Shropshire hidden gems on new rambling route
Walkers will be discovering Shropshire as they walk coast to coast when a new path across the country is launched this week.
The Cross Britain Way has been designed as a new UK-spanning route for ramblers, which will highlight some of the most picturesque "hidden" countryside – and almost 60 miles of it are through Shropshire.
The 280-mile long-distance footpath runs between the coastal towns of Boston to Barmouth, and has been designed to help raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
It was conceived as an alternative "coast to coast" to Wainright's, which starts at St Bees in Cumbria and runs through the north of England, taking in the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, finishing at Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire.
However, more importantly the Cross Britain Way unites England and Wales, creator Tim Brunton said.
He said: "In all, 57 miles are through Shropshire, which is the largest of all the counties in terms of path miles.
"It comes into east Shropshire from Brewood, then west to Coalport and the Ironbridge Gorge, then southwest through Much Wenlock and Wenlock Edge across to Church Stretton.
"After the Long Mynd and Stiperstones, it heads west into the Welsh Borders and crosses into Wales via Offa's Dyke."
Mr Brunton said it was more than just tracing a route on a map.
"It has taken five years to complete from desktop to a fully way-marked path on the ground, and Shropshire Council Rights of Way has greatly helped to bring this about," he said.
Mr Brunton said the walk aimed to create a walking trail across the whole of the country that would include less well-known areas of the English and Welsh countryside and embrace Britain's cultural and industrial heritage as well as the beauty of its scenery.
The route links up 12 existing named walking trails and includes stretches of six canals.
Starting at The Wash in Lincolnshire, it heads westwards across The Fens, through the Vale of Belvoir, the Leicestershire Wolds, and the National Forest. After the canals of South Staffordshire it turns across Cannock Chase before arriving in Shropshire, and then continues into Wales, over the Berwyn mountains. The final stretch goes through Snowdonia to Barmouth on the Welsh coast.
Mr Brunton has written a 10-chapter, 144-page guidebook with maps, photographs, and information on accommodation and places of interest to accompany the walk which will be available from August 5.
The walk is the latest in a network of Macmillan Ways, a catalogue of routes which all aim to support the cancer charity.
The Macmillan Ways Association has raised over £350,000 for the charity since 1997, through sponsorship of walkers and profits from the sale of its publications.
To buy the Cross Britain Way guidebook, or find out more about the Macmillan Way trails, go to www.macmillanway.org
