10 varied walks around 10 varied walks around WHITCHURCH, Whitchurch, 10 varied walks around WHITCHURCH Shropshire Shropshire – Whitchurch Walkers

Price: £5.00 ISBN 978-0-9569021-2-2

9 780956 902122 www.whitchurchwalkers.co.uk Whitchurch Walkers 10 Walks Around Whitchurch Town Centre Whitchurch, Shropshire

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Hinton Kiln Green Old Hall C H E S WALK 1 T E R R O A D B5395 Hospital Supermarket (minor injuries) Bubney A49 Hill Valley LONDON ROAD B Golf Club A Civic RG WALK 9 WALK 3 A WALK 7 T Centre Greenfields ES Alport BR Nature Reserve OW N N O LO T H W Hall Green NG I I G Heritage RD H S A S T T WALK 2 HILL S R MILL Y T S Centre Danson’s Bridge RY R E T HER NE E Y EE S W E R E STR T T A T T O T M O W RS T EN ALB N PE S EEN D T Canal D PEP R Broughall K ROA Jubilee G Chemistry SMALLBROO CA S T STLE H Supermarket A T Park ILL I O N A495 W R Chemistry ET A O E T A D R E ST R Swimming Pool Whitewell LL G T A495 I AT E E D M E WHITCHURCH G E E R L E Y R O L T A D IL S H D ER K T R O A A D EW N Belton WALK 8 B NI G E W R E X H A M R O A D B536 RID W 4 B P G O Pan Castle R T R O O T S Edgeley E N R

Motte & Bailey M O

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WALK 5 RY D LA WALK 4 N E

Ash Magna D Ash Parva A O S Alkington Hall R E D N E D Brown O G G T F E G O L E Moss N R Y R O I A D D K L B WALK 10 5 A 3 9 5

Cricket 6 7 Ground 4 5 B

A62 Runcorn A56 © Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data A41 Maccleseld A49 Mold WALK 6 A41 Heath Key to map symbols

Wrexham P M6 Higher Heath R E E S WHITCHURCH R A O Stoke-on-Trent D Walk Routes Car parking Golf Acourse4 A495 1 Ellesmere A49 Footpath Public House Nature reserve

Sta ord Bridleway Church Leisure & sports centre A483 A5 ISBN 978-0-9569021-2-2 Toilets A41 A-road Camping & caravan site Cannock Welshpool A54 B-road Picnic area Published by Built-up area Wolverhampton M6 Whitchurch Walkers / Oswestry Ramblers Minor road Refreshments Woodland Railway with station Bus service or bus station Streams, ponds and lakes A49 Birmingham M5 Kidderminster

