Green spaces and fresh air are our go-to antidotes these days. With health and wellness a focus for everyone, there’s nothing like a great walk in and around Ludlow when the air is crunchy and autumnal colours are fairly vibrating.
If you are visiting Ludlow for the first time, here are three great walks within town or at easy driving distance to make you feel good. Know before you go and check opening times for any suggested eateries.
1. Historical Ludlow – great for history buffs, leisure and shopping
Take it slow, shop, sit, eat and drink and visit landmarks this autumn in Ludlow Credit: Shannon Clarke
Our medieval town is great for leisurely strolling while absorbing local town history and if required, enjoy tea breaks along the way. It’s great for leisurely walking and shopping combined with visiting our town’s landmarks.
We suggest beginning at the outskirts of the town centre on Lower Corve Street, fortify yourself at the Unicorn Pub before taking a shortcut through the Linney, check out the graveyard behind St. Leonard’s Press. Just follow the road along, this is a bit of hidden Ludlow as it is off the well-trodden tourist path. The road brings you to a set of stairs. Follow the cobbled path, pausing for the views and the sweetest cottages in Ludlow.
Take it easy up this incline, it leads you straight to St. Laurence’s Church, the Hosier’s Almshouses and the back of the Rose and Crown pub. You’re saving your energy to climb the 200 steps (pre-book) at St. Laurence’s Church for the amazing bird’s eye view across Ludlow. Mosey around the town square to do a bit of, dare I mention it, pre-Christmas shopping. Make your last stop Ludlow Castle hopefully in time for tea at its cafe, you’ve earned it.
2. Bread Walk – famous view at Whitcliffe overlooking town to Clee Hill
Dinham Bridge in all its autumnal glory. Credit: letsgoLudlow.com
Begin the Bread Walk at Whitcliffe Common, sit on the bench and take in the views for as long as you like. This walk recommended by the Royal Geographical Society is a good 3 1/2 miles and is suitable for dog walkers. It wends it way around town and ends at the Dinham Millennium Green where you can have a coffee on the river at The Green Cafe.
Do note there are steps and some areas can be slippery when wet so make sure you have appropriate footwear. Handily, the Society publishes both a downloadable audio and a written guide. Ludlow is an area of geological interest and along the Bread Walk there is evidence of melting glaciers visible along the path next to the river Teme. It’s impossible to tire of the Bread Walk — truly one of Ludlow’s natural wonders.
3. Oakly Park – great for dog walkers, family and biking
View of an old mill at Oakly Park Estate, Bromfield. Credit: letsgoludlow.com
We recommend beginning this walk at the Clive Arms at Bromfield or the Ludlow Farmshop to keep with our running theme of fortifying yourself with food and drink either before a walk or after. You can cross the busy A49 for the start of a peaceful leisurely walk through Oakly Park Estate which, if you cover the full distance to the Millennium Green, will take about 2 hours. Pause at the old Bromfield Church and then head to the bridge to view the old mill.
The long road ahead has an amazing Wizard of Oz feel. The avenues are wide and children and dogs may want to race ahead. Let them while you take in the vistas and look forward to rewarding yourself if you go the distance with a little respite and meal at The Cliffe at Dinham.
