carding mill valley

Been here on a few occasions. It is a fantastic place to visit in all weathers. When I go to the lower Carding Mill Valley, I park at the last car park going over the ford. It is beautiful safe for the young children to paddle with supervision. The walks are as long as you really want to go. I have done the Lightspout waterfall walk I think for the last time. It is hard going and I am not getting any younger. But still lots to see and do. It is owned by the National Trust. There is a lovely shop and restaurant with nice staff. Then before you leave drive into Church Stretton and take a drive over the top of the valley Long Mynd. The views are spectacular and again walks and car parking on the top. There are wild ponies which I still have not seen. A glider club. It is a full day here.

We visited in springtime and managed to park quite easily because we arrived early. An excellent place to take the children to play and enjoy a picnic. It was our first visit so we not sure what to expect, we took one of the short routes for our walk. There are clear signposts, clean toilets, a coffee shop. Parking is free for National Trust members if you display your current sticker.

Having driven up to the top car park, we were concerned to note that it would be locked at 16:15 which meant we cut our walk short a little bit. There is another car park lower down the valley which we could have moved our car to as it wasn't busy, but I suspect that on Summer weekends, parking would be hard to find, so an early start might be worthwhile.We walked up to the waterfall which involved scrambling across a couple of streams and some of the steps in the path were quite big, so probably not good for less mobile people or people with balance issues. The scenery was lovely and worth the effort and we look forward to many more visits in future, when we will plan to get there earlier to ensure we have time to complete a longer walk.The café is bright and pleasant with a nice selection of food and drinks.

A perfect picnic spot with views, activities and an array of people on a warm summers day. Relax, unwind or walk/cycle for miles!

This is a great day out or even for a couple of hours. You have to pay on the car park unless you are a national trust member. It is great for families or couples or just on your own for a walk. I attended with my partner and with my 4 year old daughter. My daughter loved playing in the streams and trying to stroke sleep, but as you can imagine they ran off hehe. We climbed up some of the hills, crossed some small bridges and watched birds from a bird hide. I think we will be visiting very regularly especially during the summer. It would be great for picnics too :)

These have to be my favourite hills, I've been on numerous occasions in autumn, spring and summer. I have arrived by train and car. The train station isn't that far away and there is a car park with a visitor centre and toilets. I wasn't too impressed with the food so have always taken my own or gone into town and had something to eat there. There are lots of different trails some easy, some medium and some quite steep. There are lots of streams and puddles on top and running down the hillsides, the views from everywhere are just amazing and breathtaking, you have lots of roaming sheep and if you are lucky you will see the wild ponies running or scratching their backs on trees which I've seen a few times now. Every time I've been I have taken a different route so I've had a different adventure, I've taken my dogs, my family and friends. It's an experience for anyone. I do a lot of hiking and these hills are brillaint for that. There are free maps by the car park but you can buy leaflets and more detailed maps from the hut by the carpark. They do charge to park there. Sometimes when you go depending on the route you won't see anyone for ages or you can take the well maintained routes which can be quite busy in the holidays especially. Unlike the Malverns you can't really see civilisation as there is hill after hill, farmland after farmland, you are taken into another world of nature. The only bug bear is the golf course on top of one of the hills the far side which you have to walk around, though it was funny to see the ponies in there trimming the grass for them and lounging around. Apart from that the place is marvellous and incredibly beautiful.

Always busy at this site so be prepared to get their early if you want to be able to park without waiting. Parking is chargeable (£2.50), unless you are a trust member then it is free. The NT cafe is quite nice and their are loads of second hand books to purchase, which is a bonus. There are a number of different walks suitable for different challenge or length of time. Not all signposted as well as could be so take a good walking map. There had also been a few land slips which really could do with some attention. Fine for dogs also smaller dogs would struggle if you wanted to go up to the waterfall, as it is steep in places. My 8 yr old found it easy, however by taking her time and wearing decent walking boots. Great day out. Take a picnic for half way round is my advice.

