Shropshire Hills AONB

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Shropshire Hills
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The Clee Hills (L-R: Titterstone Clee Hill and Brown Clee Hill)
Country	United Kingdom
State	England
County	Shropshire
Districts	South Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Shrewsbury & Atcham, Bridgnorth
Settlements	Church Stretton, Clun
Location	West Midlands
Area	802 km² (310 sq mi)
Highest point	Brown Clee Hill
- elevation	540 m (1,772 ft)
Founded	1958
Managed by	Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership
- location	Craven Arms, South Shropshire
Website : www.shropshirehillssaonb.co.uk

The Shropshire Hills area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), in the English county of Shropshire, close to the border with Wales. Designated in 1958[1], the area encompasses 802 square kilometres (310 sq mi) of land primarily in the South Shropshire district. The A49 road and Welsh Marches Railway Line bisects the area north-south, passing through or near Shrewsbury, Church Stretton, Craven Arms and Ludlow.

The region shown in the ceremonial county.

1 Hills
2 Towns & Villages
3 Local Authorities
4 Rivers
5 Historical Attractions
6 Wildlife
7 Other Attractions
8 External links

[edit] Hills

The Long Mynd.

The Wrekin near Wellington.

The Shropshire Hills, located in the Welsh Marches, are relatively high, with the highest point in the county, Brown Clee Hill, near Ludlow, towering to a height of 540 metres (1,772 ft). This gives Shropshire the 13th tallest hill per county in England. Titterstone Clee Hill, part of the Clee Hills, is of a similar height to Brown Clee, at 533 metres (1,749 ft), making it the third largest hill. The Stiperstones are the second largest in the county, at 536 metres (1,759 ft), and are notable for their tors of quartzite; particularly notable are Devil's Chair (SO368991) and Shepherd's Rock (SO373998).

More accessible hills are the Long Mynd, which covers an area of 5,436 acres (8½ square miles) and peaking at Pole Bank at a height of 516 metres (1,693 feet), is located near Church Stretton. It contains Carding Mill Valley, a popular recreational area which was developed as a honeypot to draw tourists away from the more sensitive/protected areas of the Mynd. The Wrekin (407 metres (1,335 ft)), located in the far northeastern panhandle of the AONB, is an extremely popular hill with a well-used trail. Located near to Wellington, its position close to the major population centres of Shropshire, and good transport links (A5/M54) make it easy to access. Ercall Hill, a notable geological site, is located just to the north of The Wrekin.

Other prominent hills include Corndon Hill, the summit of which is in Wales, and Lyth Hill, which is located to the south of Shrewsbury near Bayston Hill.

[edit] Towns & Villages

The largest town within the AONB is Church Stretton (sometimes known as "Little Switzerland"), which has a population of approximately 4,000. Recently, the restrictions placed on the town by being within the AONB has halted expansion of the town and created a local housing shortage.

Development has shifted south to Craven Arms, which is located just outside the development restriction boundaries, and is where the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership is based.

Clun is a small town of 1,000 located in the east, in the Clun Valley, and is the only other town (apart from Church Stretton) within the boundaries of the AONB.

Ludlow is regionally the largest town, and is the district capital of South Shropshire which the Shropshire Hills are primarily within.

Bishop's Castle is a small town of approximately 1,500, which is located in a niche near the Welsh border to the west. Bucknell is a small village in the south.

[edit] Local Authorities

Approximately 65% of the South Shropshire district is occupied by the AONB. Extremities of the AONB are located in Telford & Wrekin (primarily the The Wrekin hill), Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury & Atcham (South-Western Stiperstones area).

[edit] Rivers

River Clun - starting at Anchor, ends up joining the Teme
River Teme - flows through Ludlow, before passing into Herefordshire
River Rea - flows north to south, passes through Cleobury Mortimer

[edit] Historical Attractions

Attractions of historical interest located within or near the AONB include Stokesay Castle (near Craven Arms), a well-preserved fortified manor house.

Ludlow Castle in Ludlow was constructed in the 11th Century as the border stronghold of one of the Marcher Lords, Roger de Lacy.

Offa's Dyke, a massive linear earthwork, also runs through the area, and across the Clun Valley area.

Clun Castle is located near Clun.