Paulith Wood

The walk is a fixture in my calendar most years. You always meet nice, interesting, friendly, engaging and memorable walking companions. Plus we laugh 90% of the way round.

This pump is associated with a remote smallholding near Cothercott, which is unnamed on the maps.

I thought this a remarkable find, as the maps give little clue about the existence of substantial cottages here, let alone one as picturesque as this.

One of a number of tracks and rights of way in Eastridge forest, a large part of which is given over to a well-used mountain bike downhill course.

A couple of the ancient holly trees on this NE part of The Stiperstones ridge. Now under the care of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, The Hollies was used from medieval times to grow winter fodder for livestock, and remains one of the very few places in the country where such ancient holly trees are found in numbers.

A line of larch trees planted across the bridleway/track; the shelterbelt is something of a landmark on this end of the Stiperstones ridge.

The large number of mature Holly trees here are counted amongst the very oldest in all of the UK, most being around 400 years old. They were cut for winter fodder for cows and sheep from medieval times onwards, the leaves being rich in both nutrients and calories and the leaves harvested were from the higher branches, being softer and 'prickle free'. It was a common practice all over the country but a rare example of a purpose-planted wood of this type survives here in remote Shropshire. Many of the hollies have Rowan trees growing from their ancient trunks - seeded in bird droppings and sprouting in cracks in the holly bark.

This track climbing up through The Hollies offers excellent views northwards towards Earl's Hill and beyond.

A tumbledown cottage ruin beside the path.

A good walk route contouring around the ridge at a sheltered level - advantageous in winter when a bitter easterly cuts through the high ground like an icy blade.

A family group of walkers descend the ridge towards Lordshill mine and Baptist chapel.

Not much used just recently by the look of things, and there were few birds in the woods on this hot afternoon.

The farm sits in the valley of the Habberley Brook; Westcott Hill forms the skyline here.

A quiet country lane from Bridges to Habberley.

This little-used lane runs along the bottom of the steep, grassy Paulith Bank hill.

This ford is found on the track leading to Walford's Rough.