludlow. Explore places to visit in Tenbury Wells – its Town Centre area is a conservation area and has a unique selection Read more [...]

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    Walking Breaks

    The Shropshire Hills are well known for their rolling landscapes and area of outstanding beauty so it comes as no surprise that there are walking routes aplenty! If you're looking for a walking break you can find out how InnTravel and Byways Breaks offer walking breaks like no other.

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    Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre

    Get up close and personal to Shropshire’s larger than life mammoth and step back into the Iron Age. If you’re looking for somewhere to take the kids or grandkids during the summer holidays we have several family events to keep children and adults amused and entertained. View the Shropshire  Hills Through Time, a brand Read more [...]

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    Church Stretton Golf Club

    Special Offer Details:

    Burns supper 25 January 2020, 7 for 7:30 £20.50pp for 3 courses plus coffee 01694 722281 to book

    Arguably one of the most scenic courses around where you are rewarded with simply sensational panoramic views and a Braid layout that guarantees an uplifting golfing experience. Church Stretton is quite simply unique. It’s 18 holes sit atop the stunning Shropshire Hills – an area of outstanding natural beauty – Read more [...]

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    Shropshire Way

    Originally conceived as a long distance walking path in 1980 a number of spurs were created over the years.  Now the Shropshire Way Main Route has been waymarked to allow the original concept to reappear and is being promoted by the Shropshire Way Association.  There is a video following all of Read more [...]

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    The Heart of Wales Line Trail

    A brand new and increasingly popular walking route in the Shropshire Hills is The Heart of Wales Line Trail, which runs from Craven Arms, in the heart of the Shropshire Hills, to Knighton and then on all the way to Llanelli, near Swansea.

  • Carding Mill Valley

    Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd offer breathtaking views across Shropshire, Cheshire and the Black Mountains. The Long Mynd is an area of historic upland heath, created when some of Britain’s oldest rocks were pushed to the surface along the Church Stretton fault.  The ancient landscape has been shaped Read more [...]

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    Wheely Wonderful Cycling

    Cycling Holidays, Walking Holidays. Cycle hire. Cycling Maps. CYCLING HOLIDAYS – Choose from over 30 different cycling holidays through Shropshire, the Wye Valley and Wales.  Superb cycle tours on traffic-free country lanes cycling. From family cycling holidays and adventurous cycling short breaks on the Kerry Ridgeway, to weeklong tours around Shropshire’s Castles Read more [...]

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    Westhope Alpacas

    Walking Experience Westhope Alpaca Experience offers you the chance to enjoy an amazing, unique and unforgettable alpaca walking experience in the glorious South Shropshire landscape. This well-kept secret, situated in the beautiful scenic Westhope Valley, is a welcome extension of the family farm. Located just 5 miles from the A49 Read more [...]

  • Creative Outdoors

    Whether it is the location of our adventurous activities or the inspiration for our creations the outdoors is at the centre of what we do. Whatever your ability or type of experience you are looking for we provide exciting and fun opportunities run by highly qualified staff. We love the outdoors… & campervans & kit & doing stuff & making stuff but most of all we love sharing our passions & knowledge & skills.  Creative Outdoors Read more [...]

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    Secret Hills Walking Holidays

    Secret Hills Walking organise guided walking holidays in Shropshire. Walking breaks are flexible around a seven day cycle comprising seven day, five day and weekend walking breaks, including breaks that start midweek. We walk at a steady pace rated moderate walking. We admire the beautiful Shropshire landscape and historical past. Read more [...]

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    Bishop’s Castle Walking Festival

    Special Offer Details:

    Tickets for most walks cost £3.50 per person, per walk if bought in advance. From 1st April 2020, the walks will cost £4.00 per person, per walk. Please note that in some cases, there may be additional transport charges (full details on our website).

    Bishop’s Castle is a small market town surrounded by the wonderful Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, near the Welsh border and off the beaten track.  The festival welcomes walkers of all abilities and each day offers a range of walks from leisurely to strenuous. Our 22nd annual Walking Read more [...]

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