Pontesbury Orange Walk: Earl’s Hill & Happy Valley

Walk directions

1. Start

   Head up Pontesbury Hill Road.

2. Step 2

   After 300 yards, turn left through the archway attached to Hawthorn Lodge (White Cottage) and go along the path through a gate, across a field and another gate to Whitwell Lane (unmade road).

3. Step 3

   Cross the lane through a gate and along a narrow path, then through two gates (one temporary) into a field and turn right to a gate over a sleeper bridge. Turn left and follow the field edge on the left to a gate onto Habberley Road.

4. Step 4

   Turn right up the lane for 150 yards to just past Poplars Farm at the finger post, turn left onto the track and take the pedestrian gate on the right. Follow field edge on the left through a gate to a stile.

5. Step 5

   Continue straight on over the field to another stile, past two large oak trees on your left, and then follow field edge on left to the top left corner of the field; turn left over a stile.

6. Step 6

   Follow the field edge on the right through two fields over stiles onto an unnamed lane.

7. Step 7

   Turn right along the lane for 300 yards to reach a gate, turning left before it up the steep path. (At the top of the slope, a path leads off to the left very steeply to the top of Earl’s Hill if you’re feeling energetic!)

8. Step 8

   Continue along the path that circumvents the hill in trees, past the scree slope (Shepherd’s Crag is above the scree slope) through two gates to an open field with glorious views.

9. Step 9

   Go through one more gate and just before the next gate, turn right and follow the field edge on the left to a gate on the bottom left corner onto a track.

10. Step 10

    Turn right up the track past Earlsdale Barn and drop down into Happy Valley, crossing Habberley Brook over the second bridge and follow the bridleway steeply up to some cottages.

11. Step 11

    Turn left between two cottages at the fingerpost and follow the path through a stable yard and through a pedestrian gate until it turns sharply left downhill. Go left for five yards and then go right down a wooded path above a deep valley.

12. Step 12

    Follow the path over a stile to a gate into a field. Follow the field edge on the left for 200 yards. Continue down the path to another gate back onto a field.

13. Step 13

    Then follow the field edge on the left to the corner and a gate past old chicken sheds to Plealey Lane. Turn left down the lane to the main road.

14. Step 14

    Turn left for 250 yards to Back Lane on the right.(CAUTION: Crossing the main road with care).

15. Step 15

    Follow Back Lane to the “crossroad” of paths where the old railway crosses.

16. Step 16

    Turn left down the railway line through three gates, past the playground to Station Road.

17. Step 17

    Turn left, cross the main road and go straight ahead up the hill back to School Green.