THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Manel Rouel, The Wrekin
Walk more, worry less
Never walk alone Sharing your walking experience will make it even more enjoyable, and to find friendly companions ‘Walking for Health’ works in partnership with Ramblers Wellbeing Walks during 2021 to host free walks, led by local volunteers. These will take place throughout the area and are for people of all ages, whether you are already fit or want to regain your health and fitness. There are short, leisurely paced strolls to longer and more energetic taking a whole morning or afternoon, followed by optional tea and biscuits. Many other organised local groups including the Wellington Walkers are Welcome, Telford and East Shropshire Ramblers and the Marches branch of the Long Distance Walkers Association will take you to wonderful places you never knew existed through glorious Shropshire countryside. The one stop place to find links to local walking groups and information about trails in and around Telford is the walking section of the Telford & Wrekin Council website, you will be amazed at what you find!
If you want to be happier, healthier, and up to half a stone lighter there is a simple solution that is free and needs no special kit. Simply, walking – short distances each day for a year can give you all these benefits as well as being a feast for your eyes and balm for your soul. The Telford T50 50 Mile Trail is the perfect place to start your adventure. The signed circular walk connects all the places that make Telford special from its towns, villages, open green spaces, and historical landmarks. It is an amazing place for children to discover nature too, safe from traffic, they can experience the joy of seeing wildflowers, fungi, butterflies, bluebells, wild deer, and birds. Keeping your walks interesting is easy too, try a short stroll, in a park or woodland, finishing in a tea shop with homemade cakes or rest on a bench with a glorious panorama across 17 English and Welsh counties. Perhaps the challenge of a walk over a couple of days, equivalent in height to Everest is your thing or you just want to wander and ponder your thoughts in peace and quiet. There are riverside walks and welcoming pubs to drop into, history
lovers can discover the remains of Telford’s Iron Age forts, Roman roads, medieval streets, a civil war battle to the present day at one of the many world famous sites form the area’s rich industrial heritage, plus many lesser known interesting places. The trail is simple to follow with distinctive pink waymarks, so you won’t get lost. Choose from short 30 minute sections of about a mile, or from a series of circular or linear walks between three and ten miles or do all 50 miles following footpaths, disused railways, and quiet roads. Start near the Telford Town Park information centre or from the footpath nearest your home and follow the trail through the World Heritage Site of Ironbridge Gorge, five Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 17 Local Nature Reserves, woodlands, reclaimed opencast mine workings, and many heritage sites that have been partially reclaimed by nature. Get free downloads of walk directions, GPS files, maps, information about bus stops, car parks, facilities and cafes on the route from the trail website or buy the pocket sized trail guidebook, full of extra fascinating facts about Telford for only £5, visit: www.telfordt5050miletrail.org.uk
www.Telford.gov.uk/walking
www.walkingforhealthtelford andwrekin.org.uk
www.tesramblers.org.uk
www.ldwa.org.uk/marches
TOTALLY TELFORD
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