Distance 17.5 miles (28.2km)
Classification Challenging
Duration 8 hours over two days
Begins Craven Arms community centre
Ends Much Wenlock car park
OS grid refs SO433831, SO6199

Walk in a nutshell
This linear route, which follows as much of a straight line as nature ever allows, strikes out north-east along Wenlock Edge, from the small town of Craven Arms to Much Wenlock.

Why it's special
Wenlock Edge is a 400-million-year-old limestone escarpment created when Shropshire was found just south of the equator. It's visible from space and treats walkers to terrific views of the Shropshire countryside. It's also home to ancient woodlands, where you can sing AE Housman's poem On Wenlock Edge the Wood's in Trouble to the tune composed for it by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Keep your eyes peeled for
Flounders' Folly, a tower clearly visible near the start of the walk, was built in 1838 by Benjamin Flounders for reasons he took with him to the grave. Wilderhope Manor, an Elizabethan country house replete with oak spiral staircases, timber-framed walls and an august dining hall, is now a very grand hostel. The ghost of a former owner, Major Thomas Smallman, is said to have been seen near here re-enacting his leap on horseback down Wenlock Edge to escape Roundhead troops. Much Wenlock was home to the creator of the modern Olympics movement, William Penny Brookes, who organised the first Wenlock Olympian Games in 1850. Wenlock's 126th Games take place 8-22 July this year.

Stay overnight
Conveniently enough, the YHA's Wilderhope Manor is bang on the route and almost exactly halfway along it.

Recover afterwards
At the Talbot Inn , just a few doors away from William Penny Brookes's former home. The pub has been serving since 1360, so they've had plenty of time to get it right.

If it's tipping down
Land of Lost Content in Craven Arms, a wonderfully arcane collection of 20th-century ephemera co-owned by designer Wayne Hemingway, is worth a sneaky visit even if there's not a cloud in the sky.

How to get there
Take the train to the unlikely-sounding but real town of Craven Arms.

Step by step

Day one

1 From the rear of Craven Arms community centre, go along the right-hand edge of the playing field, cross the car park and turn left at the road.

2 Turn left down the lane heading towards Halford. Follow the lane until you get to a stile to the right of a school house. Go over the stile then between two fences and over another stile. Continue along the field edge with the fence to your left.

3 Go through a gateway with the fence to your left and head for the far left-hand corner of the field. Go over a double stile to enter a woodland. Follow the path as it bears right.

4 Go through another gate and continue across the field towards a stile. Cross it and follow the track past Berrymill Cottage along the field edge.

5 Go through a gate and over a stile. Aim for a small footbridge but don't cross it. Instead turn right just before, following the field edge.

6 Cross the stile in the hedge and head for another small footbridge. Cross it and turn left at the road for about 80m then turn right to enter Strefford Wood.

7 After the barrier continue straight, ignoring the path immediately on the left. After about 200m turn sharp left uphill and follow the path. The path widens at top of the hill. Follow the ridge path.

8 When the path forks, keep left and continue straight, past two sections of tall fencing on your right. Follow the path round to the right and at the road turn right for about 30m then left into Harton Hollow car park.

9 Pass through the car park and follow the track through woodland until you get to a minor road.

10 Cross the road, go down a few steps before climbing back up a short slope and follow the path. Continue to a stile; go over it and after 10m turn right and go through a gate. Turn left along field edges and continue through six gates.

11 After the sixth gate, follow the path along the field edge for a short distance before cutting across a corner, heading towards a mature tree. Do not enter woods here but follow the field edge uphill to a gate in the corner of the field. Go through the gate and follow the track.

12 After half a mile bear right downhill past houses. At the road turn left for about 50m. At a sharp bend in the road continue straight ahead along a stone track with houses on the left.

13 At a gate (Roman Bank) continue straight ahead on a well defined track for about 2 miles. Go over two sleepers and follow the field edge on your left to meet a road.

14 Cross the road and proceed down a farm drive over two cattle grids. Where the drive splits, keep ahead. Go over another cattle grid to cross Wilderhope Manor car park.

Day two

1 Leave by a stile next to water pump. Go  through a kissing gate and head uphill.

2 At the top of the hill turn right and go through three gates.

3 Emerge on to a road. Follow it left until the junction. Cross the road and go over a stile to re-enter the woodland.

4 Follow the path downhill, straight on at the first path junction, then at the bottom turn right and follow the disused railway line for about 2.5 miles.

5 At a small gate on your left, go through and downhill to cross a road. Continue down a stone track for about 200m then pass a gate into woodland.

6 Follow this path for about 2.5 miles.

7 Pass a gate and after 20m bear right along a wide track, descending towards Much Wenlock. After just under a mile, go down the flight of steps on the right to enter the car park.