Shropshire Star

Cycling, walks and wildlife in Shropshire Hills tourism drive

A two-wheeled jaunt between favourite food and ale stops, a hill walk finishing with a train ride home, and a night-time search for England’s most elusive predator.

Published
South Shropshire Hills

These are just some of the experiences featured in a major drive to boost tourism in the Shropshire Hills and surrounding market towns.

Working with the Shropshire Hills Destination Partnership, the project team is focussing on a range of newly presented visitor experiences and new tourism products that build on the area's existing strengths and reputation.

Paul Davis, of Shropshire Hills Tourism, said: "All of us working in tourism in south Shropshire are proud of the very special qualities of both its landscape and its people.

"We are pleased to be partners in a project that we hope will encourage more visitors to experience the area for themselves.”"

The launch comes at the end of a European-funded project aimed at building cooperation between tourism businesses in the area and encouraging sustainability in the industry.

One of the new products is a cycling holiday based on the best of the area's food and drink, developed with local company Wheely Wonderful Cycling.

A 24-mile walking trail, linking the new Heart of Wales Line Trail to the Offa's Dyke Path and Shropshire Way has also been launched, along with night-time nature walks with the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. The walks focus on areas where rare pine martens were recently filmed for the first time in England.

Nigel McDonald, Sustainable Tourism Officer at the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership, said: "This project builds on the principles set out in the Destination’s Sustainable Tourism Strategy.

"Our aim is to highlight and safeguard the area’s special qualities by developing attractive and sustainable tourism products that will benefit our economy."

Lezley Picton, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure at Shropshire Council, added: "Tourism is a hugely important element of the Shropshire economy and, in particular, that of the rural area that is the Shropshire Hills.

"We see this project as being the first steps in taking forward the promotion of this very special place. We want to boost the area’s profile as an outstanding destination now, and provide a solid foundation for future promotional activities."