Shropshire Hills · Moderate · Circular

Caer Caradoc from Church Stretton

From Church Stretton up the Cwms valley and the ridge past Three Fingers Rock to the Iron Age hillfort of Caer Caradoc, then back by a bridleway and footpaths below the hills.

Distance
8.2 km (5.1 mi)
Ascent
297 m
Time
About 2 h 45 min
High point
458 m
Grade
Moderate
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Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.

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Caer Caradoc from Church Stretton
Colin Park · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

From Lutwyche Road car park in Church Stretton the walk takes footpaths and then the Cwms Road byway north-east out of the town to the gap below Caer Caradoc. It climbs the ridge past Three Fingers Rock to the summit of Caer Caradoc, 459 m, the site of an Iron Age hillfort, with views over Wenlock Edge, the Lawley and the Wrekin on a clear day. The way drops east to the ruined Cwms Cottage, turns south-west on a bridleway across the slopes below Hope Bowdler Hill and returns by tracks and footpaths on the south side of the town.

It is 8.2 km round with 297 m of ascent; allow about 2¾ hours. The grade is Moderate: the climb from the gap to the ridge is steep and does not ease until the top.

The ridge is open hill with no shelter, and the steep slopes below Three Fingers Rock are slippery when wet. Sheep graze all the hillsides, so keep dogs on leads. Take a map in poor visibility.

Lutwyche Road car park is marked in OpenStreetMap as a charged car park. Church Stretton station is about 270 m from the start.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • Caer Caradoc, an Iron Age hillfort on a ridge at 459 m with views over the Shropshire Hills
  • The ridge path past Three Fingers Rock to the summit
  • Down the Cwms valley and across the slopes below Willstone Hill
  • Back over Hazler to Church Stretton

Summits on the way

  • Three Fingers Rock 360 m · passed close by
  • Caer Caradoc Hill 460 m · passed close by

Getting there

Start: Lutwyche Road car park, Church Stretton · Pay and display. 52.53960, -2.80513

Directions to the start

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By train: Church Stretton station is 0.3 km from the start.

Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Lutwyche Road car park: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →

Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.

Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.