Linley Hill, Black Rhadley & Nipstone Rock
1 SO357978 This walk explores the hills and tors south of the main Stiperstones ridge. A few years ago, this rocky moorland was cleared of 1960s forestry, and large swathes of heather have now reappeared. From the pool at the top of the car park, turn right and go left through trees to a kissing gate. Walk uphill (retracing the final section of yesterday’s walk) to another kissing gate and turn right over the field to a stile at the edge of thinned forestry. Walk through the trees to a kissing gate, with National Nature Reserve sign, and turn left on the track, soon downhill through bushes, to a small gate. Continue ahead and fork left for 30m to a stile. Follow the field edge to a stile next to a cottage, walk to a small gate and turn right at the lane.
2 SO361968 Walk to a junction by farm buildings and turn right, then left at a stile/ fingerpost after 50m. Walk up the field to a small plateau and continue to a farm gate on the left. Veer right, uphill, to a steel kissing gate and continue over upland pasture to a clump of trees with kissing gate on the right. Keep ahead, with a fence on the left, to a small gate at the next fence and continue through three small gates to the start of the avenue of huge beech trees on Linley Hill. Continue downhill, via three small gates, and carry on through the wood to a lane.
3 SO349934 Turn right and immediately fork left – follow the lane through woods for 1.25km (you’ll be unlucky if you see a vehicle) to a junction. Turn right and look for a stile on the left after 100m.
4 SO345951 This leads onto the slopes of Black Rhadley – there’s no path but go uphill (it’s Open Access land) through the birch trees to the summit cairn. Turn north on a rough track to a kissing gate by the lane.
5 SO346960 Go straight over on a path through woods. Access hasn’t yet been formalised up The Rock but cross a stile and pick a route, with some scrambling, up the side of the tall rocky outcrop. This was lost in trees until the clearance work took place. Cross an old wall, with mine workings in evidence, and clamber to the top for fine views back to Black Rhadley and beyond. Continue on a narrow path through heather to a junction with the Shropshire Way, by beehives and a waymark, and keep ahead on a good path to a gate in a fence. After 350m, look for a path on the left leading to Nipstone Rock, which is easily climbed.
6 SO357968 Descend north to a stile at a track. Turn left and immediately go through a gate. Go through another gate and turn right at the lane to return to The Bog.