Shropshire Tasty Trail Makes a Welcome Return After Three-Year Hiatus
Shropshire Festivals has officially announced the highly anticipated relaunch of the Shropshire Tasty Trail, a beloved walk-and-eat event that celebrates the region's culinary delights and natural beauty. The event, which last took place in 2023, is set to return on Sunday, April 26, offering participants a unique opportunity to explore the Shropshire countryside while indulging in a locally sourced three-course meal.
A New Route Through Private Estates and Scenic Landscapes
The 2026 edition of the Tasty Trail will follow a brand-new route, starting from the historic Oteley Estate in Ellesmere. This picturesque journey will guide walkers along footpaths, through private estates not typically accessible to the public, and across fields and woodlands, with stunning views of meres along the way. The 9.5-mile trail has been carefully plotted to include three stations where participants will enjoy a starter, main course, and dessert, each paired with a locally produced beverage.
Locally Sourced Menu and Drink Pairings
The culinary experience is at the heart of the Tasty Trail, featuring a menu crafted entirely from Shropshire produce. Walkers can look forward to a starter of Oteley Made Sausage Rolls with Hill Farm Spiced Plum Chutney or a Spiced Sweet Potato Chickpea Roll, accompanied by a medium Shropshire Cider. For the main course, options include Oteley's Slow Cooked Beef Bourguignon or a Three Bean Chilli, served with Niche Sourdough Bread and Estate's Dairy Cultured Butter, paired with Station Bitter from Stonehouse Brewery. Dessert will be a mixed berry cheesecake from Greenfields Farm Shop, complemented by an Iced Tea Spritz made with The Shropshire Distillery's After Noon Citrus Grey Tea Liqueur.
Non-alcoholic options will be available at each stop, ensuring all dietary preferences are catered to. In a thoughtful touch, Aaron & Partners Solicitors are providing cup-holding lanyards to help walkers carry their drinks comfortably along the route.
Event Details and Accessibility
Tickets are now available with staggered start times, allowing participants to enjoy the peacefulness of the countryside at their own pace. Priced at £49.95 per person for alcoholic drink options or £45.95 for soft drinks only, each ticket includes admittance to the walk, the three-course meal, a drink at each stop, a reusable half-pint cup, and a lanyard. The event will feature toilets and water refill stations at each stop, with free parking provided. Dogs on leads are welcome, though owners should note that stiles on the route may require lifting them over.
Due to uneven ground and stiles, the event is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. All dietary requirements must be communicated to the Shropshire Festivals team at the time of booking.
Celebrating Local Produce and Community Spirit
The trail will conclude at the Oteley Estate's private 10-acre garden and stableyard, where local businesses will sell products used on the trail. The estate's on-site farm shop and café will also be open on the day, offering further opportunities to support Shropshire producers.
Beth Heath, Shropshire Festivals' director of fun, expressed her excitement about the event's return: "I am thrilled to bring back one of my favourite events – it's all about celebrating local produce and our beautiful Shropshire countryside – you can't beat it! In recent years, we have been too busy delivering public festivals and corporate event management to accommodate the Tasty Trail, but our visitors have not stopped asking when it will be coming back. So we are so pleased to be able to fit it into our busy 2026 event calendar."
She added, "This is an environmentally low-impact event that champions our local food and drink sector. If you love discovering new countryside and enjoying locally made products, this event is for you. Tickets are likely to sell out as they are limited, so don't delay in booking yours."
With events planned every month through to winter, the Tasty Trail marks a vibrant start to Shropshire Festivals' 2026 calendar, promising a memorable day out for food and nature enthusiasts alike.