We have visited Carding Mill Valley many times to walk the area and take in the scenery. There aren't many faults with the Valley. It is kept clean and tidy, it is a very popular place but it is unusual to spot any sign that people have passed through. We rarely see any signs of litter though dog mess does sometimes pose a problem when you travel further away from the Valley itself.There are three self guided walks for visitors but it is more fun to go off an explore. The paths are easy to follow (the Shropshire Way passes over the hills) but a map helps so much more. The area is a haven for cyclists but we have never encountered any problems when mountain bikers use the same paths (I am a keen mountain biker myself).The views when you leave the valley proper are amazing. The trig point along the Shropshire Way shows the landmarks and their distances. Walking over to Stiperstones is well worth it and possible given enough time. A Shuttlebus service operates during the Spring and Summer looping through the Shropshire Hills and is a great way to see the larger area.One niggling point, while the paths and trails are easy to follow, the quality of the waymarking posts is very poor. Many are damaged or are just lying on the ground.The Valley is a honeypot area - in the height of summer it will be very busy but the majority of visitors stay in the valley and picnic near the stream, the surrounding areas of hills are relatively quiet.Parking is free if you are a NT Member (£2.50 - £3.50 for cars, varying by season) but given the time that can be spent in the area and Church Stretton itself, the cost is reasonable. The café at the Valley is average at best and overpriced. A picnic or a visit into the town is a much better option if someone wants to eat (I would recommend Jemima's Kitchen in Church Stretton).

The valley is located in/next to Church Stretton. Easy to access and park, although i think there is a charge for parking on site. You can also easily walk from the village.There are a few main trails that lead from the far car park and many others that take you up into the hills elsewhere. The walks are pleasant and views spectacular from certain spots, i do tend to climb and get onto paths which require a little effort but its well worth it.There are some shops/cafes? along the bottom road in but i've never visited so cant comment.A note to car drivers, check when the sites close because we got locked in behind steel gates and had to call an emergency number, in which disturbing the tender from his dinner that evening. I must say though, he was more understanding than i would of having been disturbed by idiots that cant read clear signs. oops!

Nature at its best,walking,riding,trekking,climbing,bird watching and more.Gorgeous scenery that goes on and on.It was very cold,icy and snowing but still very pretty.

I've visited this area twice now and it is a beautiful part of the world. Sat next to the quaint town of Church Stretton, this is a great place to spend the day walking. The walks provided on the leaflet are all relatively simply and vary in length. I believe anyone with a decent level of fitness can do these walks, you certainly don't have to be super fit. The views from the top are superb and it's all achievable after a gently climb. Plenty of parking at a reasonable rate, just wish I lived nearer!

A few hours here are very relaxing, whatever the weather. Beautiful scenery, but primarily quiet and restful, irrespective of how many people are about. The tea rooms are excellent for light snacks. Overall it takes you back to the pre-electronic era!!. I was escorting a bus group of 49 of 50+ age group and they all thoroughly enjoyed our 2 hr stop.

May not have been warmest day of year but still stunning place to go plenty park spaces.. Ideal for the competent walker ,cyclist . ideal for people with dogs and children to .. It;s a National Trust Area, .all levels or grades for walkers /, and routes ,, and when you had your walk a great tea shop .seasons of year specials on menu board and it a cosy tea shop .. and the toilets adjacent , oh of course the shop Area. Open all year round Christmas day tea shop shut ,it just a grand day out

Beautiful area, plenty of walking. After a walk have a cuppa in the tea rooms with a piece of cake. We have now been in the autumn, spring & summer & have got to see it yet in the wintertime. Whatever the season, it's beautiful.

It has been a good 40+ years since I came to this area. I had vivid memories of a beautiful landscape and was concerned that it wouldn't be as lovely as I remembered. I need not have worried for the National Trust have made it more accessible for people to explore without losing the wildness and beauty. My only concern is that now so many people visit, that it might be a victim of its own success. At the weekend it was so full of people that, for me, it lost a little of its magic. Returning during the week, it was a little better.There is the usual NT shop and cafe. The cafe is warm but compared to other NT eating places, the food lacks imagination. Still, the staff are pleasant. May I suggest that a visit to the town and church of Church Stretton just a mile or so away? It is well worth it.