Bishop's Castle to Clun

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SHROPSHIRE WAY SOUTH SECTION About Stage 3: Bishop’s Castle to Clun 12 miles

Clun Castle north to Chepstow on the River Severn Estuary, a total length of 149 miles. Trade was controlled by restricting access across the border to defined routes through the earthworks (cross dykes).

The wonderful ridge running from Three Gates to just outside Clun is called the Cefns, meaning ridges in Welsh. Enjoy the fine views of the Clun valley looking eastwards. Clun Sculptures Clun A pretty place with a castle, an original This stage provides a mixture of steep packhorse bridge and ascents and descents with good views interesting Almhouses. of remote rolling hills and meadowland. It has its own Green For a while the path follows the National Man Festival in May. Trail of Offa’s Dyke before a pleasant ridge walk to Clun. John Osborne, the playwright, is buried in Bishop’s Castle to Churchtown the churchyard having You will leave Bishop’s Castle passing ‘zipped lived for a number of years at The Hirst, a large up’ houses justifying its quirky reputation. Head house nearby. The dominant Castle ruin has south from the church to a deep valley bringing Norman origins. you to Middle Woodbatch where the climb up to Reilth Top begins. It is worth turning round There is a choice of inns and cafes here. and looking behind at the views towards the Long Mynd. From Reilth Top the way is steeply downhill to reach a wooded valley walk to Almouses in Clun Churchtown. This is a tranquil place to pause before the climb up on Offa’s Dyke and the switchback down to Middle Knuck and up again.

Churchtown to Clun This is one of the best preserved sections of Offa’s Dyke and a place where cross dykes can be seen when our route diverges to head for Clun. Offa’s Dyke was constructed in the 8th Century to provide a frontier between Mercia and Wales. It extended from Prestatyn in the

www.shropshireway.org.uk Upper Snead

Snead A489 Pentre More Stage 3: Bishop’s Castle toClun Lydham Newton Cwm A485 B4388

A488 Aston Hill Bankshead Bishop’s Moat B4383 Offa’s Dyke Upper Path Woodbatch Lea BISHOP’S CASTLE Lower Edenhope Middle Woodbatch Farm Reilth Top Mainstone Churchtown Hill Churchtown B4385 Colebatch Hill

Colebatch Middle Knuck Cefn Einion Blakeridge Wood Offa’s Dyke Bryn A488 Path Hill

Brockton Hergen Three Gates Bryn Walcot Hill Park Lower Acton Down Argoed

Mardu The Cefns Withins Wood Bury Red Wood Ditches

0 KILOMETRES 1 2 Sunny Hill 1 0 MILES /2 1 Whitcott Clunton Hill Keysett Guilden Steppleknoll Bicton Down Stepple B4368 A488 Newcastle Radnor Wood Upper WHITCHURCH Spoad Clunton Offa’s Dyke B4368 Path ELLESMERE B4368 Weston Hill Leasowes Spoad CLUN Shropshire Way Footpaths Bridleways Sowdley WSHREWSBURood Y Bur eld Wellington TELFORD Circular walk Open Access land A488 Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre Place of Worship Churchbank LlanfairCafé Hill Caravan/Camping Site MUCH WENLOCK Bridges Public House Museum Wilderhope Toilets Car Parking BISHOP'S CASTLE Building of Historical Interest UpperRailway Station Treverward Castle English Heritage CRAVEN ARMS Cold Green Clun Gardens National Trust LUDLOW Visitor Attractions Forestry Commission Hill summit Youth Hostel