A 30-hectare ancient oak woodland with a disused quarry nestled near Pontesbury, Poles Coppice offers hidden panoramic views across the Shropshire Hills. Winding paths through bluebell carpets in spring, rich wildlife and picnic tables to savour the quiet, serene and immersive nature.
Parking: Open-air/surface car park. No parking charges.
Accessible Parking: No designated Blue Badge parking is provided.
Number of Bays Available: Space for 5 cars is available.
Surface Type of Car Park: Woodland car parking surface.
Distance from Car Park to Viewpoint: Within 100 metres.
Bus Stops: Within 1 mile.
Train Stations: Shrewsbury (9 miles/14.4 kilometres).
Kaif Afzal, an artist with a learning disability, has made a special ceramic tile to help visitors connect with the landscape.
You can find it at the viewpoint.
Kaif moulded clay and materials found in the local area into an organic shape and added simple tactile marks, textures, and words so everyone can ‘feel the landscape’.
This tile is one of a series created for the Open Horizons project, led by Lead Artist Roz Donati of Pneuma Affinity CIC, and made in collaboration with My Options, Telford & Wrekin.
Artist Statement
Kaif has discovered a real love for clay in this project, especially using sprig moulds to create textures and patterns in the clay. He enjoyed exploring the different marks he could make and experimenting with the material.
This piece represents the ancient woodland that was once coppiced for fuel, as well as the now-disused quartzite quarries at Poles Coppice. Kaif also enjoyed using underglazes to bring out the beautiful wood grain in his work.
Level routes/Trails: An easy access path leads to the viewpoint.
Route Width: Varying widths are provided.
Ramped Routes: The initial route from the car park has a slope that may not be
suitable for all mobility scooters.
Gradient: Varying gradients.
Surface Type: Woodland surface
Viewing Platforms: A pond dipping platform has a width of 1174 millimetres.
Gap: A 1300 millimetre gap is provided to the side of the barrier on the route to the viewpoint. The barrier has limited contrast.
Seating: A single log style bench with no armrests or backrest provided.
Picnic Area: Picnic area is available.
Accessible Picnic Area: Two picnic benches are accessible.
Level Access to Seating: Level access is provided.
Distance between Seating Areas: Limited to viewpoint.
Finger Posts: Route is marked as a bridleway.
Pictorial Information: Partially provided.
Directional arrows: Partially provided.
Information Boards Available: An information board is located in the car park.
Interpretation Boards Available: Interpretation boards are located at the pond and at the viewpoint for the Impressions of the Past project; a QR code provides access to further information.
Accessible Height Interpretation Boards: Accessible height interpretation boards are provided.
Pictorial Information: Provided.
Touch: Woodland features such as bark and leaves, and plants such as common centaury, Tactile ceramic tiles on a wooden wall at the viewpoint, with inset tiles to the bench seating.
See: Woodland setting, with views across to Pontesford and Earl’s Hill, both of which are crowned by Iron-Age hillforts. Look out for wildlife, such as the dormouse, smooth newt, lesser horseshoe bat and creatures living within the pond area.
Smell: Earthy aromas of the woodland
Hear: Wildlife such as birds and bees in the spring and summer months, including the great spotted woodpecker.
Public WC provision at Main Street, Pontesbury (0.8miles/1.4 kilometre).
Nearest facilities at Main Street, Pontesbury. Lateral transfer space to the Left.
Nearest Changing Places facility is Darwin Shopping Centre, Raven Meadows, Shrewsbury SY1 1PL (8 miles/12.8 kilometre).
Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury SY3 8XQ
(Tel: 01743261000) Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
A defibrillator is provided at the public WCs on Main Road, Pontesbury and Pontesbury Library on Hall Bank.
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Clee Hill serves up sky-wide scenery without the steep climbs. With flat ground, nearby parking, and room to breathe, it’s a view everyone can enjoy.
Leighton's River Severn Meander is a view worth pausing for. With quiet lanes, open skies, and the river looping lazily below, it's a slice of Shropshire serenity.
