Ironbridge: Caradoc and Lawley

Caer Caradoc rises sharply and steeply up out of the narrow valley in which the town of Church Stretton is situated, known as the Stretton Gap. Caer Caradoc Hill is the highest point on a high, narrow, northeast–southwest “whaleback ridge”, sometimes called a hogsback ridge. Caer Caradoc may be fairly easily climbed from Church Stretton town but the ascent is steep.

The hill is volcanic in origin, like the Wrekin and other hills, formed of narrow ridges of resistant Pre-Cambrian rock thrust upwards by movements deep down along the Church Stretton fault. This fault runs from Staffordshire to South Wales and can be seen on Ordnance Survey maps as a line of springs on this hill.

Our route will start at the recreation ground at Church Stretton. From here we cross the playing fields and take a path to Stretton Gap after crossing the main road. We then start the steep climb to Three Finger rock. Things get a little easier as we head for Caer Caradoc Fort and Caradoc Hill. From here we head downhill to Comley to start our ascent to the top of The Lawley (not as steep as Caradoc). Afterwards we drop down to the far end of Lawley and double back along the base of Lawley and Caradoc to Houghs Coppice and across the fields to All Stretton and back to the start.