The Shropshire Hills are alive with stories, although all too few of these are known to the casual visitor or even to the interested long-term resident. But each year, a lucky few will hear these weird and wonderful tales as they accompany landscape detective Keith Pybus on his walks around this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Now, for the first time, these stories have been committed to print for all to enjoy. Follow in the footsteps of A.E. Housman, Mary Webb, Bruce Chatwin and John Osborne to rediscover this lovely part of England. Meet three local ‘Grand Designers’ and explore the mansions they built with the fortunes they made. Find out what brought Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother, Lucien, to the Ludlow social scene. Read the hair-raising tale of Molly Morgan, twice sentenced to transportation. Ponder over the mysterious case of the wretched maid of Ferney Hall. Ache at the heart-wrenching stories of children banished to the New World on the Mayflower. Stories that will surprise and move you and make you want to find out more about the Shropshire Hills.Of course, explorations are not just into the past. Every year thousands of ‘foodies’ attend the Ludlow Food Festival, and its markets and restaurants could not exist without the unique and varied produce of local farms, moors and hedgerows. Church Stretton, Shropshire’s very own spa town was once promoted as ‘Switzerland without wolves and avalanches’. And Rectory Wood was recently voted the least stressful location in England.So join Keith Pybus on an unforgettable adventure through the Shropshire Hills in all their glory. Feel the breeze in your hair, just as you feel the history at your back...

This beautifully produced book, illustrated with over 140 of Robin Jukes-Hughes' stunning landscape and natural history photographs, captures the Shropshire Hills in all their glory and will be a fine memento for visitor and local alike.

A guidebook to 32 day walks in Shropshire, exploring the hills, outcrops, rivers and towns of this beautiful county. The routes are graded according to difficulty, ensuring there is something for all levels of fitness and experience, and the majority are located within the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. The walks range from 5–22km (3–14 miles) in length and can be completed in between 2 and 8 hours. They are arranged geographically, mostly falling in the area bounded by Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Ludlow and Welshpool. 1:50,000 OS maps reproduced at 1:40,000 for greater clarity GPX files available to download Details of terrain, refreshments and public transport for each walk Information given on local geology and wildlife Includes accommodation listings arranged by area Easy access from Birmingham, Oswestry and Manchester

The purpose of this book is to examine the role that Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have in the protection of the landscape. The authors draw upon experience in the UK and abroad.