The Ironbridge Gorge

The Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire is an extraordinary place where nature and history have combined to produce a landscape of great beauty. After the Ice Age, the River Severn carved out the gorge, which revealed the iron, coal and clay seams that provided the raw materials for the Industrial Revolution. The area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

Most walks start directly from your hotel and take you along lanes, dismantled railway lines and canal tow-paths as well as countryside footpaths and bridleways through farmland and valleys. The gorge is surrounded by woodland, conserved by the Severn Valley Countryside Trust.

Walks will include sections of long distance trails such as the Shropshire Way, The Severn Way and The Coalbrookdale Trail. You will also venture further afield to Benthall Hall, Buildwas Abbey and Much Wenlock with its Priory.

We include a Passport Ticket to all of the Ironbridge Museums. We'll allow for some free time to explore more. Darby’s blast furnace in Coalbrookdale, Coalport China Museum, Jackfield Tiles, the inclined plane system at Blists Hill to move barges between levels without locks and of course the Bridge itself, built by the ironmasters in 1780 as the first iron bridge in the world, are among the highlights. You'll also gain an insight into the lives of the industrialists, engineers and workers who made this such an iconic place.