taste

spring walks

Victorian Shropshire

Photos source BBC

Visit the birthplace of industry and site of a Time Team special, or enjoy the scenery from the BBC hit ‘A Victorian Farm’, writes Helen Wilkinson The reward

The SUN Inn, CORFTON The historic Sun Inn was first licensed in 1613, it is family run and beautifully situated in Corvedale.

Landlord Norman Pearce has won numerous awards for his own beers, including his ‘Dark and Delicious’ and ‘Norman’s Pride’ real ale.

The walk

ACTON SCOTT Scenery/terrain: Undulating Length: 3 miles Grade: Moderate Map: OS explorer Sheet 217 1 Start on the wide verge of the lane to Ragdon, north of the crossroads in Acton Scott.

2 Walk towards Ragdon with Ragleth Hill ahead, and at the right turn take the track on the left heading to Toad Hall.

3 Continue past the house down a grassy track, pass through a gate into a large field and walk along the lefthand boundary to exit on to a wide track via another gate.

4 Follow the track for 20 yards, turn left and cross a stile into a wood, bear left and cross a footbridge before leaving the wood at a stile.

5 Continue along the left-hand boundary of four fields, and after crossing the last stile at the bottom of the hill, turn right along the side of the field to a gate.

6 Pass through, and at the end of the page 6 spring 2009

next field, turn left along the right-hand boundary to enter the woods by a stile.

7 The path crosses two footbridges before emerging from the woods at a track. Cross this and walk along the edge of a small field to a stile.

8 Cross this and the stile on the other side of the lane and head diagonally across a large field to a gate and stile in the far corner.

9 Cross the stile and bear right to a marker post on the hill in front.

10 Continue as indicated across the top of the field to a small gate leading into the churchyard. Pass the church to the lane.

11 Turn left past Acton Scott Hall and the museum on the right, and at the crossroads at the top of the hill, continue ahead to the start of the walk. taste shropshire & the marches magazine

The food is a local talking point and chef landlady Teresa Pearce uses local produce, and serves up to six different fresh vegetables on your plate. Try chicken and bacon hotpot for £8.50, or beef sausages made by the local butcher with Norman’s Pride ale. A three course Sunday lunch is good value at £8.50.

The Sun Inn, Corfton, Craven Arms, SY7 9DF www.thesuninn.netfirms.com Tel (01584) 861239

WHEN YOU’RE THERE WHY NOT VISIT...

Acton Scott Working Farm

Acton Scott Working Farm, Acton Scott, Church Stretton, SY6 6QQ www.actonscott.com

Van Doesburg’s Deli, Church Stretton Van Doesburg’s Deli, 3 High St, Church Stretton, SY6 6BX Tel (01694) 722867

spring walks The walk

IRONBRIDGE Scenery/terrain: Undulating Length: 6 miles Ascent: No real gradients Grade: Moderate Start: At the iron bridge Map: Pathfinder 890 SJ 60/70 1 Start your walk at the iron bridge. Go right along the old railway track bed now set out as a trail and part of the Severn Valley walk.

11 Go right and then left at the next junction.

12 At the next junction keep straight and at next fork by the wood’s edge, go through a gate and continue to descend through another gate.

13 At the junction, follow the path along a stream, then veering to a gateway by a house.

14 Follow the Severn Valley Way through Jackfield back to the Iron Bridge.

The reward

The Meadow Inn

2 Continue towards the power station and as you approach the boundary fence go left and left again as the path begins to rise. At a junction with a bench, go right, then at another fork keep right.

3 Climb up through Benthall Edge wood and rise up to join a track which climbs up to the bend and then curves sharp left. Climb up to and pass through a gate on the right and then ahead to Benthall farm. With the farm on your left, continue past the church and Benthall.

4 Cross a little stile by a gate as the road bends right and walk ahead with the hall on your left.

5 Go through the gate and ahead on a track. Before the next gate go right along a line of trees.

6 Cross the stile by the gate and in the next field keep ahead with the fence on the right to another stile. Cross this and go left passing to the left of a small pool to cross a stile by a gate.

7 Keep ahead now with fence and hedge to your right. Before it becomes a track, cross the stile on the right, and another soon after, to walk alongside a garden wall and fence to reach a lane.

8 Go right and then left. Walk up the High St into Broseley centre. Continue and turn left opposite the Victorian town hall.

9 As the road curves left by a large house on the right, go right down a signed track.

10 Go through a gap by a gate and continue ahead. The path becomes a track. As it curves to the left, go over a stile to main road.

The Meadow Inn nestles into the banks of the River Severn just a few minutes from the heart of Ironbridge and the bridge itself. It’s a popular local eatery which has made an name for itself by sticking to high quality local beef and steaks as well as offering a quietly innovative pub menu. Chef and landlord couple Louise and Mark from Cornwall have been at The Meadow for just under a year and in that time have made themselves popular locally both for their tasty food and really friendly welcome. The Meadow makes a great stop off point for lunch with its river front garden and decking - they offer a range of tasty snacks and sandwiches as well as the Steakhouse menu.

The Meadow Inn

The Meadow also boasts five modern styled and spacious en-suite rooms and an intimate function or meeting room.

The Meadow Inn Buildwas Rd, Ironbridge, Telford, Shropshire TF8 7BJ Tel (01952) 433193 www.meadowninn.net

WHEN YOU’RE THERE WHY NOT VISIT...

Blists Hill Victorian Town

Blists Hill Museum, Coalbrookdale, Telford, TF7 5DU Tel (01952) 884391 www.blistshill.org

Eley’s Pie Shop, Ironbridge

Eley’s Pie Shop, 13 Tontine Hill, Ironbridge, Telford, TF8 7AL Tel (01952) 432504 www.eleys-ironbridge.co.uk/Pie.asp taste shropshire & the marches magazine

spring 2009 page 7