Bedlam on Clee Hill

Locals say the view from Clee Hill is the finest in England and it's hard to disagree. After all, where else can you see from the Brecon Beacons to the Peak District, from Snowdonia to the Cotswolds? It's stunning. But before getting too carried away with the view, we need to sort out some names, which can be confusing in these parts. For instance, it's Cleehill village, but Clee Hill. However, strictly, Clee Hill is just the area that is currently being quarried, northeast of the village. The top is Titterstone Clee Hill. Not everybody calls it that - to many who live in sight of it, in Shropshire and neighbouring counties, it's just Clee Hill or The Clee.

What's in a name?

And then there's Bedlam. The original Bedlam was the Hospital of St Mary of Bethlehem, a lunatic asylum (as they were called) in London. Few people know that Bedlam is also a Victorian quarrying settlement on Clee Hill. On old maps it's called by that name, and at Bitterley a road sign indicates Bedlam. Bedlam is also marked on the excellent map displayed at Cleehill picnic site. Unfold your modern OS map, however, and you'll look in vain for it. It may be apocryphal, but the story goes that Bedlam's residents don't like its name because of its associations, and would prefer to rename it Titterstone Village. Still, it's reassuring to note that somebody in Bedlam has a sense of humour, as you will see when you pass Hullabaloo House.

There are other intriguing names on and around Clee Hill: Sodom, for example, but perhaps it's best not to inquire too closely into that. Random, Crumpsbrook, Hopton Wafers, Cramer Gutter, Rugpits, Titrail, Lubberland, Angelbank, Applecake Hill, Cadbury, Pastycraft, Hackenchop, Hilluppencott, Hemm and Hoopits all have their own charm. Many names relate to wildlife, such as Kitesnest, Hawkwood, Magpie Hill, Brown Owls, Lapwing, Foxwood and even Wormsacre. Others relate to the industrial heritage of the area. The bridleway you join at Cleeton St Mary, for instance, is marked on old maps as Limers' Lane, though it's often referred to as the Random bridleway nowadays, because it passes Random.

Walk up the lane opposite the picnic area, towards the Kremlin Inn. After 100yds (91m), turn left and follow a broad track. Its middle section is classed as Open Access Land: follow it past mining ruins.

Meet the radar station access road by Hedgehog House and turn right. Walk to the end of Rouse Boughton Terrace and turn left, then go through a small gate on the right before a cattle grid. Follow the top edge of a thistly field. Continue along the edge of the next field and through a gate in the corner to meet the Shropshire Way, which goes to the right. Ignore it and go straight on, skirting a stream and gorse thickets and crossing a gate in a wire fence before returning to the left-hand hedge-line.

A green track develops, swinging right and down to cross Benson's Brook at a bridge. Follow the track up again, passing the abutments of a former tramway bridge (called Titterstone Incline on OS maps), before arriving at Bedlam.

Turn left into the hamlet, then fork right. Pass Hullabaloo House and climb a track to a cattle grid. Follow the track up to a farm then bear left up a smooth green track.

When you come to Bitterley Incline again, climb on to the embankment, joining the Shropshire Way. Follow it uphill. When you reach ruined quarry buildings, go right on a level path. Pass the last building, fork left and climb slightly. Go straight on, crossing the access road twice at a bend, then bear left up a steeper track. Skirt a large quarry to reach the radar station and trig point.

Some 100yds (91m) north of the trig pillar are the remains of an ancient cairn, the Giant's Chair. From this bear right, above steep scree slopes, then swing left on a clearer path and continue across bracken moorland to the red roofed farm of Callowgate.

Before reaching Callowgate, turn right where the bracken runs out. Follow sheep tracks to the edge of the moor and turn right again. Joining a lane at Cleeton Gate, turn right and walk to the village of Cleeton St Mary. Turn right, looping round the church and along a row of almshouses, then left on the Random bridleway, which runs along the moorland edge. Follow vague paths parallel to the fence, except where you need to cut a corner - it's obvious (and usually wet!) when you come to it.

When the fence makes a very sharp left turn, keep straight on to meet the radar station access road. Turn left to Rouse Boughton Terrace then retrace your steps to the start.