Distance: 11.2 miles

Difficulty of the terrain: hard

Get the route: via Ordnance Survey Maps or download the GPX. file from Dropbox

Walk from Church Stretton Railway Station, up to Long Mynd plateau then across the north east of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape to Pontesbury, an unlikely seeming former colliery village.

The Story

The Walk

Getting Back

Shropshire’s Forgotten Coalfield

With around 2,000 inhabitants, in a county where little settlements like Much Wenlock and Bishop’s Castle possess ancient borough charters, Pontesbury, nestled just north of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, is known as Shropshire’s largest village.

Today it is a quiet, residential village, situated not too far from Shrewsbury and the other towns like Telford in the relatively flat, densely populated courier running east from the county town towards the Black Country.

However, into the Twentieth Century Pontesbury was an unlikely seeming colliery village, lying at the centre of a now largely forgotten coal village. Shropshire’s once extensive coal mining industry is today largely only remembered by coal industry aficionados. This is despite reasonably large mines like Alveley in the far south of the county having operated until 1969 and Granville Colliery in Telford only closing in 1979, well within living memory. Indeed open cast, rather than deep level mining carried on in and around Telford into the  Whilst Blists Hill, one of Shropshire’s most popular visitor attractions, is based upon a mid-Shropshire colliery village in the final decade of the Nineteenth Century.

In contrast to the pits around the Ironbridge Gorge and in the south east of the county the Pontesbury coal mines were small-scale, scrabbly affairs, many of them worked by dozens or even handfuls of miners. More akin to the kind of adit and drift mines found to this day in an area like the Forest of Dean than the vast, equipment heavy, collieries employing hundreds of thousands of miners which we typically associate with the British coal industry.

The largest mines in the coalfield which had its heyday in the Nineteenth Century were situated in and around Pontesbury. Michael Shaw a retired local government surveyor who has researched and written a book on the history of the Pontesbury coalfield and coal mining in Shropshire west of Shrewsbury, generally, has told the Shropshire Star newspaper that three engine houses where the steam engines that powered pumps and winches serving the larger collieries survive. Of these two have been converted into houses, while a third, which served the Nag’s Head Mine about half a mile east of Pontesbury is a ruined, listed building. This one despite its state of disrepair is the former coal mining structure which looks most obviously like a mining structure.

Though coal mining was far from the first earthmoving activity to take place in the Pontesbury area. The distinctive Earl’s Hill to the south of the village, just inside the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, is comprised of incredibly ancient Pre-Cambrian rocks, roughly 650 million years old. It is the site of an Iron Age hillfort that is at least 2,600 years old. The hill was Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s first nature reserve designated in 1964. 

The Walk

Get the route: via Ordnance Survey Maps or download the GPX. file from Dropbox

I create the Walk Midlands routes via Ordnance Survey Maps Explorer enabling me to take them on my phone. Subscribe yourself via the banner above.

This walk across the north of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape from Church Stretton to Pontesbury begins from Church Stretton Railway Station.

If arriving at Church Stretton from the north, having travelled via Shrewsbury upon alighting, exit left out of the station onto a short cul-de-sac road running up towards a petrol station on the left hand side.

Upon reaching the main road which the petrol station fronts onto, turn left.

Walk a very short distance, then turn left again walking along a tree lined section of road.

This leads towards the town centre passing over the railway line once more.

Soon you are walking up a road lined with tall shops constructed during the town’s 19th and early 20th Century tourism heyday. This includes several distinctive and imposing bank buildings, all now closed and seemingly disused, all apparently built at around the same time in more or less the same style, but presumably by different banks.

Presently you reach a crossroads.

Turn right here, and leave the town centre behind heading into a residential area.

After some distance on your left there is an adjoining road leading past a smattering of houses. As the signposts located near the road betray, this is the way to Carding Mill Valley, the best known way up onto Long Mynd, and an immensely popular day out in its own right.

Keep walking along the road.

Presently it turns into the National Trust Car Park for Carding Mill Valley.

After following the road-cum-car park along the valley floor for some distance you come to a cluster of buildings, some in early 20th Century Alpine style, which form the National Trust’s base of operations around the Long Mynd plateau. There is a tearoom and cafe here.

Continuing on past the buildings the valley begins to narrow.

Keeping on the road you begin to gently ascend towards the top of the plateau.

Initially the track is quite wide, however, upon reaching the bottom of the Light Spout waterfall, where it twists to the right, and you cross the stream, it narrows and becomes rockier.

The final part of the ascent to the top of Long Mynd is quite steep, up a well worn rocky path.

Near the relatively flat top of the plateau the views back down Carding Mill Valley towards the valley floor and the lower distant peaks, looking back into eastern Shropshire, are striking.

Upon reaching the top of the plateau keep walking straight ahead along the path you followed up from Carding Mill Valley.

After some distance you come to another bridleway running along the ridge which marks the top of the plateau.

