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Brown Clee Hill from Abdon

Shropshire Hills Walk

Region - Shropshire Hills

County/Area - Shropshire

Author - Jake Robertson

Length - 6.3 miles / 10.2 km    Ascent - 1250 feet / 379 metres

Time - 4 hours 20 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 217Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 217Digital Map1:25kBUY
Ordnance Survey Landranger 137Sheet Map1:50kBUY
Anquet OS Landranger 137Digital Map1:50kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Brown Clee Hill
Click image to see photo description.

Twin topped Brown Clee Hill is the highest of all the Shropshire hills yet nowhere near as popular the Long Mynd and other hills in this beautiful County. Rising out of glorious pastoral countryside Abdon Burf, its summit, is a magnificent viewpoint gained by an easy ascent through up ancient common lands.

The start and finish is the church (Grid ref. SO575866) in Abdon village where there is very limited roadside parking. From the church walk north up the road to join the Shropshire Way at a t-junction. Go straight on with the Shropshire Way to the phone box at Bank House. A gate on the left leads into a track that makes a steady ascent around Abdon Liberty, emerging onto the plateau top by a wall (Grid ref. SO 592 863) where the Shropshire Way goes right.

To visit the summit of Brown Clee Hill, go straight ahead on a path up through hummocky ground to reach the OS trig point. From the summit at 1772 ft (540 m) there are extensive views over Shropshire and distant views of the Welsh mountains, the Cotswolds and Cannock Chase. (Note - It is necessary to go to the high point in front of the mast to see the full view north.)

Return downhill and turn left on to the Shropshire Way. Stay on this path and follow it south along to the col at The Five Springs (Grid ref. SO 595 854). From here a gentle climb south by the edge of the woods brings you to the 1670 ft (512 m) top of Clee Burf with a good retrospective view back to Abdon Burf.

Just north of the masts a track leads down to a good path descending Clee Liberty to the impressive fort at Nordy Bank and onward down to a minor road at Cockshutford (Grid ref. SO 574 849). Walk along to the crossroads at Lower Cross Lane and turn right for about a mile walk into Abdon. The church is up a lane on the right near the end of the village.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2345 The Clee Hills from near Cleobury Northeasy/mod6.8 miles
Walk 2296 Brown Clee Hill Circulareasy/mod4.5 miles
Walk 2678 Wenlock Edge & Broadstone from Wilderhope Manoreasy/mod6.4 miles
Walk 3334 Titterstone Clee Hill and Catherton Commoneasy/mod5.5 miles
Walk 2022 Wenlock Edge & Aston Munslowmoderate7.8 miles
Walk 3447 Caer Caradoc, Hope Bowdler & Willstone Hillsmoderate7.0 miles
Walk 2654 Titterstone Clee Hill & Cleeton St. Mary from Cleehillmoderate7.5 miles
Walk 1321 Caer Caradoc & Hope Bowder Hillmoderate9.0 miles
Walk 3048 Caer Caradoc & The Lawleymoderate10.0 miles
Walk 1097 Caer Caradoceasy/mod3.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Hillwalking in Shropshire

Hillwalking in ShropshireGuidebook to 32 walking routes in Shropshire in the West Midlands. The routes range from 3 miles (5km) to 12 miles (19km), taking in highlights such as The Wrekin, Wenlock Edge, Long Mynd and Stiperstones, Castle Ring and Bury Ditches. Many routes start near delightful towns and villages including Church Stretton, Ludlow and Bishops Castle.
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