Meadow & Mines, Coppice & Commons in the Hope Valley

Walk directions

1. Start

   Look at the map to decide which car park or bus stop to start the walk from. Then follow the directions from that point.

   Starting from Bentlawnt Village Hall car park turn right to walk up lane, then left at crossroads, signed 'Bentlawnt'. Continue into Bentlawnt, passing village shop on left and after about 100 metres turn left on bridleway. Follow for 1km, ignoring all turnings off, and eventually turn left at T-junction. Pass houses on your right and continue through gate to reach junction of footpaths. You want bridleway on left which goes ahead through metal gate and runs to the left of the woodland.

2. Step 2

   Follow the bridleway ahead across several open fields and into the edge of the birchwood. Continue into the birchwood and keep an eye out for a footpath waymark on your left which takes you across the field to some large trees above a stream. Pick your way carefully down the bank to cross stream and then bear right, across stile and follow path which runs above the stream (can be muddy). You emerge by the stream to cross footbridge and head up to the road over a further stile. Be careful as you emerge onto the A488. The house on the left is the old Tankerville Arms pub.

3. Step 3

   Cross road carefully to Oakage Riding Centre. Follow way marks to a permissive path between hedge and fence to stile at top. Head leftish and straight up steep bank to gate at top, then again over and up to a stile further up. Walk steeply up through a wood with holly trees to cross a track using two stiles. Head round the hill, following way marks to a stile in fence above Bank Farm (good views of the Stiperstones ridge). Follow diverted path down the hill and a ramp, to cross lawn and reach the farm track which takes you down to a quiet lane.

   Short cut to return to Bentlawnt - turn left along lane and continue down to A488. Opposite the main road is Hope Valley Nature Reserve. Cross road carefully and at gap in hedge enter Reserve on small footbridge. Follow path round to the right (can be overgrown in summer) and head for small car park. Re-join route at step 9.

4. Step 4

   Turn right and about 200 metres along lane take bridleway gate in hedge on left. Head to top right corner of field to go through bridleway gate and across footbridge. You emerge into a large field. Head rightish across field to small bridge over stream with two gates. Keep left along fence line across a boggy patch up to Lower Sankey. Continue ahead on path along hedge line leading to a wide path which climbs gently up and into Buxton Wood.

5. Step 5

   At top of the hill turn left and then immediately right to follow footpath down through wood towards Stiperstones village (bridleway ahead also takes you into the village). Cross a single field before joining muddy track which takes you to the road. Turn left past school and walk a few hundred metres along to the Stiperstones Inn and village shop.

6. Step 6

   From here turn right a few metres to the foot of Mytton Dingle. Take the driveway up on the left hand side past house and large parking area to gate which leads into the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve. Go through gate and immediately up steep slope on the left bank. Climb up and contour round Oak Hill above a fence. The path later climbs a little to go round the back of a small valley before emerging by a small cottage where there are two small gates. Zig zag a little down to farm track and follow this down to road. Opposite is a tall tower, formerly the chimney and engine house of the Crowsnest lead mine, and now part of a private house.

7. Step 7

   Cross road and take bridleway which leads left down track towards farm. Ignore first right turn into the farmyard but turn right after the buildings and make your way through farmyard and gates. Beyond the farm the bridleway leads down to and across stream and then up a lovely tree lined track towards Hogstow Hall. In front of the Hall turn left onto grassy track between trees to a gate. Turn sharp right after gate (by radar mast) to gate in corner of field which takes you onto a fenced bridleway leading across several fields.

8. Step 8

   After a double gate the bridleway becomes a concrete track which leads you down to the main road.

   Short cut to return to Stiperstones village - turn left on road and take next left to follow lane to Bank Coppice and re-join route at step 4.

9. Step 9

   Walk left a little to cross road into the Hope Valley Nature Reserve car park. Shropshire Wildlife Trust is restoring this site to native oak-ash woodland. Follow main path up through the wood, turning left on sunken lane to the top woodland boundary. Turn left and continue along this path, crossing several board walks until you reach kissing gate in fence on right. Take this into large field and continue ahead. As you reach large water trough head leftish across field to stile in hedge. Go straight across field and through kissing gate, then across final field to stile and gate left of The Stables Inn at Hopesgate.

10. Step 10

    From The Stables Inn turn left up the lane to crossroads and bear left for the village hall car park.