# Mortimer Trail

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{{Short description|30-mile footpath in the western England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
 |name=Mortimer Trail
 |photo=Kington.jpg
 |caption=The western trail head is at [Kington, Herefordshire](/source/Kington%2C_Herefordshire)
 |location= [Welsh Marches](/source/Welsh_Marches), England
 |designation=
 |length={{Convert|30|mi|0}}<ref name="ldwa">{{cite web |url=https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Mortimer+Trail |title=Mortimer Trail |publisher=Long Distance Walkers Association |accessdate=21 June 2017}}</ref>
 |trailheads=[Ludlow](/source/Ludlow)<br>{{coord|52.368|-2.717|display=inline|region:GB_scale:10000}}<br>[Kington](/source/Kington%2C_Herefordshire)<br>{{coord|52.205|-3.036|display=inline|region:GB_scale:10000}}
 |use=[Hiking](/source/Hiking)
 |elev_change=
 |highest=
 |lowest=
 |difficulty=
 |season=All year
 |sights=
 |hazards=
}}
The '''Mortimer Trail'''  is a waymarked [long-distance footpath](/source/long-distance_footpath) and recreational walk in the counties of [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire) and [Herefordshire](/source/Herefordshire) in England.

==The route==
The route is named after the [Mortimer](/source/Mortimer) family of ruling [Marcher Lord](/source/Marcher_Lord)s, often titled [Earl of March](/source/Earl_of_March), whose rise through successive generations from [Norman](/source/Normans) times through the [medieval](/source/medieval) period helped to shape the history and geography of this area of the [Welsh Marches](/source/Welsh_Marches).

The route runs between [Ludlow Castle](/source/Ludlow_Castle), the former headquarters of the [Council of the Marches](/source/Council_of_the_Marches) and a seat of Mortimer power, and [Kington, Herefordshire](/source/Kington%2C_Herefordshire), in the quiet west of the county near the Welsh border.

The {{convert|30|mi|adj=on}} route crosses the [River Teme](/source/River_Teme) and enters [Mortimer Forest](/source/Mortimer_Forest), an area of forested ridges. It passes [Croft Castle](/source/Croft_Castle) and the Iron Age hill fort [Croft Ambrey](/source/Croft_Ambrey) (not far from [Wigmore](/source/Wigmore%2C_Herefordshire) and the initial seat of Mortimer power), and then passes through quiet [Aymestrey](/source/Aymestrey). Near Aymestrey it passes through Puckhouse Wood, reputedly haunted by [pucks](/source/Puck_(mythology)) or wood sprites. According to lore, a traveller lost in the wood at night paid a stipend for a bell to be tolled to rescue travellers from the Puck's clutches.

The path crosses the [River Lugg](/source/River_Lugg) and the [River Arrow](/source/River_Arrow_(Wales)) and ends in Kington.<ref name="ldwa" />

Five loop walks depart from and return to the main waymarked trail at various points along the route, enabling investigation of surrounding attractions, villages and features. ''The Mortimer Trail Official Route Guide''<ref>{{cite book |title=The Mortimer Trail – Official Route Guide |publisher=Herefordshire Council |first=Trevor |last=Hulme |date=2002 |isbn=0953698319}}</ref> details these.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mortimer Trail}}
*[http://www.royalforestofdean.info/mortimer-trail.shtml Extensive info on the route and its history from Royal Forest of Dean Info]
*[https://www.contours.co.uk/walking-holidays/mortimer-trail.php Contours] Mortimer Trail
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/220016 Mortimer Trail information board and track]
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/danieldslee/sets/72157622063793727/ Flickr photo set of Mortimer Trail walk]

Category:Long-distance footpaths in England
Category:Footpaths in Shropshire
Category:Footpaths in Herefordshire
Category:Kington, Herefordshire
Category:Ludlow

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mortimer Trail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_Trail) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_Trail?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.