45 RCH HU W C A IT L K H Introduction S Walk 1: Fields & Fairways W

W 1 ALK No. On behalf of the Whitchurch Walkers, Distance: 4 miles / 6.4km • Duration: about 2¼ hours welcome to Whitchurch in beautiful Start point: Whitchurch Civic Centre Shropshire. This book of walks will give A gently undulating and scenic walk with plenty of interest. you a splendid introduction to the joys Field boundary crossings mainly involve stiles and of walking in the north of the county. there are some footbridges. The countryside around Whitchurch is gently undulating, surprisingly varied and relatively unspoilt with many inter- St. Alkmund’s – esting features. information and a warm welcome. To a church with ‘previous’ You will find the walks are relatively easy find it, walk a few metres down the High Whitchurch takes its name from White Church going. They will give you plenty of time Street from the Civic Centre and turn left – its second church, built of white stone in and energy to sample the environment up Bluegates, following the footprint 1087 on the site of the original Saxon church. and some local history, as well as the signs in the pavement. The Heritage A third church on the site built in 1350 excellent refreshments on offer. Centre is a large white building at the collapsed in 1711 and was quickly replaced top, on the corner. by the present and fourth church which The land was shaped by the last ice was consecrated as St. Alkmund’s. It could sheet to leave the area’s characteristic This book of walks has been produced hardly have been called White Church as its meres and lesser pools as well as large by the Whitchurch Walkers. We were areas of raised peat bog with smaller a major driving force in establishing builders dispensed with all that old-fashioned areas of mosses. The title ‘Meres & Whitchurch as a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ whiteness and used red sandstone whilst Mosses Landscape’ is truly deserved. town and organise an annual Walking spending £4,000 to create the biggest church There is a wide variety of soil types Festival, as well as a regular programme in Shropshire outside Shrewsbury. Inside is and also remnants of sandy heaths. of mainly weekend walks. the tomb of John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, who was killed in the battle of The farming is predominantly dairy Castillon in 1453 at the very end of the Hundred Years’ War with France. and grazing, including horses, but with In Whitchurch Urban and Rural Parishes some arable in evidence too. there are over 110km of public rights of way. The voluntary Whitchurch Parish Alms and Grammar The Romans had a fort at Whitchurch, Paths Partnership group (known as ‘P3’) The current Georgian-style Higgin- which they called Mediolanum, and the works with to carry son’s Almshouses – for ‘six decayed town has been settled ever since. There is out maintenance and improvement housekeepers’ – were built in 1807 plenty of industrial heritage to be seen – works on these paths – a never ending on earlier foundations laid in 1647. the most obvious being the much used task! The first footpath to be improved Llangollen branch of the Shropshire was what was known as the Greenfields The Old Grammar School was Union Canal, which has outlived some path and is now called The Stockton founded as a free school for boys of the local railway lines – originally Walk in memory of a local man, Les in 1550 by Sir John Talbot, a former destined to make it redundant. Stockton, who used to install all the rector of Whitchurch, not to be furniture required on the footpaths, confused with the battling Earl Several of the walks start and finish carrying them to the site on an old at the Civic Centre on the High Street. pram. Look out for the signs that offer John Talbot, mentioned above. It was rebuilt in 1848 in Elizabethan style. The However you may also want to visit the evidence of ‘P3’ endeavours. school closed in 1938 when it moved to its present location as the John Talbot Heritage Centre which offers tourism Happy Whitchurch walking! School in Heath Road. 2 3 Walk 1: Fields & Fairways

© Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data Route Description Turn right here and carry on 30 Grindley metres to a field gate. You are now Brook South Hinton Manor From the Civic Centre 1 go up the on a delightful tree-lined sunken Way High Street and past the church of Bishop Bennet green lane and have joined the Way Reservoir St. Alkmund’s. . Reservoir

The Fields Hinton Hinton Pass some Almshouses and flats With a white house in sight there Farm Bank Old Hall occupying the Old Grammar are two gates and a stile to your School on your right. Cross the left. The gate by the stile offers the

roundabouts and go along the left T easiest access to the driveway A Hotel R

P side of Road to O leading to Hinton Manor 6. R L

E 2 Y ‘Westmore House' , after the Continue on to cross the A49 7 R Hill Valley O D A41 A Golf Club A next house a wooden fingerpost D O A49 R and on to the driveway opposite B 5 K 4 N will direct you down a stony track. 7 A 6 T signed The Bishop Bennet Way. E B

R E Hotel R L I I After about 180 metres turn right C M K Turn right and cross the first field R O over a stile 8, and up a grassy A 3, along a permissive path, joining Brooklands D the old Chester Railway branch line; bank through shrubs and you will find yourself on the golf course. Mount Farm turn left and walk along the old D A

