Wentnor is a small village at the lower end of a long ridge west of the Long Mynd in southern Shropshire. A peaceful and remote spot off the beaten track, it makes a good destination or break on a countryside walk.
The village consists of a few houses either side of the road, a church and a pub. Other hamlets, a shop and another pub are a short distance away down country lanes. Wentnor is low-key and picturesque, with its pretty cottages, flower displays and historic barns. Visitors might spot a few quirky features such as the hand-painted welcome sign and a painted stone advising ‘Best try one at the Crown’.
The historic parish church, dedicated to St Michael, is devout and charming, with modern hand-stitched prayer mats depicting local scenes and trades. Parts of the church date back to the Middle Ages, although much of the building was rebuilt in the nineteenth century. Memorial tablets commemorate notable local people and events and one of these is particularly interesting. Situated inside the church under the tower, the ‘Hurricane Stone’ records the victims of a hurricane which destroyed a house at Asterton, near the Long Mynd. Look out, too, for the upside-down head carved into a stone on an external corner of the church.
The Crown Inn is at the heart of the village; a friendly place which serves meals as well as drinks, and has some outside tables. It also offers B&B accommodation. The Inn on the Green is a more modern hostelry a short distance from the village in the Onny Valley, and also offers both food and rooms. There’s small and basic shop and post office close by.
Footpaths lead from the village across the surrounding countryside. One trail follows the spine of the hill from Wentnor and leads down to Bridges, where there is another fine country pub and a bus stop for the summer weekend shuttle bus.
