The Wrekin National Landscape

The Wrekin is part of Shropshire Hills National Landscape, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a gem of the natural world.    

Calling all summit baggers, fell runners, walkers, riders, mini explorers, forest bathers and stargazers! You will all fall madly in love with The Wrekin. It’s a brilliant day out, from sunrise to sunset and beyond. 

The Wrekin is a little mountain with a giant story, the 8th highest summit in the county and a place of Special Scientific Interest. 

Standing over 407 metres (1,335ft) above sea level, arguably, The Wrekin is the best-known hill in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. The 360-degree views from the top are spectacular. On a clear day, sweep your eyes across 20 counties in England and Wales, from Ceredigion to Yorkshire. The night skies here will blow your mind, too!

The Wrekin is part of a range of five hills, joined by a web of paths, bridleways, family nature trails and tranquil ancient oak woods. Bluebells carpet the woodlands in spring. Come autumn, the sounds of rutting deer echo all around. 

Wellington town is perfectly positioned at the base of The Wrekin for post-sunrise summit brunches, picnics of fresh local produce from the market, and fine dining to celebrate your sunset summit. Fancy a pub lunch? Plan your hike past one of the area’s many pubs and inns.

You’ll soon see why Telford's ‘little mountain’ inspired JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth. It’s the most geologically diverse place on the planet. Over the millennia, The Wrekin has travelled slowly across the globe from near the tip of South America, through the tropics to its current resting place in this hidden corner of England. 

Exploring the Wrekin is also an adventure through time. Marvel at the many different rock formations, spot signs of the Iron Age hillfort that used to crown The Wrekin and look out for the hundreds of charcoal hearths still found among the trees.

But there’s even more to The Wrekin than its impressive stats, history and geology. It’s imbued with local lore and significance. Legend has it that The Wrekin and its little sister hill, The Ercall, were created by an angry giant with a grudge against the people of Shrewsbury. And when we Salopians (that’s what we call people who live in Shropshire) see it standing proud on the horizon, we know we’re near home.

5# Be inspired by The Wrekin 

1. Take a walk on the wild side. Discover Britain’s 13km (8 mile) Wrekin Forest walk starts from Ercall Wood Nature Reserve car park, takes you past St Lawrence’s hill up to the summit of The Wrekin, on through the Needles Eye (passing through here is a rite of passage for any true Salopian), and back down to Limekiln Woods. Don’t forget to download your audio guide and map before you lace up your hiking shoes!

2. Sunrise summit to the top of The Wrekin (or sunset). Where better to watch the sun come up or go down than the top of The Wrekin, one of England’s most-loved viewpoints? Soak it in as sunlight fills (or empties from) the horizon all around you – the views are at their most spectacular in the changing light. The area is also known for its biodiversity, so expect a deafening dawn chorus to cheer you on as you hike upwards. After sunset, stick around to watch millions of stars pinprick the dark night sky.

3. Refuel with a pub lunch. The Wrekin is surrounded by some great places for a proper pub lunch and the Huntsman of Little Wenlock is one of many local favourites. Bag a table here to feast on local produce while you warm up next to the roaring fire or slip off your hiking boots on the outdoor terrace. Bigger groups can book a table in the restaurant. There’s accommodation too.

4. Get on your bike. Telford has over 445 hill climbs and some tranquil little lanes to pedal along. The Wrekin and The Ercall are both wreathed in bike trails, including some steep, techy climbs and adrenaline-pumping downhills. Remember, the toughest climbs lead to the best views so get your sweat on – it’ll be worth it!

5. Make a weekend of it. Combine a day walking on The Wrekin with a day or two discovering the area’s other world-class attractions. From the world’s most geologically diverse place to the birthplace of the industrial revolution at the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site, to fun family days out on steam trains and river rafting tours, there’s loads to see and do.