Situated in the north of Shropshire off the A49 between Shrewsbury and Whitchurch, this park is quite a gem. Not simply a park, but quite literally an adventure, with every turn presenting a new delight.
You make your way from the entrance into the woodland and begin the assent to your first stop, the "White Tower". Perched on the top of a hill, this tower commands some pretty nice views across the county. While you are not allowed access inside, you can view mannequins retelling some of the history of the area.
From here you can take the path through the aptly named "Rhododendron Jungle", as it twists and turns through the heart of these wonderful bushes. Even if you don't visit when they are in bloom, ducking and weaving along this path still gives off that feeling of exploring the unknown.
 The tangled mass of twisted trunks that is the "Woodland Walk" is next up on route. As you walk through here see if you can spot the face carved into one of the trunks.
Eventually you come across a clearing. Towering overhead is "The Monument". Scaling the 150 steps within this column provides you with wonderful views of Shropshire, making it well worth the climb.
 Continuing on with the journey through this intriguing park, you will come across a signpost on your left to the "Hermitage". This takes you off the main path, through an underground passage to a small hut. Nothing too special about it though. Make sure you climb back up to the path you came from, otherwise you’ll miss out on the next gem.
Now it's on towards the "Swiss Bridge". Crossing a narrow gorge is this small wooden construction, so narrow it is barely wide enough for one foot. Not one for the vertigo sufferers amongst you, but luckily there is an alternative path if you do not fancy crossing.
 Next up on the list of sites is the "Cleft". This is a narrow gorge with sheer moss covered rock on either side. In the centre there is an enticing underground passage, although this simply takes you back to the path you have just travelled.
This leads you into a labyrinth of underground passageways opening out into a series of underground rooms called the ‘Grotto’. Keep an eye out for your companions, as it can be easy to lose them. If you turn left when you reach the large room with windows you come out onto a ledge overlooking the Hawkstone golf course, with some great scenery to look at. Heading back into the labyrinth and keeping to the left will take you out of the Grotto and to the "Awful Precipice", a sheer cliff face with more impressive views.
 Heading through the bushes behind the cliff is toilets and seating area with drinks and ice cream on sale. After recuperating it’s time for the journey back. Walking along the low path takes you along the bottom of the sandstone cliffs, with the occasional out cove cut away and the final passage carved through the rock.
In all, this walk takes roughly three and a half hours at a casual pace, although there are shorter routes that bypass some of the sites. I recommend you bring a torch and comfortable walking shoes or trainers.
Visit www.hawkstone.co.uk for more infomation.
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