Hillwalking in Shropshire. John Gillham

The Buttercross, Ludlow town centre (SO 511 746) Distance 4¾ miles (7.7km) Total ascent 918ft (280m) Grade Easy Time 2½hr Terrain Field paths, easy gradients on forest tracks and country lanes Map OS Explorer 203 – Ludlow Tenbury Wells & Cleobury Mortimer Refreshments Wide selection of cafés and inns in Ludlow Parking Upper Galdeford (Somerfield) and Lower Galdeford (Smithfield), all pay and display, or there’s a park-and-ride off the A49 by-pass.

      This half-day walk discovers historic Ludlow, its half-timbered houses, fine sandstone church, its castle and two fine stone bridges before taking to the pastures of Ludford, where you might see blood-red poppies among the golden wheat. Easy forest tracks then take you up into the hills of the Mortimer Forest before easing back down towards Ludlow. The views of the town, the River Teme and its castle from Whitcliffe are spectacular, and as you cross Dinham Bridge you can finish the walk in style in the riverside gardens of the Green Café.

      Make your way to the Buttercross at the head of Broad Street and where King Street meets High Street in the centre of Ludlow. The 18th-century stone building has a large pillared entrance and an ornate clock tower. With your back to the building, go straight ahead down Broad Street before passing beneath the arches of Broad Gate. Continue down Broad Street to cross the Chorlton Bridge on the B4361.

      The road leads uphill past the Chorlton Arms. After 600m fork right along the tarred drive of Mabbits Horn (house), ignoring the right fork track. Beyond the house the drive becomes a stony path that leads beyond a kissing gate into fields. The continuing path follows the field-edge hedge on the right. Take the right fork beyond Hucksbarn, a farm and certified campsite on the left; this hedge-lined grassy track gradually rakes up the hillside between fields often laid with cereal crops.

      Beyond the cottage of Starvecrow the track becomes more prominent and climbs to the afforested brow of the Mary Knoll Valley, part of the Mortimer Forest. Take the right fork forestry track climbing the brow and following Mortimer Way signs.

      Where the main forestry track bends to the right, leave it for an unsurfaced track heading straight on towards a distant shed. To the left of the shed is a bench with a view – ideal for a refreshment stop. The ongoing path turns right by the shed on a grass track, but a few paces further on take the left of three paths. This traces the top of the forest before curving right. It soon joins a bridleway (SO 491 737), where you turn right to return to and cross the Mortimer Trail forest road.

      The bridleway continues eastwards to reach the forest’s eastern edge. Here it turns left to follow the edge. Ignore the next right track to North Farm but continue the descent to a stony drive, which in turn leads to a country lane. Turn left along the lane for 30m before descending right on a path through trees to meet a lower lane. Turn right along this but take the next right fork lane.

      A Whitcliffe Common sign on the left preceding the first bend highlights the next path. After a few paces along this take the upper path on the right. This draws level with the lane you just left, then comes to a popular viewing area with many seats.

      After taking in views of Ludlow Castle, church, Titterstone Clee Hill and Brown Clee Hill, angle down across the grass to the narrow path running along the upper edge of the woods. The path soon enters the woods. Take the first path to the left off this route; it descends in steps before angling left and descending to the ancient three-arched Dinham Bridge.

      Ludlow Castle and Dinham Bridge

      Go across the bridge before following the road (called Dinham) uphill to Castle Square, where you turn right past the Market area and along High Street to return to the Buttercross.

      LUDLOW