Walks
Walks and footpaths
There are many walks starting from the village. We will slowly build up a collection of them here. Those already documented can be printed off to give you a guide to read en route.
Photographs (worth a thousand words) will hopefully be a feature of many of the walks to help out at decision points!
As general rule for any walk you undertake, we recommend for your own safety, you wear walking boots and suitable clothing. Additionally, you should carry the relevant O.S map, a compass, a small first aid kit, a whistle and another human being!
A walk to Culmington Camp Ring
Round trip (excluding stops)20 minutesOverall distance (out & back)
¾ mile (1.2k.)
O.S. MapsLandranger 137, or Explorer 217Car park grid referenceSO 493821Park your carRoadside, near the post box in Culmington village
This is the walk that takes you to the first human settlement in Culmington.
Culmington 'Castle' is a small earthwork motte and bailey fortress. The low motte is surrounded by a wet ditch, with the remains of the rampart and ditch outlining the bailey. It is a scheduled monument protected by law.
The walk is very easy with no climb. After heavy rain the ground can get soft in some places. Livestock may join you on your walk, take care and be considerate.
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(Yards)Section Narrative
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( Large photos have extra text on them).
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(Metres)55With your back leaning against the post box set off across the road in front of you at an angle of about 45 degrees leftward into the paved forecourt of Culmington Court. From there, in front of you, a stile is visible about 25 yards from the road you have just crossed. Climb over it.
5060From the other side of the stile you will see about 20 yards away a galvanised farm gate. Go through it and head towards, and then cross, the gated bridge over the river Corve.
55280You must then cross the field the bridge leads into. The footpath goes across it at the angle indicated by the footpath sign as you leave the bridge. A small gap in the hedge is where the stile you are aiming for is positioned. A much wider gap is more obvious a little further left. Climb the stile.
255140You have now emerged into the field where the Camp Ring is located. The statutory footpath continues in the same direction as the one you have just used to reach the stile. However, this path takes you away from the Camp Ring. So, stand with your back to the stile and look rightward at an angle of about 45 degrees from the hedge and you should see an earth mound. A few small trees are also around this mound. This is the Camp Ring.
A few feet to the south west of this is a smaller second mound and moat!
125535The return journey is back the way you came.
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A Walk to Flounders Folly
Flounders Folly
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Walk 3 - "Flounders Folly"
Round trip (excluding tour of Folly and other stops)A liesurely 2 hoursOverall distance (out & back) 5 miles / 8 kilometresO.S. MapsLandranger 137, or Explorer 217Car park grid referenceEither SO 478883 or 482839Start fromMap Ref. SO 482837 - Junction of Clay Lane and B4368
This is a walk up to the folly built on the top of Callow Hill to the west of Culmington. The folly can be seen from many of the village properties because it clearly interrupts the skyline view of the hilltop. The tower was latterly under the ownership of the actress Julie Christie and most villagers will know it was originally the idea of a Benjamin Flounders. For those who wish to read more about it, the current owners of the folly (The Flounders Folly Trust), have published a very interesting booklet about the folly, its builder and his life. You can buy it from the folly on the days it is open. It is a short, interesting and enjoyable read.
A few observations before you set out.
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A fair proportion of the route is amongst woodland. Thus, in the late spring, summer and early autumn the views through the trees are minimal (unless you like looking at trees and leaves). For this walk winter is the best time to enjoy some of the best en route views right across south Shropshire and into Wales. This winter walk will then give you plenty of such views and more besides. However, regardless of the season the views from the top of the folly will always be excellent.
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To enjoy the spectacular views from the top of the folly you need to visit it when access to its turret is available. The folly is always open on the last Sunday of the month. See its web site for other open days. You may wish to take a few coins should you wish to donate something for the folly's upkeep.
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Remember your camera!
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It gets windy up on the hill so dress accordingly. Having said that, the climb is about 200 metres (600 feet) so you may find it sweaty getting up there! Carrying your windproof in a rucksack is a good option. An even better option is to then get someone else to carry the rucksack!
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The route can get a tad muddy after rain. This mud takes a while to dry out and so good walking boots are recommended.
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Read the brief safety note on our Walks/General menu option.
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(Yards)Section Narrative
Click photo to enlarge.
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(Metres)10Immediately opposite the point where Clay Lane meets the B4368 (the Craven Arms to Bridgnorth road) there is a gated lane. Set off through the gate and up a gentle slope. Note the rock formations on your right. They are sedimentary, proving that Culmington was at one time under water. But you knew that didn't you !!!
101100Continue along this bridle path through a second gate just visible in the second photograph above if enlarged.
Eventually, as you see in this next photograph, significant earthworks have taken place. These eventually prevented continuation along the bridle path and forced taking a deviation left onto an access road. This was not a problem, for the bridle path eventually pops out onto this road anyway, just before a sweeping left bend. Just as this bend straightens, bear right off the track and briefly follow the line of a new boundary fence taking you to a small access gate. Pass through it for we are now back on the bridle path.
1,000550The next gate sees you emerge into an attractive pasture. Keeping the boundary on your right follow the path which gently drops into a wide but shallow dry gulley to finally meet the next gate. Here, on passing through the gate, you are finally in the woodlands proper!
