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Coalport's china history

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Walk directions

Climb steps left of the furnaces, go right a few paces then up more steps into parkland, then zigzag up via pergolas and steps. Turn right at the top and emerge facing The Golden Ball Inn.

Skirt left of the pub then keep right at a junction along Wesley Road, to pass the pub car park. Go left at another junction and through a gate into a wood called The Crostan. A stepped path climbs to a junction where two paths are indicated. Take the right-hand one, signed ‘Lloyd’s Coppice’, climbing by the woodland edge to another waymarked junction.

Turn right on a level path (South Telford Way marker), which runs across two meadows into woodland, with Lloyd’s Coppice clinging to the steep slope on your right. Ignore innumerable smaller paths. At a waymarked junction, signed ‘Madeley’, fork left. The track swings left, then a stony track goes to the right, with houses on its left.

After a sharp bend left and a straight section, a few steps on the right lead down past a redundant stile into Lee Dingle. The main path is normally obvious: at a clear fork keep right and descend steps, soon emerging to a road. Cross Coalport Rd to Legges Way, turn left under two bridges, then turn right at the entrance to Blists Hill Museum.

Go straight on then turn right just above the coach park, skirting the Blists Hill site. Keep close to the railings and soon you’ll see the canal through the trees. Keep on parallel to the canal until you glimpse the top of the great Hay Incline, then descend just to its left, alongside more railings.

Descend to a former railway at a bridge under the incline. Turn left here then fork right at an embedded railway wheel and zigzag down to the road. Turn right and go past The Shakespeare Inn. Cross a bridge over the incline, then turn left and left again to the tow path of the Shropshire Canal. Re-cross the canal at the next footbridge and walk past the China Museum, Coalport Youth Hostel and its café. Join the road and continue in the same direction. Join the Silkin Way via The Brewery Inn car park; follow it to Coalport Bridge and cross the river.

Turn right on the Severn Valley Way, which passes through Preen’s Eddy picnic area, then climbs away from the river to follow a former railway trackbed. Turn right at a sign for Silkin Way via Jackfield Bridge; the lane loops round left to The Boat Inn. Continue past cottages, follow a track below Maws Craft Centre and continue along another narrow track.

Emerge into a car park by the Half Moon. As the exit track bends left, bear right on a level track. Emerge into a street, pass Jackfield Tile Museum and carry straight on at Jackfield Sidings, passing behind the Black Swan. When a bridge crosses the path go right and down to the road. Cross Jackfield Bridge, then turn left. Pass Ye Olde Robin Hood Inn and the former Bird in Hand Pub and return to Bedlam Furnaces.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Mostly excellent, though path through Lee Dingle may be muddy

Landscape - Woodland, riverbank and heritage townscape

Dog friendliness - No sheep or cattle so can run fairly freely

Parking - Next to Bedlam Furnaces on Waterloo Street, between Ironbridge and Jackfield Bridge

Toilets en route - At Ironbridge end of Waterloo Street

Walks in Shropshire Dog-friendly walks in Shropshire

About the walk

Coalport china is famous the world over, and rightly so, for it’s exquisite stuff. The story of how it came to be made here is interesting too. Coalport, which is much smaller today than it was at its peak, was planned as a canal-river interchange and a complete new town by ironmaster William...

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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.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

5 miles (8kms)

Ascent:

295ft (90m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Coalport's china history

Recommended by

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

5 miles (8kms)

Ascent:

295ft (90m)

Walk directions

Climb steps left of the furnaces, go right a few paces then up more steps into parkland, then zigzag up via pergolas and steps. Turn right at the top and emerge facing The Golden Ball Inn.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Mostly excellent, though path through Lee Dingle may be muddy

Landscape - Woodland, riverbank and heritage townscape

Dog friendliness - No sheep or cattle so can run fairly freely

Parking - Next to Bedlam Furnaces on Waterloo Street, between Ironbridge and Jackfield Bridge

Toilets en route - At Ironbridge end of Waterloo Street

Walks in Shropshire Dog-friendly walks in Shropshire

About the walk

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

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

Learn more

Get an AA guide

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

Learn more

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

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

Learn more

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

Shropshire

Coalport's china history

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

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Coalport's china history

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