Longville: Trails, Landscapes and Wilderhope Manor

Longville in the Dale is a destination for travellers who want to combine marked trails with architectural history. A circular walk at Wilderhope Estate, trails along Wenlock Edge and historic buildings in Longville give the area some specific points of interest. This lets you focus on different things, from days spent walking to discoveries of architectural heritage.

Landscape and habitats

Longville in the Dale is one of the settlements in the Parish of Rushbury. These settlements lie in Apedale within the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Wilderhope Estate borders the woodland at Wenlock Edge, managed by the National Trust. A survey conducted in 2014 describes Longville in the Dale as an area with wet grassland and associated wet woodland. These habitats complement the landscape themes you can explore while walking around the area.

Trails of different lengths

Access information dated 20 July 2020 describes the Wilderhope Coppice Walk as a marked 2-kilometre circular route starting at the estate car park. The same information mentions a medium-sized car park behind Wilderhope Manor, which can be used free of charge. Footpaths across the farmland of Wilderhope Estate lead to Wenlock Edge Ridge and Stanway Coppice Ridge. Check access information before your visit.

The Shropshire Way runs for about six miles from Wilderhope along Wenlock Edge. On the map of the southern section, Longville in the Dale is shown on Stage 8 from Wilderhope to Ironbridge. Walking options around Longville include the Wenlock Edge Walk: it is about 26.30 kilometres long, with an estimated walking time of around eight hours. A trail near Longville climbs the escarpment to Wilderhope Manor. The 2-kilometre circular walk is therefore much shorter than the Wenlock Edge Walk; the latter has an estimated walking time of around eight hours.

Historic buildings and their construction phases

Wilderhope Manor in Longville in the Dale is an Elizabethan house, restored by John Cadbury in 1936. The Stables to North of Wilderhope Manor is a 17th-century stable building. Its floor plan is U-shaped, with two projecting wings; the building is Grade II listed. Home Farmhouse is also Grade II listed. Its main section is dated to 1805, and its rear wing to 1708 and 1724. The same location therefore brings together different construction phases alongside the Elizabethan manor and 17th-century stables.

If you are looking for a holiday rental for a stay that combines walking and architectural history, Longville offers two clearly distinct focuses: specific walking routes and historic architectural styles. When choosing where to stay, you can take into account whether your trip will focus more on walking or on the history of the buildings.

Discover more destinations: Welshampton, Saint Martin's, Shifnal, Whitchurch, Harley, Chetton, Burlton, Sutton Maddock

For the regional travel overview: Shropshire.