Bishops and Brewing Ride Jack Mytton Way Shropshire Part of the Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway Coincides with the Jack Mytton Way
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Bishop’s Moat to Clun Route 4 Bishops and Brewing Ride Jack Mytton Way Shropshire Part of the Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway coincides with the Jack Mytton Way. This 68 mile route crosses Shropshire from the River Severn to the Welsh border at Llanfair Waterdine. The distinctive waymark depicts the legendary Jack Mytton, a characterful but wayward local landowner after whom the route is named. There is also a network of ten circular routes linked to the Jack Mytton Way Bishop’s Moat which criss cross the Shropshire Hills, stretching from Wenlock Edge, across the Long Mynd, to Standing at a height of 340m (1,115ft), the jagged Stiperstones. Further details from overlooking the Powys-Shropshire border, Shropshire County Council. is the remains of a motte and bailey castle known as Bishop’s Moat. It is now a gorse Bury Ditches covered mound but it can be seen how its position, lying at a narrow point along Bury Ditches is a spectacular Iron Age hill the hill, could have helped control access fort which can be visited on foot. The fort along the Ridgeway. The earthwork is on occupies an area of about 3 hectares (7½ a site founded around 1120 and named acres) and is widely acknowledged as one of after the bishops of Hereford who held the the finest hill forts in Britain. The defending The Bridleway winds down from the Kerry The remote rural community of Mainstone is area in the middle ages, the district known ramparts are up to seven metres high and Ridgeway through the farming landscape named after the stone which now stands in as Bishop’s Teirtref. The castle stood at the were designed to help the inhabitants west of Bishop’s Castle. The town is only front of the pulpit of the Parish Church. It was western end of this territory and would survive the most ferocious of attacks. It is a further two miles along to the end of the most likely used as a weight for bags of grain have played a role in the administration of only since the 1970’s that visitors have been Ridgeway and is well worth a visit. Formerly as the settlement in medieval times was a the area. able to see the fort in its full splendour as one of the smallest boroughs in England the trading post on the Kerry Ridgeway. However previously it was well hidden by forestry for town is a vibrant community. It was founded there is a local folk tale, dating from the 19th many decades. in Saxon times when the land was given to the century, which recounts the stone (weighing Bishop of Hereford by the lord of the manor, 204.5 pounds!) was used by the young men Egwin Shakehead, after he was cured of palsy of the locality to demonstrate their strength in Hereford Cathedral. A castle was built in the and win their lady love. According to the tale Public House Cafe / Shop KEY to maps 11th century and the town gradually grew up the young men competed in a test of strength Telephone Church Ride Route with direction number around it. which involved throwing the stone across the Car Parking Public Toilet Jack Mytton Way quaintly named river Unk. The one to throw Visitor Information Buildings The occupations and industries in the town the ‘mainstone’ the furthest won the hand of Bridleway are still predominately based on agriculture. the lady of his choice. It is unlikely that the Footpath INFORMATION Brewing has been carried out since at least the local youth of today would go to such lengths Byway The Sun, Clun: 01588 640305 17th century when the Three Tuns public house to ‘get their girl!’ A Road / B Road The White Horse, Clun: 01588 640305 obtained a licence and the tradition continues in the town to this day. There are two breweries Other road in the town and there is much of interest to the visitor among the historic streets. Route 4 Bishop’s Moat to Clun: 12 miles / 19.5 km Start: Bishop’s Moat • OS map 216 1 8 Cross straight over onto a minor Grid Ref: SO292896 road to Acton. In hamlet bear right towards Acton House then left onto 1 At junction of roads take a right turn 2 a hedged lane which climbs up and towards Mainstone. Turn off the road where along the side of Acton Bank to it bears right, after about 400 metres, and take Brockton village. the lane ahead. 3 4 At Brockton turn right onto road 9 2 As the lane begins to climb take a bridleway on and follow for about 2km to Bury the left which crosses fields then follows round Ditches car park. the hillside to join a stone track. 5 Keep left through the car park 10 3 Just before Middle Woodbatch Farm there is a and here the route joins the junction of bridleways. Turn right up a sunken Jack Mytton Way and runs lane which climbs uphill, crosses a field to a gate along the hillside below onto another bridleway. 6 9 the hillfort. 4 Turn right and follow track out to road. Cross straight 7 11 The route turns left off over road and follow the track which takes Shropshire Way 8 the main forestry track. over Reilth Top. This joins the road at Guilden Down and 5 At road turn left and continue for about ½ mile (1km). At descends into the town Cefn Einion go straight over the crossroads and left at the next of Clun past the Youth junction. After another ½ mile (1km) turn right into forestry and ! Hostel and Memorial follow track through Blakeridge Wood. # Hall. 6 Where a track joins from left keep right then follow the track as it 12 After passing the bears to the right eventually reaching a track leading to the left Memorial Hall turn left out of the forestry into a grass field with a track leading out to along Ford Street to High the road by farm buildings. Street and the village centre. 7 Turn left onto road and follow out to the A488 Bishops Castle – Clun Road. $ Finish: Clun High Street OS map 201 Grid Ref: SO304808 0 KILOMETRES 1 2 3 4 Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Shropshire County Council 100019801. 2008.