O R track-bed. Turn off at the next stile T Turn left along a tarmac path Moat R O P to a small footbridge; follow the L leading past a pool on your left. A C H E hedge a short way then cross a S T E R R O A Supermarket D B5 T Bear right at a waymarker post, 0 KILOMETRES ½ 395 S Hospital IT P Y corner of a field to a stile leading on A B LONDON ROAD L following the line of a ditch, across C A R 0 MILES ¼ G 4 AT to the A49 bypass road . ES two fairways and a tarmac path to S T B COUNTRY RO ST W N N N reach another waymarker post by a PARK TO H LO H O W NG I J I G ST Cross the road with care – the RD H S A S T T HILL Y S R YMILL T S 9 ERR N R Y E H E E reed-filled pool . R E S W E ST T T A T T traffic can be fast – and go over the O T M O W RS T EN LB N PE S EEN D TA D PEP GR Bridge TRY SMA ROA C IS LLBROOK Jubilee ASTLE STA stile opposite into a field, bearing M HI Supermarkets TIO House HE L Park LL N R Look out for golfers and show C IN D Chemistry D TW E EE A N R T left towards a wooden telegraph ST E A R E V LL G T consideration to them as this is a A495 IV I A E DR M T E PS L E Swimming TPoolR SHAR IL ST S pole, and then keep on the line of H R ER K EE T walker-friendly course. Turn right R T A A EW N B G E W R E X H A M R O A RID W D B53 B P an ancient hedge to your right. This 98 O R R down the tarmac path, which goes O T

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A A R D field can be wet and muddy in D Y ! O A LAN through part of the hotel . You R E O N places, especially where you cross a L T E will pass under a glass-covered A41 B stile and footbridge, which are The path leads to Tarporley RoadE walkway with the restaurant and Railway $ again. Look for the D D G A E LE O S Y % R E R partly hidden by a holly hedge. . Turn left,N cross by the D O small railway relic by the stile. O G A swimming pool to your left and T F D G O N R roundaboutI – there is a pedestrian D Here bear right of a telegraph pole K Y

then past a small wooden pavilion L A B 5 A W 3 E N 9 Cross into a field, over a crossing nearby – and backE 5 to cross a stile in a wire fence. Bear to your right. Q U E footbridge – and then over ENU Cricket left and cross another footbridge, towards the churchH AV and the High BEEC Ground At the next waymarker post # another Beltonfootbridge into the next Street. which is hidden in the hedge. Now DISMANTLED RAILWAY head towards a prominent mound turn right and re-join the tarmac field and pass a pool, which may in this large field and go right at path. At a further waymarker post have Canada Geese on it. the hedge to a stile 5. turn left and cross the old Chester

4 5 Walk 1: Fields & Fairways CKTON TO W S A E L H K Walk 2: The Stockton Walk An abandoned branch T The London and North West Railway opened the W 2 Tattenhall to Whitchurch branch in 1872 to link the ALK No. to Chester and Crewe to Shrewsbury lines. Distance: 2.8 miles / 4.5km • Duration: about 1¼ hours On weekdays in 1910 there were seven trains in Start point: Whitchurch Civic Centre each direction. The line diverged from the Chester An easy walk with some gentle slopes between to Crewe line at Tattenhall Junction four miles SE of points 4 and 6 with gates but no stiles. Chester and headed south bridging the Chester to Whitchurch road (now the A41). For most of the six Man, pram and dog miles from Tattenhall it was climbing at around 1 in This route, opened in 2011, is named in memory of Les 115 reaching the summit of the line south of Malpas. Stockton, a founder member of the local walking group – the Whitchurch Walkers. The section from Sherrymill A meeting of Ways Hill to Danson’s Wood was the first path improved by Just after point 5 on a sunken green lane the Whitchurch Walkers after its formation in 1976. Les known locally as Fairy Glen, our walk did most of the work, carting his tools and materials converges with two other routes. The across the fields in an old pram and always accom- South Cheshire Way is a splendid 34-mile panied by his black dog. walk along canals and through wonderful Shropshire and Cheshire countryside from St. Alkmund’s Church Grindley Brook, near Whitchurch, to Mow The church was completed in 1713 Cop near Congleton. to replace a previous building which collapsed in 1711. It is open every day The Bishop Bennet Way, also 34 miles long, is a horse riding route in south and well worth a visit. The tall tower west Cheshire which can also be used by walkers and cyclists. It is named has a clock made by illustrious local after William Bennet (1745 – 1820), Bishop of Cork and Ross and subsequently clockmakers JB Joyce, a peal of 8 bells Bishop of Cloyne, who carried out detailed surveys of Roman roads including and is a prominent landmark from all those between Deva (Chester) and Mediolanum (Whitchurch). The Way starts directions. near and finishes near Wirswall on the Cheshire-Shropshire border. Roman Whitchurch and a 15th century garage In Roman times Whitchurch was known as Mediolanum – Latin for ‘middle of Tarporley goose chase the plain’. It was a staging post midway between and Deva (Chester). Look out for lively Canada Geese at the Part of a Roman fort wall and other delightful pool near the Tarporley Road (just remains were found in the Yardington north of map point %). area. These are commemorated in the garden opposite the west end of the Hill Valley Golf church. The golf courses of The Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel and Spa are criss-crossed by a number More history is in evidence in the High of rights of way. Happily, walkers and golfers Street Garage. Its upper floor has been co-exist easily thanks to some sensible dated to the 15th century. management and mutual respect. 6 7 Walk 2: The Stockton Walk

