Church Stretton Circular Walk 2 – Helmeth Wood

Walk directions

1. Step 1

   Start at Market Square. Walk south along High Street, passing the Bucks Head pub on right. Just before the Kings Arms turn left into a passageway which runs beside it. Follow this passageway which crosses two roads, a railway bridge, the A49 and continue straight ahead to reach Watling Street South. 

2. Step 2

   Turn left onto Watling Street South, take the first right into Clive Ave just before the Sandford Nursing Home. Almost immediately bear left onto Snatchfield Lane and follow the Bridleway sign right up a pathway and out onto a road. Go straight across to continue on the Bridleway which takes you up a farm track. 

3. Step 3

   Soon after passing Snatchfield Farmhouse, go through a gate into a field. Follow the path across the field which then bears left towards the far corner of the field, diagonally opposite. At the top of the field the path becomes narrower and leads to a metal gate. Go through the gate, then cross a small bridge. Turn left immediately after the bridge and follow the path through the trees, keeping generally close to the fence on the left.

4. Step 4

   After a while go through a farmgate on your left where the path joins Hazler Road. To shorten the walk, turn left onto Hazler Road and walk downhill back into town. To continue on the walk, turn right onto Hazler Road and walk to the end of the road. 

5. Step 5

   Cross over and take farm track opposite signposted Gaerstones Farm. Go up the farm track and through a gate which opens into a field. 

6. Step 6

   As you enter the field stop. On the left there is a farm gate into a field. Look for another gate a little further ahead on the left which has a stile with a footpath sign. Cross this stile and follow path which initially bends left, then to the right so Helmeth Wood is now on the left. Pause here to enjoy the stunning view of Caer Caradoc before following the path which gently goes downhill.  

7. Step 7

   Don’t go through the metal gate at end of the path but look up to the left and go over the stile which goes into Helmeth Wood. Follow the path around the wood (anticlockwise) which goes uphill with steps at the steepest bit. There are two benches on the path to rest and take in lovely views. Shortly after the second bench, look for a stile on the right. Climb over this stile out of Helmeth Wood into a field. 

8. Step 8

   Walk downhill to the bottom of the field, keeping the hedge on the right. Cross over the stile at the bottom corner of the field onto a metalled road. Turn left and continue on the single-track road to reach Watling Street North. At end of Watling Street North turn right onto Sandford Avenue. At traffic lights cross over A49 and return to town.