Accessible Countryside Trails in Shropshire
Welcome to the Countryside Trails page
We have featured our top ten trails for Shropshire and these are just a small selection from the 2nd edition of the Wheelchair Users Guide. If you wish to see the rest then you can download a pdf from our Publications page or alternatively send for a copy enclosing a A5 SAE to the address on our Contacts page.
The trails are categorised (according to ease of use for a wheelchair) to assist you. The categories are as follows:-
Category 1
These are easy access routes suitable for wheelchair users (If able) without assistance.
Category 2
These are moderately easy routes and are suitable for wheelchair users with light assistance.
Category 3
These routes have fairly steep gradients or rougher surfaces and are suitable for wheelchair users with assistance from someone who is fit and able.
Old Shrewsbury Canal (Shropshire and Atcham Borough Council)
The Shrewsbury Canal was 17 miles long and was the main way of transporting goods in tug boats to and from Shrewsbury. Goods included bricks, pig iron, fruit, glass, coffee and even gunpowder! The canal continued to survive into the 20th Century although in a rundown state. Much of the canal no longer exists, however, the line of the canal now forms part of a cycle track.This pathway runs from Ditherington to Uffington and has a good hard surface and is fairly level. Some assistance may be needed to negotiate the underpass at Telford Way. On-street parking is available at Lesley Owen Way (off Sundorne Road) approximately half way along the path, where there is access to the path down a short steep gradient.The route is suitable for all abilities. Category 2.
Battlefield Heritage Site (Shropshire County Council Site)
There are two circular trails (The Hotspur Trail and the Royal Trail) that take you around the famous Battlefield Heritage Park where on Saturday 21st of July 1403 a rebel army led by Sir Henry 'Hotspur' Percy and the Royal army of Henry IV met. The battle that followed was to be remembered for its ferocity.
A separate leaflet is available from Visitor Information Centres or can be downloaded from the County Council website.
The site is accessed from the Battlefield Way roundabout just off the A49 where there is a car park with a good hard surface (no designated disabled spaces). A viewing mound is located to the north of the car park. However, the access path to the mound has loose gravel therefore some assistance is necessary. The trails provide a good length circular route around the perimeter of the site and if you take the path in an anticlockwise direction it is possible to avoid the steepest incline. Half way along the route a path gives access to St Mary Magdelene Church which was built in the 1400’s to commemorate the battle. It is open at weekends from May to September. The path to the Church is good and level. However, once you enter the church grounds through a kissing gate wheelchair users have to cross rough grass to get to the church entrance. Category 2
Ifton Meadows Nature Reserve view point
Ifton Meadows Nature Reserve is situated on the fromer colliery workings at Glyn Morlas on the outskirts of the village of St Martins near Oswestry. There is a small surfaced car parking area at the entrance. The site is entered through a gate on to a hard surfaced path that runs for approximately 135m across level ground. From here an accessible path (new for 2008) extends for approximately 400 metres up anundulating, fairly steep gradient to an impressive viewpoint over the surrounding area.
Accessing the new trail
The reserve is managed by team of volunteers who work hard to preserve this unique habitat including its role as a breeding ground for the increasingly rare skylarks. Thanks to their efforts the number of nesting pairs increased in 2008 and visitors to the site in summer are likely to be able to listen to their uplifting song. A leaflet about the site is available from St Martins Centre adjacent to Stans Supermarket in the village. Category 3.
The Earth Centre (Derwen College for the Disabled)
The Earth Centre is located in the grounds of Derwen College just off the main A5 near the Orthopaedic Hospital at Gobowen (Tel 01691 661234). There is a 750 metre trail around the four year old arboretum of indigenous trees. It is a level site with good paths and plenty of benches and has been designed with wheelchair accessibility in mind. There are also examples of different habitats, a pond, an accessible bird hide and insect attracting areas. Admission to the centre is free and as wheelchair accessible gates have recently been installed at either end of the trail that is now open weekends as well as week days. There is a disabled toilet and designated parking spaces on site as well as other attractions (including a tearoom) within the college campus. Category 1.
The Hoffman Kiln
Llanymynech Heritage Area is a nationally significant industrial heritage area forming part of the limework landscape and including one of only three remaining Hoffman Kilns in the country. A great deal of effort has gone into improving access for all visitors and in 2008 an accessible circular trail has been added that allows those with limited mobility including wheelchair users to see more of this fascinating site including the inside of the Hoffman Kiln.