500550On this next stretch you need to take care. As the building in this top picture comes into view you must keep your eyes open for the small track leading uphill on the left. If you pass the building you have missed the track you are seeking! It is shown in our second picture. Now we are commencing our first real attack upon the climb up to the folly! However, it does not last for too long at this point, and is somewhat ameliorated by the start of the beautiful winter views towards Caer Caradoc and Ragleth hill. Dig out your camera!
500850At the second gate the path emerges onto a T junction. Take the path heading off rightwards downhill. Admire the winter views.
800Eventually, from this path and through the trees on your left, you will glimpse the folly. At this point it probably looks as though it is the Culmington version of Bavaria's Schloss Neuschwanstein !
1,600By now you are probably quite warm and sweaty. Take a break, admire all the views! Then continue up to the junction where you should select the track that is effectively a U turn climbing away from the tower. The straight up option will give you a very severe climb! Our selected route makes the climb easier, the distance is longer but the time taken will probably be quicker! Another U turn to the right is the final, and very gentle, ascent to the folly.
1,500
Ah, we have forgotten to mention that there is still one more climb to make . . .
The stairs up to the tower top !!!
The Return Journey
550Facing the entrance to the tower head off towards your left through the obvious stile. Continue in this direction (roughly south west) shortly to pass a trig point on the other side of the fence. This pleasant, but short, "ridge" walk then traverses a small footbridge before passing a wind vane generating electricity for a cottage at the foot of the ridge.
500210Shortly after the wind vane you come across a gate on your left. Go through it heading off down the hill with the hedge on your right.
200550Keep on heading down the hill. You should pass a small disused quarry on your immediate left. This quite possibly could have supplied some of the stone to build the folly.
500450Eventually you will emerge onto a wider "lane" where you should continue straight down for just a few yards until you see a gap in the hedge on your left. Through this gap is a footpath across the field. Head for the tree, and on reaching the stile on the other side of the field climb over it and veer left to go around and down the field edge. 4002,200Keeping the hedge to your left shoulder walk down the hill and pass through three conventional farm gates and then a "kissing" gate. From this gate take a sharp left turn to climb over the luxury fencing panels taking you onto a tarmac road.
Follow the road down to where it joins the B4368. Turn left and walk the short distance back to your starting point (or to wherever you left the car!).
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A walk to the pub !
Round trip (excluding pub and other stops)80 minutesOverall distance (out & back)4 miles (6.5k.)O.S. MapsLandranger 137, or Explorer 217Car park grid referenceSO 493821Park your car and start from
Roadside, near the post box in
Culmington village
This is the walk that Culmington "locals" use to get to the pub! It is mainly across fields with small amounts of tarmac at each end. Dogs are welcome in the pub. However, along with humans wearing muddy boots, dogs are only allowed in the bar area and not in the lounge. Use the pub entrance facing you as you cross the road. The beer is brewed on the premises and for further details visit the Sun Inn web site.
The walk is very easy with no climb. It can be done in the dark without a torch provided there is no heavy cloud. A good moon makes it spectacular!
After heavy rain the ground can get soft in some places.
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(Yards)Section Narrative
Click photo to enlarge.
( Large photos have extra text on them).
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(Metres)130Set off in a northerly direction along the village road (with your back leaning against the post box, north is towards your left). 120150The first decision point is where the road curves off to the left with an option of going straight ahead over the "Give Way" white line. Take this option. A hedge accompanies you on your right. 140880Very shortly the road curves round to the right (where the houses end) to reveal a long straight section of road. Proceed along this road. You should be viewing fields on your left and pass an old farm building on your right. Stay on the road as it curves to the right just near a pond by the trees on your left. 80030At the "Sparchford" T junction turn left past the camp site. 8560At the camp site entrance continue on the road as it bends right.200Shortly you will come to where the road bends left just in front of an industrial building on the right. Take this left turn bearing in mind it is a private road with public access. Follow the tarmac as it further bends right. 180220After about two hundred yards, and immediately before the road runs into a private dwelling, there is a small gate on your right allowing foot access into a field. Go through this gate immediately turning left to follow an obvious deep ditch on your left. 200700Continue in this direction keeping the fields on your right and the hedge on your left. You will pass through a gate across your route with an animal trough on its right. A second gate is negotiated after several minutes. Please ensure all gates are closed after you pass through them. 480400Still following the hedge on your left, you will pass a pond on your right. In a dry summer the pond is also dry but its location remains obvious. Continue following the track to Christmas Cross. 500460You can identify Christmas Cross by the presence of a stile on your right (ignore it) here the track bends left. This particular bend is generally soft where residual water is slow to drain. Follow it leftwards. In a while, this path becomes a more obvious farm vehicle track as it briefly curves rightward before immediately resuming its original direction (a sort of double bend). Keep with this obvious track. Still following the track you will eventually pass a large house on your right as the track becomes more tree-lined. 460420You are now about to pass through the hamlet of Corfton. Civilisation is identified by a cottage facing you as the track becomes metalled and curves left. Follow the left curve and keep going past a handful of houses. Do not turn right up the cul-de-sac. Then, shortly after the last house, you will emerge onto the main road that drives through the Corvedale. There facing you is the pub! Take care crossing the road - it is unrestricted and consequently traffic is fast. If you have a dog please put it on a lead before reaching this point!
3903,650The return journey is back the way you came. However, depending upon your food and/or liquid intake, it may take a bit longer to return ! 3355