Caer Caradoc and The Lawley
1 SO455935 Exit the station, cross the main road (A49) to continue walking along Crossways, then turn left into Watling Street. When this meets Sandford Ave (B4371) turn right, then immediately left down Watling Street North. At the fork take the right-hand branch and continue until the road ends. Then take the middle path to the north of the river, walking along it with the water on your right. Cross at the footbridge, turn right, then immediately left to begin a very steep climb to Three Fingers Rock, followed by a rolling north-easterly ridge to Caer Caradoc summit.
2 SO477953 Caer Caradoc summit is home to an Iron Age fort (the name means Caradog’s Fort in Welsh), and there’s also a small cave worth a detour down the steep north-western flanks at SO476954. It is said that ‘barbarian’ chief Caratacus hid here after an unsuccessful battle with the Romans, but this remains unproven… Continue north-east down to Little Caradoc, then to the road. Turn left for a sharp downhill, then turn right on a footpath through fields to Comley Farm.
3 SO485968 Turn right into Comley Farm on a bridleway that leads you to a sharp right-hand turn. Then go through the gate straight ahead to start the climb straight up The Lawley’s south-western slopes. It’s a huge, grassy climb, but the views back to Caer Caragdoc and over to the Long Mynd are a great reward. Keep following the path to the seagull-topped weather vane at its summit.
4 SO494974 From The Lawley’s summit, continue to enjoy the views as you walk all the way along the high, narrow, steep-sided ridge and down to the road. Turn left to walk around the north-eastern nose of The Lawley ridge, then continue straight on as the road turns into a bridleway that runs all the way back along the bottom of the ridge, back to Comley Farm.
5 SO485968 Retrace your steps at Comley Farm, crossing the road and picking up the footpath opposite, through the fields to the road. Turn left, up the steep hill, then right on the footpath to the bottom of Little Caradoc once again. Here, take the path on the right, skirting the base of Caer Caradoc all the way round the hill until you’re back at the footbridge once more. Here, retrace your steps again to the station.