We are the Telford & East Shropshire Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Chris H.
Nesscliffe Hills and the Cliffe Countryside Heritage Site covers two wooded hills and a heather covered ridge, and gives expansive views over the Shropshire countryside and Welsh hills.
Visitors have a 70 hectare area of mixed woodland and heathland to explore; that's about the size of 140 football pitches! Within the site there is an iron age hill fort, a series of impressive quarries which supplied stone for some of Shropshire's castles and churches, and a cave hewn into the sandstone, which is said to have been the hideout of the medieval outlaw Humphrey Kynaston. There is a wealth of evidence of human activity stretching back 3000 years including saw pits where trees were planked by hand on site, world war two trenches, squatters cottages, an observation post and a terrace where archery competitions were held two hundred years ago. Many of these features are not obvious but visitors can have fun searching for them.
The natural heritage of the site includes an extensive area of lowland heath and mixed woodland with an unusually wide variety of conifer trees, almost an arboretum. The variety of habitats including ponds and steep cliffs gives rise to a wide variety of wildlife, particularly birds and insects. The Cliffe heathland is a rare habitat nationally and looks stunning in August when the purple heather is in flower.
The site has an extensive network of tracks, paths and trails giving a variety of walking and riding experiences from level tracks to steep narrow footpaths suitable for all different ages and abilities.
We will also cross open fields, and use a variety of footpaths, bridleways, country lanes and visit Ryton-XI-Towns with its' medieval castle ruins and 12th century church.
The route can be muddy in places, especially after rain.
The walk leader will go directly to the start, so you will need to arrange your own car shares from Telford.
N.B. Limited places available: Please book with the leader prior to the walk.
Pines car park, Nesscliffe Hill Countryside Country Park
