Hawkstone Park Follies — Attraction in Weston-under-Redcastle

Was pleased to find this place open when going to collect a car we bought on ebay ten minutes up the road, pure luck I saw it on Google maps early on collection day when I was googling the sellers address. We were travelling over two hours and only really wanted somewhere to stop for toilet and refreshments near to the car as the bloke selling it wasn't in until late afternoon. We were worried about travelling all that way with everywhere closed. Turns out he had to wait. This is an amazing place very beautiful . It's open for booking now ( went 05/06 2020) you just go on their website and pay the small entry fee and take the email with you, very easy. Obviously word hasn't spread very far and wide that they are open yet , or people are just worried about covid. They have got sanitisers in place literally as you soon as you get out of the car park. The walk from the car park to the entrance is all uphill , as is the first part of the walk up some very high tough steps. The rest of the way you have various options on whether or not you want easy or tough route,, including on the way back. We opted for easy routes as it had been raining all the way there but stopped at 1 when we arrived and the sun came out , again pure luck BBC weather was spot on , we had no rain until we left when there was a torrential downpour... They did say that the easy routes meant that you won't see everything so we will probably go back at some point. We weren't going to risk it due to weather risk and obv we were slightly hurried as we had to go and get the car. I would say if you have a bit more time then do it . However we were done in to be honest and the easy route back has gradual incline on most of the way back. To be honest it was very quiet but there where a few times where social distancing wasn't possible due to the narrow pathways. However they have exceptionally clean toilets, lots of sanitizer available. but be warned if you are on the longer route , the toilets are right at the end of the outbound walk (same applies on the shorter route just quicker to get to), so if you can, go before you go. We were also disappointed to see almost no dogs were on a lead, despite every sign saying they must be, but of course this is the owners fault not the people running the place. Best thing was the view at the end of the outbound journey where you can see for about 20 miles which was spectacular. They say bring torches and you need to but only for the caves next to the toilet block at the end to walk through to get to the view . The caves are quite small and I literally needed a torch for twenty seconds , but you do need one each. We are a couple of slowcoaches and we done this walk in 2 hrs 15 mins exactly from leaving the car to getting back to it. You can easily spend a whole day here . Beaware no pushchairs allowed due to the steps and there are some very...

Excellent place to visit, great views, and spectacular scenery.

We visited on a Saturday, the car park was busy, but plenty big enough to find a space (parking is free). From the car park it is a short walk to the main entrance to the walk. There are restrooms and a cafe (more on which later) and a small gift shop area.

The walk is a circular route, with a great deal of steps both up and down, and tree roots and low branches to be wary of. It is a one way walk, which makes life easier for everyone (so quite how the family of three went the wrong way is a bit of a mystery)🤡

Sturdy footwear is definitely recommended, and a torch (for the caves and tunnels), although torches are available at the entrance if required, but I don't know the cost.

Whilst it is only a 3.5-4.0 mile walk around (shorter if you take a few of the different (easier) paths, it is quite strenuous, so be prepared, especially if taking younger children etc. There are numerous stopping points on the way to enjoy the views around the area, and a number of towers and follies to access.

There are toilets half way around the walk, and a number of well located benches for stopping and a picnic.

One thing I would say is this is definitely NOT a walk on a wet day or after heavy rain, as some of the downhill gravel stretches can I imagine be a bit treacherous and muddy too.

We were quite lucky in that it was quite a cool day, as in the summer it would get pretty hot walking around.

It is highly recommended to take water or other liquids with you, as I can vouch that the walk does make you thirsty!!🥵

Some of the white arrow signage is a little confusing but there is a free map supplied when you buy your ticket, and this should definitely be taken as it does help.

Unfortunately one of the return routes was closed off part way round, but nonetheless it was a very enjoyable walk.

On arrival back at the entrance as mentioned there are toilets and a cafe. We were looking forward to a cuppa and perhaps a slice of cake, but the cafe was quite disappointing as it is completely self service, and does not seem to offer much in the way of snacks etc.

In fact we just went home and had a cuppa when we got back.

That said, it is a very enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours, and if the weather is kind then the views...

A must go attraction in Shropshire. Firstly and most importantly, I'd advise you take note of ALL their websites warnings. It is strenuous, and even I got lactic acid going through my legs doing some elements of the trail, especially climbing the Monument Tower. You would be wise to wear walking boots/shoes and not trainers, and you'll definitely need a torch if you are planning to explore the caves. Our biggest be aware of is if you take your dog. Firstly dogs must always be on a lead. Having tried it with our dog, I would caution trying it with a normal length lead, because even with our 2½ metre lead I was nearly pulled over. This was because on some parts of the trail, our dog needed to have space to negotiate the uneven steps/surfaces at some pace, because he was struggling to keep his footing. If you have a small dog, I think it would be even trickier. We saw some owners carrying their little dogs, but that in itself isn't easy when dealing with slippery uneven upward or downward surfaces. The entry prices was very good value for money, and parking was free and plentiful. The food and drinks in the glass house is good quality and value for money. I'd recommend using the toilet by the Glass House at the start of the trail, as there isn't another one until you get to the far point of the trail. It's a good idea to take something to eat (like a trail bar) and drink too on your walk, because if you are planning on doing the longest walk, you are easily looking at a 3 hour round trip. Finally, the best bit, the views are staggeringly good, from the top of the Monument Tower to the various points of interest around the trail. One of the most enjoyable places...