Central England – Shrewsbury
Distance: 8km/4½ miles
Time: 3hrs
Type: Town tour
Where: Circular walk around Shrewsbury town centre
Start/End: EShrewsbury railway station (SJ495128)
Terrain: Easy walk on pavements, cobbled streets and riverside paths. Two short climbs and three series of steps
Maps: OS Explorer 241; Landranger LR 126
In one of those pleasing historical symmetries, 2009 is both the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his work, On the Origin of Species. Man and book revolutionised our understanding of how humans and other species evolved, and the young Darwin spent many of his first 27 years in Shrewsbury. Natural competition for survival extends to tourism authorities, and Shrewsbury has vigorously promoted its Darwinian associations, many of which can be appreciated on this trail. Architecturally, Shrewsbury retains the hallmarks of a medieval market town, with timber-framed black-and-white buildings and 600 listed properties, making it one of the UK’s most picturesque towns. The snippets of biography available as you explore the town may well help you put together a more rounded picture of Darwin the evolved ape, as well as Darwin the scientist.
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