The Giant of the Wrekin

The Wrekin (/ˈriːkɪn/ REE-kin) is a prominent hill located in eastern Shropshire, England, approximately five miles (8 km) west of Telford. It rises to 407 metres (1,335 feet) above sea level, towering above the Shropshire Plain and marking the symbolic gateway into Shropshire for westbound travellers on the M54 motorway. The Wrekin lies within the northern reaches of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

This much-loved landmark is a popular destination for walkers and tourists, offering sweeping views across Shropshire and beyond. On clear days, it is visible from as far away as Staffordshire, the Black Country, and even distant landmarks such as Manchester’s Beetham Tower, Winter Hill in Lancashire, and Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire.

The Wrekin is steeped in Shropshire folklore. One popular legend tells of a giant named Gwendol Wrekin ap Shenkin ap Mynyddmawr, who harboured a grudge against the people of Shrewsbury. Bent on destruction, the giant set out to flood the town by dumping a colossal spadeful of earth into the River Severn.

Near Wellington, he encountered a cobbler returning from Shrewsbury market, carrying a large sack filled with worn shoes. When the giant asked for directions to Shrewsbury, explaining his plan to drown it, the cobbler quickly hatched a plan to deter him. Pointing to his bag of shoes, he claimed, “It’s a very long walk—you see all these shoes? I wore them out getting back from there!”

Convinced the journey was too long, the giant abandoned his plan. He dropped the mound of earth where he stood, creating the Wrekin. He then scraped the mud from his boots, which formed the smaller Ercall Hill nearby. Ironically, despite the giant's failure, Shrewsbury still suffers frequent flooding from the River Severn.