Route 20 Approaching to Llanymynech

At The Royal Hill An explosive walk Explosives feature at both ends of this especially if you have a dog – but the It was closed and reopened twice before walk. Charges of black powder and, in views and general ambience will make final closure came when the ammunition more recent times, dynamite were used to all that clambering worthwhile. There are dumps were decommissioned. During bring down large quantities of limestone various places along the Vyrnwy one of its open phases a peculiar in the imposing quarries of Llanymynech. near where you can ‘wild’ looking bus on rails was used to carry At the other end vast amounts of swim (at your own risk). Easiest of all is passengers. Apparently its steel wheels high explosive and ammunition were the confluence of the Vyrnwy with the made such a screeching and rattling that stored during World War 2 in specially Severn where there is a gently sloping people only used the service if there was constructed buildings, linked by sidings to gravel ‘beach’. A glance at the debris no alternative. the railway that ran through the Nesscliffe gathered at the base of the road bridge a military training camp. little further downstream will tell you to Kinton – a curious saunter avoid swimming when there is anything through industrial units In between, the route follows the river other than a mild current. Vrnwy for much of the way and affords The pretty hamlet of Kinton features the opportunity to stop off at The Royal Looking up and to the south you will an attractive part-brick part-weather Hill near Pentre SY10 8ES ( 01743 741242 see Rodney’s Pillar surmounting the boarded tithe barn (now converted into for opening hours), a particularly scenic Breidden Hills. Admiral Rodney invented dwellings) attached to a small black and pub set slightly back from the river bank. ‘breaking the line’, a manoeuvre later white manor house of 1580. Such is the Melverley is a riverside village prone to used to great effect by Nelson at the geography of the area that the recently occasional and inevitable flooding that battle of Trafalgar. Rodney is known constructed collection of green-painted comes with such a location. St Peter’s, its to have expressed his gratitude to industrial units blends well into the black and white timber framed church and mid for the supply landscape. (one of only two in Shropshire), has been of such magnificent shipbuilding oak. in continual danger of slipping into the On his death in 1792 his admirers chose The Shropshire Way passes through river and has only been preserved by to reciprocate by erecting an obelisk to these units by way of two sturdy ingenious underpinning, supported by the ‘Admiral of the White’. wooden doors next to the large vehicle energetic and worldwide fundraising. access gates at each end. The gates The old ‘Potts’ line are locked at night and weekends but the doors should always allow access. Riverside walking Passing through the military training Keep an eye out for the Shropshire Way To the west of Melverley you will find area to the west of Wilcott you will cross buzzards and don’t be put off by the fact yourself walking along ‘The Argie’ - a long the old Potts railway line – optimistically it all looks rather private. You have the Along the section of flood defence embankment. constructed to connect mid Wales right of way! You may find the innumerable stiles and to the Stoke and the rather trying along this section – Potteries (hence ‘Potts’).

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas Riverside path along the Vyrnwy Argie

Llynclys Hill

Crickheath Hill Discover Shropshire Route 20 Pant Route Profile DIFFICULTY: level, some riverside paths. 120m Llanymynech 100m Hill 80m 60m Kilometres 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 40m 12¾ miles / 20.5 kilometres Miles 1234 56789101112 Ruyton Moss Heath Maesbrook Llanymynech B4398 Coney DI SMANTLED RAIL Bank Valeswood WAY

DISMANTLED RAIL Hopton

Kynaston Bullmoor Hill Hopton

Acksea A5 Coppice Kinton Iron Age Hillfort

WA A483 Y Nessclie Nesscliffe Hill Edgerley The Old Three Pigeons Country Park Domgay R i v Military e r Training Area V y

r

n Four Crosses w Wilcott

Haughton y Nesscliffe Motte Training Camp Melverley Green

Pentre B4393 Felton Butler Rhos The Royal Hill View of the Breiddens from Melverley

R i v e r S e v e 01KILOMETRES 2 r Melverley n The Tontine 01MILES ½ Melverley Military Church Training Area You are not permitted to copy, sub-licence, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form. Crewgreen © Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100049049 B4393 For more details and information visit: www.shropshirewalking.co.uk