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Home> Walks> England> Shropshire> An Ironbridge circuit

An Ironbridge circuit

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Walk directions

Without crossing into Ironbridge, and with your back to the bridge, turn right into Benthall Edge Wood, taking the higher of two tracks and soon passing under a disused railway bridge. When the track comes to an end, cross a stile on the left and turn sharp left, going uphill to arrive at a major path junction.

Turn right here (signed for Benthall Hall). Stay on the main path, through damp, jungly woodland, nearly always climbing steadily and keeping the same heading. Approaching the top, the path curves round a hollow. Ignore a gate and track on the left and continue, slightly downhill and then roughly level, along a narrower path just inside the edge of the wood.
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Location
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain  - Mostly excellent, muddy in places, lots of steps (down only), 7 stiles
  Landscape  - Wooded hills and mixed farmland above Severn Gorge
  Dog friendliness  - Will love woods, but keep under control in fields
  Parking  - Bridge Car Park at south end of Iron Bridge
  Toilets en route  - In The Square at Ironbridge
Walks in Shropshire Dog-friendly walks in Shropshire Family friendly walks in Shropshire
About the walk
The little town of Ironbridge is built of mellow brick, its attractive buildings clinging in tiers to the north side of the gorge, overlooking the River Severn. Though it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist centre, it has not lost its charm, retaining a maze of steep, narrow...
Read more
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Walking in Safety

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About the area
Perhaps nowhere else in England will you find a county so deeply rural and with so much variety as Shropshire. Choose a clear day, climb to the top of The Wrekin, and look down on that ‘land of lost content’ so wistfully evoked by A E Housman.
Explore Shropshire
Area image

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Self-Catering
Ironbridge View Townhouse
★★★★★
awardaward
"Set in a small courtyard, this townhouse is ideally situated with stunning views of the Iron Bridge...."
  • Total units: 1
  • Dish washer
  • Washing machine
  • Microwave
Caravan & Camping
Severn Gorge Park
★★★★★
award
"An ideal base for visiting historic Ironbridge...."
  • Launderette
  • Ice pack facility
  • Calor Gas
  • Camping Gaz
Self-Catering
The Owl's House
★★★★★
award
"A Shropshire jewel in a charming setting...."
  • Private garden
  • Washing machine
  • Sky or freeview
  • Linens provided
Nearby places to stay
Ironbridge View Townhouse
Ironbridge View Townhouse is an award-winning holiday home, set in the historic Ironbridge Gorge. It has stunning views of the world's first Iron Bridge, and is conveniently located wit...
★★★★★    Rating
Severn Gorge Park
A very pleasant wooded site in the heart of Telford, it is well screened and well maintained. The sanitary facilities are fresh and immaculate, and landscaping of the grounds is careful...
★★★★★    Rating
The Owl's House
Located close to one of Shropshire’s most delightful small towns, The Owl’s House is the perfect hideaway, set in some beautiful countryside. With its own herb garden and comfortable ro...
★★★★★    Rating
The Owl's House
Located close to one of Shropshire’s most delightful small towns, The Owl’s House is the perfect hideaway, set in some beautiful countryside. With its own herb garden and comfortable ro...
★★★★★    Rating
The Priory
Only a short walk from the atmospheric ruins of Wenlock Priory, this impressive building is ideal for visiting this beautiful and historic area. The Priory is only a short walk from the...
★★★★    Rating
The Priory
Only a short walk from the atmospheric ruins of Wenlock Priory, this impressive building is ideal for visiting this beautiful and historic area. The Priory is only a short walk from the...
★★★★    Rating
Gaskell Arms Hotel
The Gaskell Arms is a 17th-century former coaching inn with exposed beams and log fires in the public areas, and much original charm and character is retained throughout. In addition to...
★★★    Rating
The Hundred House
This interesting property, run by the Phillips family since the 1980s, has a genuine atmosphere of rural charm, setting it apart from the modern style of country 'food destination' pubs...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
Gaskell Arms Hotel
The Hundred House
   AA Rosette Award
The Hundred House
The Acton at Morville
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
Gaskell Arms Hotel
The Hundred House
   AA Rosette Award
The Hundred House
The Acton at Morville
   AA Rosette Award
The Ugly Duckling
   AA Rosette Award
The Haughmond
   AA Rosette Award
The Granary Restaurant
   AA Rosette Award
Lion & Pheasant Hotel
View all
Route details
1hr 45min
Dog-friendly Family-friendly
Difficulty:
Medium

Gradient:
Moderate


Distance:
4.5 miles (7.2kms)

Ascent:
640ft (195m)

Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby  
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An Ironbridge circuit

Recommended by
Walk details
1hr 45min
Dog friendly Family friendly
Difficulty:
Medium
Gradient:
Moderate
Distance:
4.5 miles (7.2kms)
Ascent:
640ft (195m)
Walk directions

Without crossing into Ironbridge, and with your back to the bridge, turn right into Benthall Edge Wood, taking the higher of two tracks and soon passing under a disused railway bridge. When the track comes to an end, cross a stile on the left and turn sharp left, going uphill to arrive at a major path junction.
1 of 7

Turn right here (signed for Benthall Hall). Stay on the main path, through damp, jungly woodland, nearly always climbing steadily and keeping the same heading. Approaching the top, the path curves round a hollow. Ignore a gate and track on the left and continue, slightly downhill and then roughly level, along a narrower path just inside the edge of the wood.
2 of 7

