MIDLANDS
■Distance: 6½ miles/10.3km ■Time: 3½ hours ■Grade: Moderate
SEE FEATURE ON PAGE 28
CHOSEN BY… MATTHEW PIKE
The Butterfly Effect suggests the gentle flap of a butterfly’s wings can ultimately cause a tornado. The town of Much Wenlock can relate to this – its modest annual sporting event growing and morphing into the might of the Olympic Games. Pop into the museum for this remarkable story and the man who started it all, William Penny Brookes. Then explore the town and its surrounds, featuring Wenlock Edge and views across the Shropshire Hills and beyond.
1 Start Facing clock from museum, turn L and head L down Barrow Street, passing Guildhall, and turning R into churchyard to see Brookes’ grave (his house is opposite church).
Back to road and continue to T-junction.
Turn R, then immediately R again along Station Road.
2 ½ mile/0.7km
Pass old station. Where road bends L, continue straight ahead into Gaskell Field, cross field to far L corner aiming for old windmill at top of hill. Through gate, head L then immediately fork R up hill. At top, head to L of windmill to kissing gate. Then take L fork as approach road, cross road, continue straight on through kissing gate and continue to R of field. Continue between two fields, then to L of third field before ducking into wood.
3 1¼ miles/2km
Take L fork and follow woodland
