Shropshire Hills facts for kids
The Shropshire Hills are a beautiful area of hills in England. They are all in the county of Shropshire. You can find famous places there like the Long Mynd, Wenlock Edge, The Wrekin, and the Clee Hills.
These hills are south of Shrewsbury, the main town in Shropshire. They stretch from the Welsh border to Much Wenlock and go south to Ludlow. They are surrounded by different areas. To the north is a flat plain. To the east is the Severn Valley. To the south, they meet the Teme Valley and other hills.
Exploring the Shropshire Hills Environment
The Shropshire Hills are a special place for nature. They are officially recognized as a "Natural Area" and a "National Character Area" by Natural England. This is a group that advises the UK government on the natural environment.
This area covers about 1,079 square kilometers (417 square miles). It measures around 50 kilometers (31 miles) from west to east and north to south. The hills often run in long lines from southwest to northeast. They look like rounded "whalebacks" and often have open moorland at the top. Forests grow on the steeper slopes.
You will see farms scattered in the valleys. Larger towns are mostly found along the Stretton Valley and the A49 road.
Tallest Hills in Shropshire
About half of the Shropshire Hills area is part of the Shropshire Hills AONB. This means it is an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty." It is protected because of its special landscape.
The region also has two "Special Areas of Conservation." These are places where important plants and animals are protected. There is also a "national nature reserve" called The Stiperstones NNR. This reserve helps protect wildlife and habitats.
Many smaller areas, called "Sites of Special Scientific Interest," also protect nature. These cover about 4,893 hectares (12,091 acres).
The main rivers here are the Corve, Onny, Severn, and Teme. The average height of the land is 84 meters (276 feet). The highest point is Brown Clee Hill, which is 540 meters (1,772 feet) tall.
Major Summits to Discover
Here are some of the most important hills in the Shropshire Hills:
- Brown Clee (540 meters or 1,772 feet)
- Stiperstones (536 meters or 1,759 feet)
- Titterstone Clee (533 meters or 1,749 feet)
- Long Mynd (Pole Bank) (516 meters or 1,693 feet)
- Caer Caradoc (459 meters or 1,506 feet)
- Heath Mynd (452 meters or 1,483 feet)
- Hope Bowdler (426 meters or 1,398 feet)
- The Wrekin (407 meters or 1,335 feet)
- Ragleth Hill (398 meters or 1,306 feet)
- Lawley (377 meters or 1,237 feet)
