Cleobury Country Walk 22: The Shakenhurst Sortie (5.5 mile)

Walk directions

1. Start

   Take lane downhill and after the second house on left, take footpath on left through gate. Veer to left hand field edge and go downhill through woodland and over a stile at the bottom. Continue in same direction uphill along right hand field edge and over another stile and stream. Go diagonally right uphill to old hedge line and turn right.

2. Step 2

   Keep old hedge on left downhill, to gate then left to a stile onto driveway. Go right to follow track, over the River Rea then over disused railway. After 100 metres, take stile on right, diagonally downhill through a gate. Continue along next field edge. To your right is the site of NEEN SOLLARS STATION.

3. Step 3

   At end of field go through gate, left along track to road junction then right along the road to cross the River Rea.

   For SHORT WALK follow lane uphill back to the pub.

   For LONG WALK , go left along Bridleway, through gate and uphill with field edge on your right. Continue uphill through next field, through gates and in same direction to top of ridge.

4. Step 4

   Continue downhill still in same direction to left of conifers. Go left through two gates into forestry then steeply downhill. At waymark post go right and after 100 metres over stile into meadow. Continue along bottom of slope, then with woodland to left to stile on left. Go over stile into trees and after brook go left through trees to emerge onto track. Turn left downhill along track to junction. 

5. Step 5

   Turn left over bridge and after 100 metres go right through gate into field. Go left uphill with field edge on left. At top veer diagonally right to the Estate Road for SHAKENHURST HOUSE.

6. Step 6

   Turn right along estate road and just before black & white lodge, go right off road. Continue in same direction and downhill with hedge on left. After gate, go over stile in this hedge. Turn right keeping field boundary to the right to stile into woodland ahead. Go diagonally left down to forest track at bend.

7. Step 7

   Go left and after 100 metres right over footbridge. Uphill through trees to kissing gate into field. Keep in same direction first with woodland on right, then across next field. Continue through next field to right of black and white farmhouse to fence on horizon to go through gate.

8. Step 8

   Veer left downhill, over footbridge and up through trees into meadow. With field edge on right go over stile in far right corner. Continue over two stiles into farmyard.

9. Step 9

   Go straight across farm track into paddock. Continue in same direction through several fields keeping near left hand field boundary. At farm track turn left to a road. Turn right along road for 100 metres to High Point Farm on left.

10. Step 10

    Take path down the driveway of High Point Farm and through a gate into a field. Continue downhill through two gates.

11. Step 11

    For the SHORT WALK continue in same direction to step 2 100 metres ahead and follow instructions from step 2.

    
    For the LONG WALK, immediately after the second gate, veer right into a dip where you meet the outward route. Return to the pub.