Members of Ifton Opportunities researching the site
There is a visitor centre with an accessible toilet (limited opening times) on site but at present the external area around it is on a camber and inside it has a rough surface and cobbles within the centre of the floor. Funding has been sourced to carry out further improvements (in 2009) to the accessibility of the site including designated parking spaces, extra benches and a level path to the visitor centre. Category 3.
The Stiperstones National Nature Reserve (English Nature)
This includes the major part of the Stiperstones ridge and is predominately steep, exposed and rugged moorland. In the lower areas heather and gorse heath is dominant whereas on the uplands bilberries dominant. The car park has designated disabled spaces and a good surface. There is a dedicated all ability trail accessed through an easily negotiated gate. The surface of the trail is excellent and the audio units are easily used and extremely informative. There is a tapping rail and Braille instructions for those with visual impairment and there is plenty of seating. The trail itself however is only 500m in length. To obtain more information or a copy of the all ability trail leaflet contact English Nature. Category 1
The Bog Visitors Centre (Shropshire County Council Site)
The Bog Visitors Centre is located within the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve just down the road from the all ability trail detailed above. It was built as a primary school in 1839 to serve Bog Village, which was demolished in 1972. The school closed in 1968 when the children were relocated to a neighbouring school. It has since been used as a Field Centre for county primary schools. Recent improvements have been made to the site for people with disabilities which include dedicated disabled car parking facilities, improving the entrance lobby, upgrading the kitchen and providing new toilets within the Centre. The Centre is staffed by a team of volunteers, who have set themselves up as the Bog Visitor Centre Volunteer Group. Members of the group are from the local community and they give a warm welcome to visitors, providing tea and wonderful home made cakes as well as selling locally produced crafts.
Onny Meadows (Shropshire County Council Site).
Onny Meadows is part of the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre at Craven Arms which is a primary tourist and education facility promoting the Shropshire hills and the wider countryside. The meadow takes its name from the River Onny which runs along the boundary. There is a good fairly level accessible trail alongside a pond which includes access out on to a viewing platform. There is designated disabled parking within the car park and when the Centre is open there is a café and disabled toilet. Category 2
Mortimer Forest, Nr Ludlow (Forestry Commission).
This is a large Forestry estate on the borders of Herefordshire and Shropshire. High Vinnalls car park has a reasonable surface and there are waymarked routes including an all ability trail. This starts from the car park and is marked with blue signposts. The surface of the trail is very good and follows a figure of eight for approximately one and a quarter miles. On the way it passes by a large pond with an accessible picnic table. It should be noted, however that there are some long gradients going both up and down that require a stong pusher or wheelchair user with extremely good upper body strength. Benches are provided along the route. Category 3.
Stanmore Countryside Heritage Site, Bridgnorth
(Shropshire County Council Site )
Stanmore Countryside Heritage Site was once an RAF training camp. The reclaimed derelict land has since been planted with large amounts of trees which now provide a valuable woodland setting with open grassy areas and developing scrub habitat. The site has a good sized reasonably surfaced car park (no designated disabled parking spaces). The entrance to the park is through a kissing gate which is difficult to negotiate in a wheelchair as there is very little clearance between the chair and the gate. The pathways are all level and the main ones have a good surface. If you take the left hand path there is a picnic site about a hundred yards on the left however the tables are located on rough grass and therefore are not easily accessible for wheelchairs. There are benches located throughout the park for those who need to take rest breaks. It is possible to complete a good length circular route through pleasant woodland finishing near the RAF memorial, with the minimum of effort. There are also accessible paths across the other side of the road from the car park. This site is considered to be one of the best accessible sites in the county. Category 1.
Dale End Park (Telford and Wrekin Site)
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This is situated in the valley of the river Severn at Ironbridge and has a large formal bedding and wildflower area, ornamental shrub beds, football pitches, play area and a grassed informal recreation area. The car park has designated spaces and has a good hard surface. If you approach the park from the river end of the car park there is a long level well surfaced path that follows the course of the river. However unfortunately the plentiful supply of picnic benches are not accessible for wheelchairs and are set back from the path in grass. Category 1.
Near the town end is an area of pleasure gardens also with hard surfaced paths. However, if you exit from the town side there is a steep slope to negotiate. Category 3