Up and Over the Wrekin

The Wrekin dominates the Shropshire Plain for miles around with its distinctive shape and has more legend and folklore associated with it than any hill I know. One legend says that it was originally a spadeful of earth dumped there by a Welsh giant who intended to block the Severn and so flood Shrewsbury. The giant got lost near Wellington, where he asked directions from a clever cobbler, who had customers in Shrewsbury. Thinking quickly, the cobbler told him that the bag full of worn boots he carried had all been worn out on his journey from Shrewsbury and so the giant lost heart and dropped the earth on the spot. This became The Wrekin and the little hill next to it, The Ercall, was the mud from where the giant cleaned his boots.

The Wrekin is a popular health climb for local people, so be prepared to be overtaken by joggers. On the way up you pass first through Hell's Gate and then through Heaven's Gate. These are two ancient entrances to a 3,000-year-old hill-fort, remnants of which can still be made out here and there.

The views from the top stretch for miles over the Shropshire Plain to the Welsh mountains and over the Shropshire Hills including Wenlock Edge and the Long Mynd.

From the top we continue over to pass the cleft in the rock known as The Needle's Eye. Another legend says that this is from the axe of a different giant. A rock now sits in the cleft and it's said that if you can pass through the gap beneath, you will see your true love. However, further folklore says that if a maiden looks back as she passes through, she will never be wed and also that you can never be a true Salopian until you've passed through. I'm not a maiden, I'm from Yorkshire and already married, so I didn't bother trying.

From the Needle's Eye we drop quite steeply into the peaceful woodland that surrounds The Wrekin and then around the base back to the start.

This is an excellent dog walk.

England - Central England - Shropshire - Shropshire Hills

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Walk id: 3307

Walk grade

Moderate Walk

Length

3.1 Miles

Height gain

320 Metres

Duration

1 Hours 47 Mins

Average rating

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