Blue Remembered Hills

A Shropshire Lad

The title for the route was inspired by the poem ‘A Shropshire Lad’ by A. E. Housman. In the poem he gazed from afar at the Shropshire Hills and wrote:

“Into my heart an air that kills
From yon far country blows:
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?”

He went on to write:

“In valleys of springs of rivers,
By Ony and Teme and Clun,
The country for easy livers,
The quietest under the sun,”

Even today, don’t expect to be amongst the crowds! This is still one of the quietest places under the sun.

Stunning scenery

The bridleway winds it’s way through the south western corner of the Shropshire Hills AONB, taking in many interesting features, including Clun Castle, Bury Ditches, the Kerry Ridgeway, Rhos Fiddle Local Nature Reserve, the rivers Clun and Teme and Offa’s Dyke.

Useful Links

Part of the Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway coincides with the Jack Mytton Way. This 68 mile route crosses Shropshire from the River Severn to the Welsh border at Llanfair Waterdine. The distinctive waymark depicts the legendary Jack Mytton, a characterful but wayward local landowner after whom the route is named. A small circular route can be ridden from Clun using Route 1 of the Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway and Route 6 of the Jack Mytton Way.

There is also a network of ten circular Ride UK routes linked to the Jack Mytton Way which criss cross the Shropshire Hills, stretching from Wenlock Edge, across the Long Mynd, to the jagged Stiperstones.

At Llanfair Waterdine the Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway links with other promoted routes that enable you to explore Wales.

Cross the River Teme into Powys and from Lloyney you can follow the Prince Llewellyn Ride westwards to the Ceredigion coast at Borth. Continue south to link with the Radnor Forest Ride heading for the Brecon Beacons and south Wales or link up with the Glyndwrs Way National Trail which consists of long stretches available to riders as well as walkers and takes you to Machynlleth and back to Welshpool. You need never come home!

Thanks

There are sections of permissive route used by kind permission of local farmers and the Forestry Commission. These provide important links that have improved the bridleway network.