Walks

Whitcliffe Walks courtesy of Seabury Salmon Associates

There are three well-marked easy circular walks and Whitcliffe can be used as a pleasant and very different way of walking to town, particularly if you are approaching from the south.

There are three main starting points: Ludford (take the road to Leinthall Starkes just behind the Charlton Arms pub and then head up the flight of stone steps and follow the path)

Dinham Bridge (follow the route from Ludlow Castle downhill, over the bridge and take the entrance immediately on your left after you cross the bridge) This offers three choices of route: the Breadwalk (so-called because they paid the men who dug it with bread) which follows the River Bank to Ludford. There are  two flights of steps at the Ludford end, the remainder is flat; The Donkey Steps (uphill and slightly to your left) which begins a fairly steep climb and the choice of two circular routes (turning left-handed takes you to Ludford and back via the Breadwalk, or turning right-handed takes you over Whitcliffe Common and back down the Steps you can see in front of you to Dinham Bridge.

Alternatively you can take the right-hand set of steps and then follow the circular route left-handed, either to Ludford or take the shorter route back down the Donkey Steps. The Donkey steps were once used by donkeys to transport iron ore from the Clee Hills to Burrington.

Or thirdly, if you approach by car, you may find it more convenient to park on one of the three laybys adjacent to The Common and join one of the circular walks from there. At the top of the Common, and next to the largest layby, you will find a toposcope from which you can locate many of Shropshire’s major hills as well as gain a fine view of the town and castle.

The views would not be possible were it not for the regular coppicing and maintenance carried out by the Friends of Whitcliffe who rely completely on contributions from members and grants to carry out the work.

As you walk along the Breadwalk you will notice some fossil casts. you can find out more about these casts here.

Another delightful walk is around the castle and along the River Teme using the ‘Breadwalk’. This dog friendly route  is available as a leaflet from the Visitor Information Centre in the Market Square or you can download a copy here. This walk is one of a series prepared by Ludlow Parish Path Partnership Group.

IF YOU’VE ENJOYED YOUR WALK, OR EVEN JUST THE VIEW, WHY NOT CONSIDER JOINING OUR GROUP. For as little as £10 annually we’ll send you a newsletter and put your money to good use on regular maintenance of the walks and woods so that you can enjoy them again and again.


The Royal Geographical Society has just launched a walk in Ludlow as part of its “Discovering Britain” series. This walk tell the story of the British landscape, focusing on geographical themes.
This 3½ mile walk around the town, created by local resident Prof Michael Rosenbaum, tells the dramatic story of how the landscape was shaped by ice and water. The walk is self-guided and presented in both audio format and written format; both can be downloaded for free from the Discovering Britain website: http://www.discoveringbritain.org/walks/region/west-midlands/ludlow.html We hope that both locals and visitors will enjoy our walk trail.
The walk actually starts at the viewpoint on Whitcliffe Common to give walkers an overview of the landscape.


Improved Paths for Walkers

Work can be seen where paths have been strengthened to protect them from falling away. Look for railway sleepers on the paths heading from the middle common to a raised walkway at the top of the Donkey Steps path. Look for sleepers on the path leading from the top of the common to Mortimer Trail. You will also find a new Donkey Steps walkway, with a hand rail to assist where water drainage is a regular problem.