Route Description Cross the next small field, go Possible detour: 0 KILOMETRES ½ through the gate and down the On the bend in the From the Civic Centre 1 walk up path to the Whitchurch bypass. Whitchurch arm you 0 MILES ¼ the High Street towards St. Danson’s There is a good view either way can make an attractive Llangollen Bridge Alkmund’s Church 2. Turn left into Wrexham Danson’s but traffic can be busy so take detour by taking the Canal Bridge Yardington and right at the care crossing. Head slightly to gate to the left, down Wood mini-roundabout and down your left and up the driveway the track and across Sherrymill Hill to the next Bridge 3 towards an opening to the left of a the valley to House mini-roundabout . A525 gate. Greenfields Nature A41 Reserve 8. Turn right into Waterside Close You are now entering Danson’s

keeping to the footpath on the Wood 6. Follow the fence line for Once in the reserve, P

right hand side. Follow the path E

about 20 metres past the keep to the right up the A

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slope towards the canal. If you want walk at Greenfields A

Continue until you reach a signpost N D A49 9 C Greenfields E to extend your walk through this Way, near point . A H for Danson’s Farm 4. Turn right E O M Nature small but pleasant wood, there are R IS Reserve here on the tarmac path between T Cross the road M R Y

paths to the left and right, both of A some houses, follow the path H B diagonally and E X L E which loop round to rejoin the main T across a road and then go left O R continue along the N R W path by the canal bridge. O through a kissing gate. A path. In about 250 D Go over Danson’s Bridge (No 30) metres you will rejoin Chemistry Walk diagonally to the right and S M Country and through both gates taking you your outward route at A through the kissing gate in the far L Park L to the towpath of the Llangollen point 4. B R right hand corner. Continue across S O H O Canal. Turn right and under the A the next field, again to the far right R K

P R S bridge along the towpath O D A hand corner. 5 R D I 9 following the Sandstone Trail and V 3 E 5

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L E I K H I N Jubilee L 7 G L towards the far right hand corner bridge . T C O Park and through another gate 5. N R Y O AR Cross this bridge and walk along A D D N IN ST B W G ES O TO T Walk diagonally to the right up the the towpath beside the Whitchurch E T N A E W RG C E A H N B Supermarket P slope and through a gate left of the arm of the canal. E A L L P D V I P

E A M H R E ILL S E T O middle of the hedge. Turn left N ST T EE Moat U R L R R T T E EE S S E A H N N BA T C IG towards the gate in the centre of A R S H O L K T D Y HI T M AR LL EE A N TR RYS O the field boundary facing you. On a EM S S L Q S E T O T A G S U R RG T clear day, excellent views of the E R JO E AT E H E W SupermarketsE N N N S Welsh hills can be seen from here. T

