MAIN LOCATION

Leave Ludlow on the old trunk road down Broad Street or Old Street and follow the winding road up and around the town, over bridge past a couple of viewing points and a further couple of miles, ignore the first obvious lay-by on the right opposite the Forestry Commission entrance and carry on for a another half a mile. You will see another lay-by with a lovely view of nearby hills; from the car park on the road side we will follow a forestry track.

LOCATION 1: THE TRACK PATH

Walk along the track until it is crossed by twin overhead electric cables on pylons. Go past the pylons and continue for another mile until an obvious narrow track on your right. This is a steep track heading down a hill. Collect fossils from top of track and at bottom.

LOCATION 2: THE GORGE

The track levels out for a few yards, you will see a narrow overgrown path on the right leading down to a track on the official walkway, Follow the track ahead and left leaving the aqueduct behind you. After half a mile further along and you will see a bigger second aqueduct. The track bends to the left with an open area ahead. There is a small gorge and depression here, collect from the cutting within the gorge to the right.

LOCATION 3: HILLTOP CLEARING

Follow track round the aqueduct. A very steep path goes left, uphill just before a wooden seat and electricity pole. Turn left up this path and it will lead to a a forestry road. Continue up the hill right to the top where you will see a fantastic view of the Aqueduct in the foreground. There is a recent clearance here where fossils may be found plentiful. Above this cutting is the main forest track, the otherside of the track is another cutting containing many large shells.

LOCATION 4: TRACK CUTTING

From the main track above the hilltop clearance, turn left and follow the track around, you will find a small exposure full of small Brachiopods, return to Location 3 and continue past following the main forestry track to return back to the car park.

EQUIPMENT

These locations are quite a distance apart and it is highly recommended to take hiking gear, rucksack, good walking boots etc. Also ensure that you have food and drink. A compass and GPS Navigation device may also come in handy for this trip. A hammer and chisel should be taken, maybe a small pick and wedging device if you can carry it. Take paper and good wrapping material as some fossils can be fragile. Pen, Paper, Labels ect are a good idea so that you can mark and separate where you found the fossils at which location.

SAFETY & DANGERS