Church Stretton Circular walk 8 – Mott’s Road & Batch Valley

Walk directions

1. Step 1

   Starting from the Square walk up Church Way beside the church and go through the main gates ahead into Rectory Field. From kissing gate follow path bearing to the right and climb steps to go through a kissing gate on the right. 

2. Step 2

   Turn right and continue on lower path. Cross over footbridge. Just after passing the pool, climb up the steep zig-zag steps to the right. At the top go through a gate and turn right and then follow the track to meet the Burway Road.  

3. Step 3

   Cross over road and continue down bridleway and descend into Carding Mill Valley. Go past National Trust café. On reaching the former upper carpark where the tarmac road ends, take the footbridge slightly to the left.   

4. Step 4

   Follow path (pink marker post) adjacent to the stream. After climbing for 500 m the path diverts after crossing the stream. Take the path to the right (signposted “Shooting Box”). You are now on Mott’s Road and it is a hard climb. Continue on this track for approximately 1.2 km to reach a T-junction of paths and turn first right.   

5. Step 5

   Continue on this broad track until approaching a fence ahead, the track bears to the right descending. Pass a marker post and take the broad grassy track to the right away from the fence.   

6. Step 6

   Continue gently descending. Jonathan’s Rock, passed to the right provides lovely views of the Long Mynd batches. Continue the path to pass another fenced off area belonging to Plush Hill House on left. Turn right to reach a path with a board walk. Go down this steep path into Batch Valley, keeping right at junction of paths.  

7. Step 7

   Turn left at bottom. Go past chalet type house on left and continue down the valley. Cross over footbridge. Stream is on left. Cross over another footbridge. Just before cattle grid cross over small bridge on the right, climb up the path.  

8. Step 8

   Go through a gate and then descend the field, bearing to the right, to a kissing gate at the far end of the field. Go through the gate, cross over a drive and go through a narrow passageway. When you exit the passageway, take a right fork which climbs uphill at first then descends leading to a gate into Cwmdale.   

9. Step 9

   Turn right, then almost immediately turn left through a gate onto a footpath which leads into Madeira Walk. At the end of Madeira Walk, turn right into Carding Mill Valley. Almost immediately, take a footpath to the left which leads you back to Longhills Road. Turn left onto Longhills Road and follow it back into town.