South Shropshire is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Owing to it’s relative isolation and the lack of main roads (the nearest motorway is one hour away!), South Shropshire has remained largely untouched by modern development compared to many regions in the UK. The countryside around Ludlow is a mixture of wooded hills, gentle pastures, windswept moors and the beautiful vale areas of Corvedale and the Teme Valley.
The Hen & Chickens particularly welcomes walkers and is ideally located for guests wishing to explore the surrounding countryside. We offer the following facilities for our walking guests:
drying room for outdoor clothing
boot rack
outside tap for washing boots
weather information
local maps/routes for reference
information on local public transport
free flask top up service (many hotels charge!)
baggage transfer service (by local taxi company) pick-up or drop off service for walkers on linear routes (charged per mile)
As keen walkers ourselves, we have plenty of local knowledge and are more than happy to help you plan your walk.We can recommend the following:
Short walks
Whitcliffe Common, an area of 52 acres located immediately to the south of Ludlow, across the River Teme.From the top, the Common gives outstanding views of the town and castle, and the Clee Hills.Five minutes distance from the Hen & Chickens.
Ludlow’s riverside – The Bread Walk and The Linney.Two short walks following the River Teme and the River Corve.(You will be unlucky not to see dippers, herons, and kingfishers along the River Teme.)
Longer walks
One mile west of Ludlow is the Mortimer Forest covering 1000 hectares of hillside.There are several marked trails.Climb to the summit of the High Vinnalls and enjoy panoramic views across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Wales.Some of the trails are easy, others are only suitable for serious walkers given the distance and steep nature of some sections.There are three car parks in the forest.
The Clee Hills. Located 6 miles to the east of Ludlow, these hills dominate the surrounding countryside.Abdon Burf and Clee Burf are the twin summits of Brown Clee, the highest point in Shropshire.Titterstone Clee is the third highest hill in Shropshire.This is no gentle country walk and there is no higher land to the east until the Urals!The Clee Hills are a different world of high moor and windswept hill so hope for good weather and go prepared!
Long distance walks
The Shropshire Way.120 miles of the best of South Shropshire, walking along the great ridges of the Stiperstones and the Long Mynd.Through Bishop’s Castle and Ludlow to the Clee Hills.www.shropshirewalking.co.uk
The Mortimer Trail – This 30 mile route runs through the Marches, the borderland country of England and Wales.It follows a succession of hills and ridges from Ludlow to Kington.