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B Gate L A C K P A R K R O A D Walk 2: The Stockton Walk RCH HU W C A IT L K Walk 3: To Broughall H S Smells from the past W The Whitchurch arm of what (pronounced Broffal) and back W 3 is now the ALK No. once came right into the town Distance: 4 miles / 6.4km • Duration: about 2¾ hours centre to a wharf at Mill Street. Start point: Whitchurch Civic Centre Waterside Close follows the line A walk over varied but mainly field (some cropped) terrain with of the canal which passed under some slopes. The going can be muddy and wet in some areas. the road and through the valley opposite, which is now occupied Forgotten lines by the extended Jubilee Park. The town gas works were located on either side Whitchurch was a junction of the of Sherrymill Hill and coal was delivered to the works by canal boat. Whitchurch to Tattenhall branch line which linked the Chester to Crewe and New life for the Whitchurch Arm Shrewsbury to Chester lines. It was The first stretch of the arm from the main canal part of the London and North Western was restored by the Whitchurch Waterway network. As well as its own passenger Trust. It was reopened in 1993 and provides and freight services, this line was a both permanent and 48 hour moorings. The useful short cut for freight traffic to Whitchurch Waterway Trust is currently working and from Chester and North on plans to take the canal through the next two avoiding Crewe. It was closed on 16 bridges and build a basin for 8 boats next to the car park beyond the second September 1957. bridge. This car park can be used as an alternative starting point for the walk. Bridge by Brymbo (1857) Danson’s Wood and Farm The cast iron bridge at point 4 which Danson’s Wood on part of the site of the takes the Shrewsbury-Crewe line over former Danson’s Farm is a ‘Millennium Black Park Rd was made by the Brymbo Top: Dennis Fire Engine 1925 outside Wood’ and was planted in 2001 by the Ironworks. Whitchurch Fire Station. Above: The old Woodland Trust with the help of a large Fire Station (point 2) was built in 1900 and was paid for and run by local Assurance band of local volunteers. Companies. It is currently a dentist's.

Greenfields Nature Reserve, John Wilkinson’s original Brymbo Ironworks Country Park and near Wrexham was resurrected as a successful Staggs Brook industrial concern in 1841 – 16 years before this This important green wedge follows bridge was constructed. In 1854 the directors the line of Staggs Brook, which is took each other to court to gain sole control of inhabited by water voles and otters. The the company. Allegedly, Robert Roy and Henry nature reserve features both meadow Robertson decided to settle their dispute with a and woodland and is managed by horse race. The owner of the horse that reached volunteers from the Whitchurch Branch the ironworks first could buy the other out. The of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. workforce favoured Robertson and ensured that his horse won. Robertson went on to transform Brymbo into a major steel works. 10 11 S H

