Caer Caradoc

Caer Caradoc is not the highest hill in Shropshire – most lists put it at no. 6 – but many people rate it the best. It has a compelling outline from any direction; when approaching from the north, for instance, it completely outshines the Long Mynd, though the latter is both higher and far more extensive. The steepness of its slopes makes the summit probably the best all-round viewpoint in the county, and the jagged, occasionally bizarre, rock outcrops which encrust the ridge make great foregrounds for your photos.

Caer Caradoc is, not surprisingly, most often climbed from Church Stretton. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this approach and it has the great advantage that you can arrive by train, but it’s steep nearly all the way and almost feels too short to do justice to this splendid hill. The alternative approach from Cardington makes the build-up more gradual, and gives you a ‘bonus’ top on the return leg. This is Willstone Hill, which has its own stark outcrop, the Battle Stones, just north of the summit.

Steeped in History

The ramparts of a hill fort, around the summit, can be seen from afar when the light is right, and are very obvious as you climb through them on your way to the top. Unlike other hill forts such as Bury Ditches on Sunnyhill, the area is small and the ground rocky and uneven; it seems unlikely ever to have accommodated a permanent ‘civilian’ population but is a commanding defensive position.

Some say it was the last stronghold of Caradoc, whom you may remember from school history lessons as Caractacus (a Latinised form of the name). He is a real historical character, one of the last British chiefs to hold out against the Roman invasion. He was defeated in AD 50 and, though he evaded capture for a while, was eventually betrayed to the invaders and taken to Rome in chains. However, there is no hard evidence to link the Battle of Caer Caradoc with the hill which now bears the same name. There’s even less evidence to explain the name ‘Battle Stones’ for the outcrop on Willstone Hill.

Cardington

Cardington is a very ancient village, mentioned in the Domesday Book. The general layout of the village can be traced back at least to the 14th century. Its most significant building is the Church of St James, which has a Norman nave. Most of the rest is medieval and even the ‘new’ timber porch dates from 1639.

Turn left out of the car park, then right and left on a street with a 'Sat Nav Error' sign. It becomes a track, passing right of the Old Vicarage. As it bends left go straight ahead into a field. Go through a gate at the end, bear left in the next field then follow the right hand hedge through several fields. Switch sides at a stile and keep on in the same direction to a road.

Go straight across into a short track. When it opens out go left along a ridge with a fence on your left. Follow the ridge over several stiles then bear slightly right to its highest point. Descend to a small gate and turn right on a clear track. Pass an Access Land sign and continue to two fingerposts by a stile. Cross and go straight up a steep bank, soon easing. Continue straight ahead to a field gate and kissing gate below the steep upper slopes.

Go ahead a few paces then turn right above the bracken. Follow sheep trods across the slope, forking left to avoid losing height. Keep traversing round until you meet an obvious path going straight up the ridge. Follow this through the ramparts of the hill fort to the summit.

Descend past gnarled outcrops and then along a more level section to Three Fingers Rock, overlooking Church Stretton. Double back about 40yds (37m) to a metal gate. Follow a faint path down the grassy slope, swing left to a fence corner then continue along a clear green track until this zig-zags down to join a stony track.

Go left for 150yds (137m), then bear right into the gap between two small rounded hills. Find a metal gate in the fence running down the gap, go up the slope a few paces, then bear right on a level sheep trod, which becomes clearer as it curves around the hill. As the slope opens out go right to a metal gate with bridleway markers, then straight ahead up a steep path through bracken to a saddle.

Turn left over a stile and follow the fence along the ridge. Pass a defunct gate then bear left to the summit of Willstone Hill. Return to the fence then follow the path down a steeper section to a cluster of gates. Go through the leftmost of these, skirt round a marshy little dip, then gradually return to the left-hand fence.

Cross a stile in the corner and continue along the fence-line to North Hill Farm. Follow a concrete track downhill and continue down a tarmac lane. Go left at the next junction and soon re-enter Cardington.