Leave the wood at a stile and continue along the edge of a field, then bear left and down to a stile just left of Cowslip Cottage. Follow the lengthy access track to a lane. Turn left and follow the lane to a sharp right-hand bend.
3 of 7

Turn left here on a footpath between hedges, sometimes muddy in a couple of spots. Pass a pool and enter a field. Follow the hedge on the right at first then keep going, bearing slightly right to join a vague tractor track. Turn right along field-edges to meet a track by Benthall Hall Farm. Turn right, then left onto a lane to St Bartholomew’s Church.
4 of 7

Backtrack down the lane a short way then turn left on an obvious bridleway across parkland, soon passing in front of Benthall Hall. Go through a gate at the far side, after which the clear path continues along two field-edges, meeting a track at the far side. Turn right and at a junction carry straight on down a lane. Approaching another junction, turn left into Workhouse Coppice (owned by the Woodland Trust).
5 of 7

The path soon forks – carry straight on. At the next junction, by a memorial marker, turn right, downhill, then left at a T-junction, and straight on at two subsequent junctions. As you approach the far side of the wood, turn right on a stony track. Before long you’ll come to the first of several flights of wooden steps, opposite a bench.
6 of 7

Lots more steps, interspersed with boardwalks, make the descent easier, if rather over-civilised. Just keep going down. At the bottom cross a stile and turn right on the old railway track that you followed at the start. Very soon this goes under the old bridge again and leads out back to the Iron Bridge.
7 of 7
Location
Starting point
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain - Mostly excellent, muddy in places, lots of steps (down only), 7 stiles
  Landscape - Wooded hills and mixed farmland above Severn Gorge
  Dog friendliness - Will love woods, but keep under control in fields
  Parking - Bridge Car Park at south end of Iron Bridge
  Toilets en route - In The Square at Ironbridge
Walks in Shropshire Dog-friendly walks in Shropshire Family friendly walks in Shropshire
About the walk
The little town of Ironbridge is built of mellow brick, its attractive buildings clinging in tiers to the north side of the gorge, overlooking the River Severn. Though it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist centre, it has not lost its charm, retaining a maze of steep, narrow...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Area image
Shropshire
Perhaps nowhere else in England will you find a county so deeply rural and with so much variety as Shropshire. Choose a clear day, climb to the top of The Wrekin, and look down on that ‘land of lost content’ so wistfully evoked by A E Housman.
Explore Shropshire

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Self-Catering
Ironbridge View Townhouse
★★★★★
awardaward
"Set in a small courtyard, this townhouse is ideally situated with stunning views of the Iron Bridge...."
  • Total units: 1
  • Dish washer
  • Washing machine
  • Microwave
Caravan & Camping
Severn Gorge Park
★★★★★
award
"An ideal base for visiting historic Ironbridge...."
  • Launderette
  • Ice pack facility
  • Calor Gas
  • Camping Gaz
Self-Catering
The Owl's House
★★★★★
award
"A Shropshire jewel in a charming setting...."
  • Private garden
  • Washing machine
  • Sky or freeview
  • Linens provided
Nearby places to stay
Ironbridge View Townhouse
Ironbridge View Townhouse is an award-winning holiday home, set in the historic Ironbridge Gorge. It has stunning views of the world's first Iron Bridge, and is conveniently located wit...
★★★★★    Rating
Severn Gorge Park
A very pleasant wooded site in the heart of Telford, it is well screened and well maintained. The sanitary facilities are fresh and immaculate, and landscaping of the grounds is careful...
★★★★★    Rating
The Owl's House
Located close to one of Shropshire’s most delightful small towns, The Owl’s House is the perfect hideaway, set in some beautiful countryside. With its own herb garden and comfortable ro...
★★★★★    Rating
The Owl's House
Located close to one of Shropshire’s most delightful small towns, The Owl’s House is the perfect hideaway, set in some beautiful countryside. With its own herb garden and comfortable ro...
★★★★★    Rating
The Priory
Only a short walk from the atmospheric ruins of Wenlock Priory, this impressive building is ideal for visiting this beautiful and historic area. The Priory is only a short walk from the...
★★★★    Rating
The Priory
Only a short walk from the atmospheric ruins of Wenlock Priory, this impressive building is ideal for visiting this beautiful and historic area. The Priory is only a short walk from the...
★★★★    Rating
Gaskell Arms Hotel
The Gaskell Arms is a 17th-century former coaching inn with exposed beams and log fires in the public areas, and much original charm and character is retained throughout. In addition to...
★★★    Rating
The Hundred House
This interesting property, run by the Phillips family since the 1980s, has a genuine atmosphere of rural charm, setting it apart from the modern style of country 'food destination' pubs...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
Gaskell Arms Hotel
The Hundred House
   AA Rosette Award
The Hundred House
The Acton at Morville
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
Gaskell Arms Hotel
The Hundred House
   AA Rosette Award
The Hundred House
The Acton at Morville
   AA Rosette Award
The Ugly Duckling
   AA Rosette Award
The Haughmond
   AA Rosette Award
The Granary Restaurant
   AA Rosette Award
Lion & Pheasant Hotel
View all
Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby