You can never go wrong with a stop off along the Severn, it is such a beautiful river that carves its way through some of the most spectacular landscape the United Kingdom has to offer. With its origins in the Cambrian Mountains, the river tracks down through Wales, meanders through England before forming the final divide between the South of Wales and Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. All along the way are so many recognisable and stunning spots, but none more so than the iconic Ironbridge. This small town situated in a gorge by the same name with that deep red bridge forming a perfect synergy between natural beauty and industrial achievement. But just beyond the quaint country town is a network of woodland and hillside walks all around the gorge's escarpments that can turn this little stop off on the Severn into a full days adventure!
The main attraction will, of course, be The Iron Bridge itself, a cast-iron bridge that began construction 1777 and was opened to the public in 1781 - born during Britain's rise in the industrial revolution and an icon of its age. The bridge is currently looking better than ever having only been painted last year, returned to its original rusted red colour from a faded green/blue. Its decorative substructure and beautiful deep red colour aren't what make this bridge interesting, what should be appreciated is that this was the world's first bridge constructed from iron. While you may be able to comfortably cross this bridge in under a minute to enjoy the views of the river, it is better appreciated from down at the river banks themselves, even as far away as the Museum of the Gorge, where you can truly appreciate the beauty of this bridge against the rolling Shropshire woodlands and country that surround it.
Exploring out into the town you will find a wonderful collection of cafés, eateries and an assortment of little knick-knacks and book-stores; the town really only spans a single road down the north side of the river but there is still a little bit to explore and see. As you walk along the river keep an eye out for all of the beautiful remnants of old industrial buildings; dotted up the hillside is a handful of old structures usually with signs or placards to let you know their former function. Following the river west, you will eventually arrive at the aforementioned Museum of the Gorge, where you can learn everything you could possibly want to know about this region's history and what makes it so important.
If you fancy getting out of the town, maybe capturing some views or just enjoying the nature of the area then you're definitely in luck. The River Severn itself is obviously a great place to relax but here it forms a clear divide between the two distinct sides of Ironbridge, on the north side is the town itself and on the south is a hillside lined with woodland just begging to be explored. Across the bridge and past the car park you will find the first of many boards detailing the walks in the area, all conveniently colour-coded to make your exploration as simple as possible. As with many of the places we talk about on Love Our Adventures you really cannot go wrong with any of the walks on offer, but if I had to recommend anything just make sure you choose a route that climbs up the hillside so you can really get some of those spectacular views over Ironbridge and beyond. A lot of the pathways are boggy but have been reinforced with wooden walkways, so standard rules apply: wear good shoes and clothing depending on the season and weather conditions. If you follow the paths too far west you used to find yourself in the shadow of the absolutely colossal cooling towers, but thanks to their demolition last year this is no longer the case; I haven't had the chance to retrace this walk since so maybe you will beat me to see this section of Shropshire without the towers obstructing the views.
It is not often a small English town and a river gorge earn the title of UNESCO world heritage site, but it is pretty clear to understand why. When you take an area of such natural beauty and combine it with a rich history then it makes for somewhere truly special. I think Ironbridge can give you a perfect day out, or make for an excellent stop along the Severn, as a proper British town full of opportunities for education and exploration. Take a day: walk the river, explore the woods, grab lunch and tour the museums for a full and varied experience; the best thing about this spot is just how much there is to see and do in such a small location.
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