Here turn right.

Follow the wide, gravel paved track along the northern part of the Long Mynd plateau for some distance.

You approach a quiet country road running along and over the top of Long Mynd and walk parallel with it for a short distance.

To your left you see a stand of conifer trees. Before you reach them you turn left off the track following a narrow path through the ferns and grasses until you reach the side of the road.

Once on the side of the road turn right and walk for a short distance along it approaching the stand of conifers on your left.

Soon on your left you come to a path down a steep bank leading down to a tarmac farm track. Turn left and walk down this bank.

On reaching the farm track walk straight ahead, up a slope and through a metal gate.

Follow the track as it runs next to the conifer trees along the side of a field. This track forms part of The Portway, a long ancient track running up and over the Long Mynd.

Presently you reach a fork on the path. Here take the unmade, but clear track running downhill to the left through two gates.

On the other side of the gates the track runs to the right.

Carry on walking straight along the track for some distance, passing through a metal gate.

Beyond the gate the track continues running along a ridge, roughly four hundred metres above sea level, high up above the Shropshire plain on your right, and level with the Shropshire hills to the left. 

Soon you reach a place where the track forks. Here take the right hand gate walking along an unpaved grassy track.

Continue along this track for some distance passing through another gate.

Presently you pick up a gravel track once more, passing through an old open gate near an old tumbled down hut.

Carry straight on along this track for quite some distance. There are spectacular views on either side of the track.

After some distance near where you reach the summit of the four hundred and fourteen metre high Betchcott Hill the track becomes tarmac.

Keep on following the tarmac track covering a lot of distance quickly until you join a country lane. This point is approximately the mid-point of the walk distance wise.

On the far side of the lane there is a footgate waymarked for the Shropshire Way which you walk through and enter a field.

Follow a faint, but distinct track marked by tyre ruts uphill across the field.

Presently you reach the top of the hill and the track begins running downwards.

Carry on downhill through a gate following the track. Ahead of you in the distance, slightly to the right, you can see the distinctive shape of Earl’s Hill just south of Pontesbury where the walk ends.

As you walk the track becomes more indistinct, but follow it as best you can heading downhill quite sharply, and steadily to the right.

Beneath you a country road looms into view, and you see a gate leading out onto the side of the lane.

Walk through this gate and step down onto the roadway. Here turn right.

Continue along the road for some distance, taking care, as while it is not an especially busy road cars do travel quite fast along it.

Look out on your left for a gate set in a little inlet out onto a field. This is designated open access land so while not technically a footpath you are allowed to traverse it freely.

Once through the gate walk a short distance along a track into the field.

Soon on your right there is a track running off downhill. Head off to the right along it heading down the slope.

Presently you reach a little ford which you cross. Just after the ford the track narrows, becoming more clearly defined like a footpath, curving around to the left.

Soon you reach a waymark pointing the way along an officially designated path through a tree lined valley above the headwaters of the Cound Brook. Upon reaching this path turn right.

Continue along the path through the woods until you near a metal gate out into a field.

Here there is a waymark pointing to the left, picking out a path heading down a steep bank towards the stream through clusters of bushes.

Soon you come up a metal gate leading into a field. Walk through this gate and head straight ahead walking along the bottom of the field.

Presently to your left there is a gate at the bottom of a short steep bank. Head down the bank and through this gate.

On the other side of the gate cross the stream and head to the right walking through a steeply sided field following the course of the waterway.

You pass through a gateway into another, narrower, flatter, meadow flanked by trees.

Near the top of the meadow there is a metal gate down a slight dip to the right waymarked as a footpath leading into thick woodland.

Head through this gate and walk through the trees.

Soon you encounter another gate which leads into a fairly creepy abandoned estate or even little hamlet with a couple of abandoned houses, an old caravan and some other structures. There was a very unkempt, clearly quite feral, cat adding to the atmosphere when I walked through the area.

Shortly after the second gate you come to a short flight of steps on your left up through a gate with a sign reading “walkers this way”. Through the gate you come out onto a parallel track which you turn right and begin walking along.

Follow this track a little distance past more abandoned, decaying structures and a for a short distance down a driveway until you reach a cattle grid with a stile next to it.

Upon crossing the cattle grid turn left walking uphill.

As you approach scrub land nearer the top of the hill turn slightly to the right picking up a path towards the summit along the side of a hedgerow.

Presently the hillside levels out and you near a metal gate which you step through onto a wide unpaved track. Cross the track and head towards a metal gate into a field beyond.

Through the gate follow a clear track uphill.

Soon nearing the top of the hill you turn left, climbing up a short slope and approaching a gate across a fence into a steep sided adjoining field.

Once in the field follow a track for a little way downhill. You soon see a path running off in the direction of a footgate to your right. Turn right and head towards this gate.

