Nesscliffe & Hawkstone Park Follies - Shropshire

This event will be slightly different. Two beautiful walks in Shropshire.

Walk 1 - Nesscliffe - 5 miles

Walk 2 - Hawkstone Park Follies - 4 miles.

About a 20 min drive seperates both locations.

Tickets for this event cost £15.00.

(An additional charge of £10 will be required to get in Hawkstone Park )

This payment is non-refundable. It will only be refunded in the event of a non-weather related cancellation. *Tickets/spaces for this walk/event are pre booked and pre paid, please don't just turn up on the day with cash*

*So to clarify* - We will be doing two walks. Firstly a 5 mile circular walk starting in Nesscliffe. Then we will have lunch , then drive 20mins to Hawkstone Park. There we will do a 4 mile circular walk also. Hawkstone Park has a £10 entrance fee (seperate to the SMHT £15 fee).

I know it is unusual but I am sure you will enjoy and be surprised by these two beautiful locations.

Highlights Walk 1 - Nesscliffe - 5 miles

1. Nesscliffe Hillfort — roughly 500 BC
At the top of the hill is Nesscliffe Hill Camp, an Iron Age hillfort probably constructed around 500 BC. Archaeologists believe it was occupied by a substantial community.
The fort covers roughly 2.8 hectares and was cleverly positioned against the natural sandstone cliffs. 

2. Oliver's Point
The dramatic viewpoint at the western end of the hill is known as Oliver's Point.
The traditional story is that the name comes from Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War. Local tradition says Cromwell's troops used the hill and even carved cannon holes into the rock.
The viewpoint is spectacular. You can look across the Severn Valley towards the Breidden Hills, Middletown and Llanymynech, with the Welsh mountains visible in good conditions. 

3. Kynaston's Cave
This is probably the most atmospheric feature of the walk.
The cave isn't actually a natural cave. It's carved into the local Triassic sandstone, and consists of two small chambers. The entrance is high up on the cliff face.
The traditional story is that Humphrey Kynaston lived there with his horse Beelzebub.

Outlaw Wild Humphrey Kynaston, according to local legend local is something of a Shropshire equivalent of Robin Hood — an outlaw hiding in the countryside and preying on wealthy travellers.

Then we lunch before driving to walk two.

Walk 2 - Hawkstone Park - 4 miles

Why Hawkstone is special?

This isn't just a modern visitor attraction. Hawkstone is a registered historic park and garden, and the landscape was developed principally during the 18th century into one of Britain's great picturesque landscapes. 

Natural sandstone cliffs and crags were incorporated into an extraordinary designed landscape containing caves, bridges, towers, monuments, woodland walks and viewpoints. It became an extremely popular visitor destination during the 18th and particularly the 19th century before subsequently declining and eventually being restored

https://www.hawkstoneparkfollies.co.uk/

Please bring sturdy footwear, poles if you use them, layers and water/snacks.

Lots of woodland terrain and red sandstone paths, can be slippy when wet.

How to find us -

Walk 1 - 09.00 (Free car park)

The Oaks car park, Hopton Lane, Nesscliffe, SY4 1DG

What 3 Words - ///housework.purple.minute

Walk 2 - 

Hawkstone Park Follies Car Park, Weston-under-Redcastle, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 5JY