Continuing our focus on The Royal Geographical Society and Discovering Britain walks, we turn our attention to a mountain in the heart of England.
The Wrekin is a mini mountain in the middle of Shropshire which boasts a wide variety of attractions for its adventurous visitors. Firstly, it has some of the most diverse geology not only in England, but the world! The guide tells us that ‘in comparison, the Himalayas, Alps and Andes are brash young intruders on the Earth’s surface. The Wrekin’s oldest rocks were originally formed at the latitude of the Falkland Islands about 600 million years ago.’ The route plotted by Discover England allows you to see the rocks and natural materials that have fascinated the people of the region for centuries. The mountain has been mined and quarried with its contents used to fuel the industrial energy of the Midlands, being smelted into metal and burnt to generate electricity.
Secondly, it is a mountain of magic and fiction. Legend has it that it was created by the angry giant Cawr dropping a shovel of dirt on his way to Shrewsbury. Also it is said to have inspired the Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkein, a resident of the area, to create the greenery of the Shire. See the twisted Ercall Forest which covers its sides and wander the many winding mysterious paths.
Thirdly, it is a mountain of history. It is the site of a Roman road, contains evidence of Bronze Age sacred sites and the recycling of ancient materials into new settlements. It was also the luxurious garden of affluent villas in the Edwardian and Victorian times.
Easily accessible by all modes of transport, the walk begins at Ercall Wood Local Nature Reserve car park and is eight miles in length. Please note that there are no refreshments or toilets on the route. It is also challenging as it climbs the mountain and there are areas of steep ascent. The summit stands at 400 metres above sea level and can be seen from a great distance on clear bright days. The route contains oppurtunities for curtailment and chances to plot your own route to have a good explore.
With the wealth of history, fiction and science resources avaliable on the Wrekin it will make an ideal destination for any adventurous school group. Please do be aware however of the difficulty of the climb in places.
The walks covered in the series are self-guided free walks that tell the stories of some of Britain most beautiful and mysterious landscapes. See our other pieces on the Crystal Canal walk in Stourbridge or The Strand Walk in the capital.
Handsam can help you prepare for your adventure to the magical Tolkien mountain with our Trip Planning System. To discuss our services in further detail, please contact Handsam on 03332 07 07 37 or email info@handsam.co.uk.
