The Wrekin - Telford, Shropshire, England

The Wrekin rises to a height of 1335ft/400m above the beautiful Shropshire Plain and as such it is a popular attraction for both tourists, local residents and hill walkers alike. Surrounded by ancient woodlands the area is positively teeming with wildlife and a rich variety of flora and fauna lie waiting to be discovered by those explorers of it's many footpaths and public rights of way. The area surrounding The Wrekin hosts a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest which have been designated as a direct result of the areas rich biodiversity.

To visit The Wrekin you should exit the M54 motorway at Junction 7 and from there on follow the signposts. There is ample parking for cars and a well-used footpath, and a convenient cafe for a well earned cup of tea near the summit, I heartily recommend a visit.

First mentioned in the Worcester Chartulary towards the end of the eleventh century, The Wrekin is a hill in east Shropshire, England and forms a part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or AONB. More specifically the area containing the Wrekin is contained within the north-eastern pan handle of the AONB.

At the summit, in addition to the phenomenal panorama across the stunning countryside of The Shropshire Hills and Shropshire Plain, you will also find an Iron Age hill fort, thought to have been built by the Cornovii tribe, and in addition the 'Wrekin Beacon'. This blinking red beacon was erected as a millennium celebration in the year 2000 and serves no practical purpose.

It can, however, be seen for many miles (some say it can be seen from Beetham Tower as far away as Manchester!) and serves as a welcome and familiar landmark to those returning to their homes in the area. The Wrekin itself marks the gateway to Shropshire for those travelling into the county westbound on the M54 motorway.

So strong is it's presence in the surrounding areas that it long ago became embedded in the language of the Shropshire people. A popular toast with those from Shropshire is 'to all friends around the Wrekin'. Other use in more widespread local language is the phrase 'All around the Wrekin'. This means 'to go the long way round' or to fail to explain things clearly and concisely, similar to 'going all around the houses'.

The Normans tried to rename the hill Mount Gilbert after a local hermit, but the local people insisted on hanging on to their familiar name for the hill and the new name never stuck.

There is much folklore surrounding the hill and it's formation, tales of giants, cobblers, devils and mermaids abound.

One such story tells of two giants, having being exiled, looking for a new home. They piled up the earth, leaving a long trench which filled with water, becoming the nearby River Severn. Once the hill was built an argument ensued about which of the giants should take the hill as his home.

As one of the giants raised his spade to strike his brother, a raven swooped down and pecked his eye, causing him to miss his intended target and strike a cleft into the rock. This feature is now referred to as the Needle's Eye. Wounded by the raven, the giant shed a single tear creating a pool, now known as The Raven's Bowl or Cuckoo's Cup.

Taking advantage of his injury the other giant knocked his brother down and piled earth on top of him, forming The Wrekin's smaller sister hill, The Ercall.

The geology of The Wrekin is most interesting as it is made of volcanic rock yet is not itself a volcano. It is situated near to the Church Stretton Fault which may well have been responsible for it's creation.

The local area is very rich in minerals, with a long dead history of coal mining in the immediate area. Recent applications by the company UK Coal to begin open cast mining operations in this area have been refused by Telford & Wrekin council, and a decision on UK Coal's appeal against this decision is currently being awaited with great anticipation by local residents and campaign groups alike.

The Wrekin is also the name given to the local area and local borough of Telford & Wrekin. It is also a parliamentary constituency that has been held by the Conservative party since 2005.

Being as it is so rich in geology, the local area is one of the 'birthplaces of industry', with the Ironbrige Gorge and Coalbrookdale areas being located within just a few miles.

The Wrekin also has a cheese named after it. Surely accolades don't get much higher than that?? It is called called Wrekin White and is available in a dairy in nearby Newport, Shropshire.

Ordnance Surveys most detailed map of The Wrekin, Ironbridge and Shropshire. An absolute essential for all outdoor activities around the Wrekin area.

Explore the beauty of Shropshire with this handy, pocket sized map, complete with 50 of the best walks in Shropshire, to suit walkers of all levels of experience. A must have!

A really interesting read, surrounding the history of The Wrekin and its surrounds. Written by local author and 'friend round the Wrekin' Allen Frost. Utterly fascinating stuff.

This book takes walkers on a beautiful tour of the landscape of the Shropshire hills. From the stunning panoramas of The Wrekin to the depths of the valley of the Ironbridge Gorge. Offers suggestions of many great days out in Shropshire.

Are you a nature lover? Find out what you can do to protect the environment by making changes to your own lifestyle in some of my other hubs;

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Green Energy and Wind Power

Recycle Old Mobile Phones for Cash

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