A 4 mile moderate circular walk around the northern edge of Hodnet village passing through Wollerton and affording some elevated views of the North Shropshire countryside. The walk offers a good view of “The Portico”, a mock ruin of a Greek temple entrance which was erected in memory to Brigadier. Heber-Percy, the former Squire of Hodnet Hall.
Hodnet
The Civil Parish of Hodnet, in North East Shropshire, is made up from four areas each containing once independent villages and hamlets. To the north-west of Hodnet is Marchamley, to the north-east Wollerton and to the south the settlement of Peplow. The name Hodnet is derived from ‘old’ Welsh hawdd ‘pleasant/peaceful’ + nant ‘valley/stream,’ and is usually interpreted as meaning pleasant valley. The village itself has many interesting builings, it’s oldest dating back to 1546, including Hodnet Hall, the Bear Inn and St Luke’s Church and there are also a Norman castle mound. Once a busy thoroughfare to Staffordshire along the A53 the building of the Hodnet bypass has afforded the village a quieter atmosphere and is well worth a visit.
See the village website for a guide to some of the historic buildings and sites around Hodnet Hodnet Village website
Wollerton
Wollerton at Domesday was Ulvreton and is derived from the Saxon name ‘Wulfrun’s – tun’, and can be translated as Wulfrun’s farm or house. If you are at all interested in gardening then you could do no better in the area than to visit Wollerton Hall Gardens a spectacular series of linked garden “rooms” covering 4 acres.