On the far side of the gate walk straight across a field until you reach a steep side dell to the left beneath you with. This drops down steeply towards the flat bottomed valley at the base of the ridge you are walking along.

Head to the left down this dell, making for the protruding edge of a line of trees which marks a field boundary.

Upon reaching these trees there is a footgate which you walk through.

On the other side of the gate walk straight ahead following a narrow, but relatively clear path running roughly along the line of the fence. It is quite a steep sided hill and the ground is uneven so take care as you walk.

You continue following the path, working your way around the side of Lawn Hill, gently descending towards the valley floor for quite some distance.

Presently you reach a metal footgate which leads out onto a field near the bottom of the valley.

Once in this field walk straight ahead aiming for some broadleaf trees immediately opposite. As you cross the field to your left Earl’s Hill just south of Pontesbury where this walk concludes is visible in the near distance.

When you reach the far side of the field there is a stile leading into a meadow close to the centre of the valley. 

Having crossed the stile turn right making for the far side of the field.

On reaching the far side of the meadow the going becomes tricky.

The right of way in the corner of the field has been obliterated by a barbed wire fence with thick trees beyond it and a stream with no obvious way to cross.  

Here I headed to the left in the direction of a narrow opening on the far side of the meadow. Along the way I passed the bizarre spectacle of a wooden footbridge sat on the opposite bank of the stream with a new looking footgate just behind it but no corresponding footgate on my side, suggesting either a job currently half done or something strange going on.

Upon reaching the gap in the hedge between two wooden posts I found that if I carefully climbed down a set of tree roots I could stand on stones in the middle of a shallow part of the stream. Then using other stones could pick my way across without getting my feet wet (this might not work at times of year when the stream is higher).

On the other side there is a dry shingle bank and a steep grassy bank behind a Dutch barn type structure which I was able to climb.

At the top of the bank I picked my way through thick grass to a farm track immediately in front of the barn.

Once on the track turning right, it is possible to get through a metal gate into the field where the right of way continues, getting back on track.

Cross the long thin field after the stream.

At the far side of the field in the left hand corner there is a metal footgate out onto a farm track.

Through the gate and out on the track to the left there is a gate leading out through some tall grass into a field.

In the field turn right and walk along the footpath on its edge.

At the far side of the field there is a wide opening leading out onto a lane.

Walk straight ahead towards the left along the lane approaching the little village of Habberley.

Before you really get into the village there is a footgate on your right set back in a hedgerow which leads down a snicket.

Having crossed the stile and walked down the snicket you come to a gate out into a field.

Once in the field walk straight across, and through a corresponding footgate.

On the other side of the gate the path curves sharply to the left.

Follow the path through woodland through some distance.

Presently there is a footgate out onto a well worn farm track to the left. Head out onto this track.

Once on the track turn right and follow it for some distance, passing through a metal gate along the way.

Nearing the southern flank of Earl’s Hill you reach another bridleway running to the left. Head through the gate onto this bridleway.

On the other side of the gate walk straight ahead following the line of a hedgerow in the direction of the woodland at the base of Earl’s Hill.

Soon you reach a gate which you walk through continuing along the track on the other side for a short distance.

Presently the track forks. Here you take the arm running up a short bank, to follow a narrow well worn path around the woodland at the base of Earl’s Hill.

After some distance you reach a metal gate leading into the woodland, part of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserve on Earl’s Hill which is the oldest in the county having been established in 1964.

Once on this path walk straight ahead along it for quite some distance.

Upon reaching the far side of the woodland there is a gate leading out onto a track. 

Walk through the gate out onto the track and turn left.

Head straight along the track passing a series of cottages. Presently the track becomes tarmacked.

After some distance at a t-junction the track turns into a public road. Here, turn left. You are now nearing the edge of Pontesbury.

Walk along this road for some distance approaching the outskirts of the village.

On the edge of the village there is a junction where you turn right.

Soon reaching another junction where you turn left.

Continue along the road until you reach The Plough pub which stands on a corner.

Here there is a bridge on the left across the stream. Cross over the bridge then turn right walking along a quiet road on the far side of the stream.

Soon you reach a junction where you turn right heading for the village’s centre.

Turn right upon reaching the main road through the village and walk around the village churchyard.

At the top of the churchyard there is a road to the right which runs down what must once have been the high street, though there are hardly any shops or other businesses on it today.

Soon you come to a little roundabout. Here to the left, down another arm of the main road through the village there stands the bus stop where buses depart back towards Shrewsbury.

This is where the walk ends.

Getting Back

At the time of writing (June 2024) there was a reasonably frequent service the 553 provided by Minsterley Motors from Pontesbury to Shrewsbury (the buses originate in either Stiperstones or Bishop’s Castle). Last service departs at 17:40, and it is not to a regular pattern throughout the day. There are no buses serving the village on Sundays, so it was not (as of June 2024) possible to get back from Pontesbury by public transport on a Sunday.