EAST CHESHIRE RAMBLERS
A GROUP of East Cheshire Ramblers recently undertook a linear walk using a train then a bus to get to the start point.
Parking at the railway station at Wellington, Telford, it was just one stop by train to get to Shrewsbury where the group timed it well to get the bus to Wroxeter.
Wroxeter was once the Roman city of Viroconium Cornoviorum and was one of the largest settlements in Roman Britain with a population thought to be about 15,000 at its peak.
It is almost unique that the town didn’t develop after the Roman period and because of this, the site has revealed many secrets from this time.
Today, there are substantial remains visible and nearby, a Roman Villa was been reconstructed.
The site is in the care of English Heritage.
At the nearby St Andrew’s Church, the group stopped for the morning break.
Much Roman masonry has been used in building the church and the gateposts are from two fine Roman pillars.
The Severn Way path was followed for a while before heading north east via Charlton Hill, where a spot with a view was chosen for our picnic lunch.
Afterwards the group had a long steep ascent up through woodland using the Shropshire Way via the southwest ridge leading up to the 407m summit of The Wrekin.
This is the highest hill for several miles around and despite cloudy skies, the views stretched as far as the Malvern Hills and even the Cotswolds.
A better track led north east which descended from The Wrekin to reach a busy car park before ascending through the woods at The Ercall.
This area is noted for its unique geology and comprises Uriconian Volcanic deposits of Precambrian age.
The walk finished by using paths almost into the centre of Wellington before finding a local supermarket for afternoon refreshments.
For more details of East Cheshire Ramblers’ programme of weekend and midweek walks ranging from four to 15 miles in length, go to ramblerseastcheshire.org. uk.