Ship Ahoy!
Mrs M presents me with a last minute challenge. She wants a Sunday walk that involves a view and a good coffee shop.
Fortunately, I have just the ticket waiting from last month's Country Walking Magazine.
Craven Arms - one of the stranger places I frequent. Possibly the only town in the country named after the pub. The pub is now closed and looks unlikely to come back.
This leaves the Discovery Centre - complete with cafe - which we use as our base.
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| Shropshire Disco |
This is a "one target" walk - aiming for Flounders Folly, atop Callow Hill. To reach this, we have the Marches Way, running along the River Onny/Quinny Brook.
The Marches Way appears on my elderly OS Map, but has been removed from the latest on-line Maps. It was a Long Distance Path running from Chester to Cardiff and immortalised in a Sigma book by Les Lumsden.
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| I told the boy never ramble in short trousers |
The folly comes into view. Of course, I get grief from the walking party. The usual complaints, the usual, "well, we can see it from here, there is no need to climb that massive hill".
If they want coffee and cake, they are going to have to follow me. To the bitter end.
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| There's the Folly |
Zig-zag forest rides makes it a not too bad ascent.
The folly? Built by local landowner Benjamin Flounders, supposedly so he could see his merchant ships docking at both Bristol and Liverpool. Got to love a rumour. If there is a union jack flag flying, it means it is the one day a month when it is open for visitors to climb the internal staircase. Or Reform have taken over Craven Arms town council and are deploying dog whistle politics.
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| You wanted Shropshire Views, didn't you? |
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| Closed today |
Unfortunately, the descent is a bit of a disaster. We continue along the ridge and despite signs written on bucket lids, the footpaths are a disaster of overgrown ferns, prickles, stingers and fallen trees.
Only refreshments from the discovery centre can save the day. Seemingly manned by teenagers, they are that quick at getting toasties out of the kitchen, the cheese hasn't had time to melt.
Walk Details
Distance - 7.5 Miles
Geocaches - 10
Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, July 2025, Walk 12
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