Church Stretton
Despite having no sea, this is the nearest Shropshire has to a seaside town as it is the air and superb walks that bring people to Church Stretton. In Victorian times it was a popular spa town. Turn right at the X-roads SP Carding Mill Valley. (Those with time to spare may like to take a drive or walk up Carding Mill Valley as it is a beautiful spot regardless of the time of year. -There is a charge for parking at certain times of year) . Continue on this road towards All Stretton. All Stretton
Still a sleepy village , despite the bustle of nearby Church Stretton. The village has beautiful views of The Lawley and Caer Caradoc across the valley. The church is dedicated to St. Michael and All Saints and is perched on the hillside at the northern end of the village. Though built in this century, it is worth visiting and is a superb example of community effort. After leaving the village turn left SP Inwood. This road is narrow for a while but becomes more navigable after crossing the cattle grid onto the Longmynd. Turn left at the junction after climbing up through a picturesque valley. Turn right by the sheep pens and over the cattle grid. Continue on this road to Woolstaston. Woolstaston
Pleasant village on a road junction with some attractive houses. The church of St. Michael stands behind some trees and has 13th century origins. It was here that the reverend Donald Carr lived in the late 19th century. Every Sunday for over eight years he would walk or ride over to Ratlinghope to take a service. In January 1865 he set of as usual, despite the fact it was snowing, and reached Ratlinghope safely. As he started his return journey a blizzard set in and he wondered all night, lost in the terrible storm, until the following morning where his ordeal ended in Carding Mill Valley, miles from his original destination. His route, is better left to the fittest among us. Turn left in the village, SP Ratlinghope. Bear left SP Ratlinghope and continue up the hill and over the X-roads. This road only crosses the northern tip of the Longmynd but still gives some superb views to the north as well as of the Longmynd itself. Ratlinghope
A typical tiny Shropshire farming hamlet with a simple 16th century church dedicated to St. Margaret. It is a beautiful spot on a fine day but it takes a special breed of Salopian to live here in the winter. Despite the harsh winters there are signs that prehistoric man once lived here.
Continue through the village towards Bridges, just past the inn, turn left on the main road then immediately right over a cattle grid. Keep left and continue up the hill.
This road is across open moorland and passes the car park from which footpaths lead up the Stiperstones to the Devil's Chair. The Stiperstones is probably Shropshire's wildest hill and there are many legends about it. One such legend is that witches meet at the Devil's Chair. Another is that Shropshire ghosts hold their annual meeting here on the eve of St. Thomas's day. Continue, then turn right at the T-junction. At the bottom of the hill follow the road to the right. Turn left, SP Shelve & Gravels. Shelve
A tiny parish with a village which is no more than a cluster of farms beside a church dedicated to All Saints. Despite its lonely position it has a history going back 2,000 years for it was here that the Romans mined for lead., and signs of more recent mining activity can still be seen in silent, ruined, mining sites. Continue through the village and Forestry Commission plantations to the A488. Cross the main road and follow road SP Bromlow, Brockton, Worthen. All Saints Church - Shelve
The road skirts a hill called Bromlow Callow which has a clump of trees on its summit and is a remnant of a Victorian plantation. Ironically, 'callow' means a bald hill.
Continue down the hill . At the bottom of the hill at a T-junction with the B4499 turn left. At the T-junction with the B4386 turn left, SP Montgomery. Continue on this road past the SP to Binweston where a timber-framed house can be seen standing on a prehistoric mound. After passing the sign, 'Marton' on the outskirts of the village, turn right SP Marton Hill & Trelystan. This road climbs over the Long Mountain which, although of similar height, is much more fertile than the Stiperstones and Longmynd. Near the crest of the hill can be seen Trelystan church which is timber-framed and stands on the edge of a forest.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and despite being a rural and very peaceful spot, was once the centre of a bitter dispute which rocked the Bishoprics of Hereford & St. Asaph. It even spread to the pope in Rome who was asked to settle the dispute as to who should control the tiny church and its parish. Trelystan is, in fact, over the border into Wales and the church has the unique distinction of being the only timber-framed church in Wales.
Continue past the church, straight on at the X-roads. Descend the hill through the village of Pentre. Turn right at a T-junction, then take the first left, SP Welshpool. Welshpool
Welshpool is a pleasant Welsh market town which stands on the banks of the river Severn. It is worth remembering that, in the heyday of the river transportation, 30-ton boats used to ply the Severn from here to Bristol, and many an oak tree was taken down river to Bristol to be used in England's shipbuilding industry before the days of iron ships.
Powys Castle stands on the outskirts to the south of the town. It is a National Trust property and well worth a visit. The approximate distance for this leisure drive is 27 miles. Because this drive is a fairly direct route crossing three ranges of hills, the return journey, though quicker, will be further in distance. The quickest return route is on the A49 to Church Stretton. Alternately, a more picturesque route can be taken via the A490 to Churchstoke, A489 to Craven Arms, then north to Church Stretton on the A49. | 
