Little Stretton Tourist Information

Little Stretton is in the heart of the Shropshire Hills, nestling at the foot of the Long Mynd and looking across the valley to Ragleth Hill. It is bypassed by the A49 trunk road, and it has two pubs and a curious thatched church. Other amenities - shops, banks and excellent teashops - are just up the road in Church Stretton.

Little Stretton is the starting point for a popular ramble up the beautiful and rugged Ashes Hollow to the top of the Long Mynd. At the start of the Hollow and opposite the Owlets ridge a steeper route ascends, to cross the lofty Barristers Plain with its ancient cross-ditch up to Pole Cottage. This cottage no longer stands, but still gives its name to the location, like the long-vanished Shooting Box farther along the Long Mynd. From the top of the Mynd, covered in purple heather in the summer, walkers can descend to the National Trust shop in Cardingmill Valley before returning via Church Stretton - a good day out.

Across the main valley it is a stiff climb to the marker post on Ragleth Hill, from which a lovely walk along its high ridge leads to a more gradual descent into Church Stretton. This route is easier done the other way round - really energetic walkers will use it as a way back to Little Stretton after a walk on the Long Mynd.

Description by Jeffrey Darlington