Outdoor and adventure activities
A thousand miles of trails. One extraordinary town.
Telford was built as a Forest City and it shows. A million trees, 23 nature reserves, the River Severn and enough trails, routes and open water to fill a season of adventures without repeating yourself.
The outdoors in Telford isn't a backdrop. It's the point. The Borough was designed from the outset with green space woven through its centre with parks, woodlands, nature reserves and waterways threading between its towns in a way that makes getting outside feel natural rather than effortful. The result is one of the greenest urban environments in Britain, recognised by the United Nations as a Tree City of the World and delivering on that status with 150 species across a million trees.
Walking is the simplest way in. Over a thousand miles of trails cover every kind of terrain from the flat, accessible towpaths of the canal network to the steep woodland paths of the Ironbridge Gorge and the open ridge of The Wrekin, where the effort of the climb is repaid immediately and generously. The Silkin Way connects towns and heritage sites along a largely traffic-free route, making it one of the most rewarding walks in the Midlands for those who like their walking to tell a story as well as cover ground.
Cyclists have 178 miles of dedicated routes to explore including canal paths, countryside loops, heritage trails and family-friendly tracks that work for all abilities. On the water, the River Severn opens possibilities that surprise people who thought Telford was a landlocked destination with paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking and the deeply characterful experience of a coracle ride on one of Britain's great rivers.
For those who want more intensity, the outdoor pursuits offer climbs, zip-lines, off-road driving, horse riding and rural pursuits. Telford's outdoor offer moves comfortably between the meditative and the adrenaline-fuelled and there's plenty of room for both in the same day.
Walking trails for every level: From gentle canal-side strolls to the rewarding climb of The Wrekin, Telford's walking routes cover every ability and every ambition. Over a thousand miles of paths, all waiting to be followed.
Cycling through a Forest City: One hundred and seventy-eight miles of cycle routes thread through woodland, along waterways and between historic towns. Telford's cycling network is one of the finest in the Midlands and one of the most scenic.
On the water: The River Severn runs through the heart of the Borough, offering paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking and coracle rides in some of the most beautiful river scenery in the country. Get on the water. You won't regret it.
