Talking Telford: Getting miles in the boots and wonders in the mind

I had booked the week off work well in advance and put myself down for a walk almost every day, in the hopes of filling in more of my mental map of Telford, learning new things and seeing new sights.

I got my wish and then some: my first guided walk of the week took us up the Wrekin via a secluded path I must have walked past dozens of times and never noticed, emerging onto the hilltop in howling wind and rain plus dense fog in every direction. We paused for about a microsecond to imagine the views we might have had on a clearer day, before hurrying back down the hill.

Then came a history lesson from the expert Friends of Apley Woods. We saw what remains of a bathing pool, an ice house and a dovecote in the woods, all status symbols in old English society.

More history was to follow, in the form of a tour around Hadley’s old canal network and two towering locks that have been preserved as reminders of the industry that helped build modern Telford.

But it was the next walk that I’ll remember for a long time: a guided tour of Sunnycroft, Wellington’s own Victorian gentleman’s villa. A fascinating tour of the villa and lesson in its history from an enthusiastic volunteer who brought its stories to life was followed by a visit to the unique, Grade II listed conservatory in the grounds. I could have spent hours at Sunnycroft that day, and would encourage anyone who gets the chance to leap at it.

This was the second year in a row I’ve booked the week off work to get stuck in to the festival, and the second year in a row I’ve been humbled by the sheer scale of effort put in by volunteers; not just the festival organisers, Wellington Walkers are Welcome, but of all the organisations they work with.

It was heartening to see their efforts rewarded with healthy attendances - and hopefully healthy donations to help them keep doing their important, unsung work keeping walking alive in Telford. Here’s to next year.