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M A V IL R L H S T S T E D E T E RE Hill Valley N R L ST Moat lane all of which are subject to U E T Route Description E H S E E B T IG Golf Club N AR CA S H LA K T Hotel Y HI T M R LL EE ARY ongoing negotiations with the A TR G S M S R ST Q E E S AT E 1 O E S From the Civic Centre go down G U R R N T Hotel E JO E T C A E H L local farmer. The shorter route is E W N AY N P N Supermarkets ST IT B D S the High Street, turn left at the W R T A ID Swimming altogether easier and more direct G Y E T Cricket W Pool E A E bottom into Green End and then TE R Ground R T A T S S L I L S N T P A D but means you miss some T O C EW D RE W O R O K R 95 PORT ROA ET NLO Hospital R O A D 53 ROW T C K left again into Deermoss Lane. Go B5 D B B R I 47 R T R attractive countryside. 6 F O A R O A T E G L D E D B S O over the pedestrian crossing T D A S T O R R E opposite the old Fire Station E N T D Alport The shorter route: P R E E S R O A D A O I M O T I L 2 R A (currently a dentist’s) and take E T B Edgeley Y S A N E K L R Cemetery the path to the left of the building Do not cross the stile but carry on House E O G A D D alongside a playing field. ahead through more bridleway E gates to a field gate on to a quiet Cross over into Elizabeth Street and B L A Yockings lane. Go down the lane to meet the C K P Gate carry on to the end where you turn A R K busy A525 Nantwich-Whitchurch Waymills R O left into George Street. Here you Industrial A D road 7. Estate will see a gate 3 at the end, The leading into a field. It is possible The longer route: Oaklands that this section of path may be subject to a diversion order at Turn left by crossing the stile and some point. Follow the waymarked keep the hedgeline to your right Blakemere Cottage path across two fields then cross an passing a small pond on your right. Old elds old brick/stone Whitchurch to At the far right hand end of the Blake N Mere A N field cross a stile and carry on with T Chester railway bridge into another W

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a stile at the roadside. Lodge) and after about 150 metres 5 turn right across a stile by a large Turn left along the road and under The Moss tree into the next fieldA . This area an iron railway bridge 4 marked can get very wet! Brymbo 1857. Carry on along the Broughall lane until you come to meet and Follow the hedgeline to your left turn on to a bridleway on your right and cross the stile in the far left The Lodge 5. Follow the waymarked route hand corner. There is another stile Black Park through gates across three fields to ahead but don’t cross this – Villa Farm a stile on your left 6. Given a clear instead turn right and go up to the

day there is a fine view over top right hand corner where you 0 KILOMETRES ½ will cross a ditch and a double Blakemere towards the town. 0 MILES ¼ stile. Turn right and follow the At this point you must decide what hedgeline to yet another double you want to do. The longer route to White House stile and ditch B. Cross this, keep Farm the east is interesting but to the hedgeline and head for the challenging due to a number of next stile in the right hand corner only semi-accessible hedge and of the field. ditch crossings plus a slurry-filled Crab Mill © Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data Directions continue overleaf 12 13 Walk 3: Broughall & back RCH HU W C A IT L K H S Cross this and bear left, up and Turn right on to the main road and W Walk 4: The Belton Bracer diagonally across to a stile to the continue on the pavement W 4 right of a gate by some trees C. ignoring the first footpath sign and ALK No. Walk up the right hand side of the turn right at the next footpath sign Distance: 3.7 miles / 5.9km • Duration: about 2 hours field, through a gate in the top by a bungalow called Moss Lea 8. Start point: Whitchurch Civic Centre right hand corner into the next A grassy track runs to the left of the A largely level walk with a mixture of gates and stiles. There field and along the hedgeline to bungalow down to a stile; cross this is also a flight of steps in Jubilee Park but these are easily your left up the hill to a gate. and go past a little brick stable. avoided using the map as a guide. You are now on a concrete track D Follow the line of telegraph poles Old cooperage, now but it can be calf deep in slurry even across the field to a stile – cross this Shops and pubs Walkers Bakery at the edge. Go down through the and go straight on to the On the High Street, look out next gate and turn right on to a lane suspension bridge 9ahead. Walk for Walkers, the bakery shop by Villa Farm. Continue along past over this and turn left down Talbot which is on the left, going down. Old Hall Farm to join the main A525 Street to meet the traffic lights at Sometimes known as ‘the old Nantwich-Whitchurch road 7. the top of Green End. Cross over shop’, parts of it date back to 1450 and retrace your steps back to the The longer and shorter routes but most is 17th century. Civic Centre. come together here. Joyce’s Clocks At the bottom of the High Street, is Suspension Bridge a modern clock by the Whitchurch The suspension bridge over the Shrewsbury-Crewe railway line is over a clockmakers JB Joyce. The firm century old and is a unique grade II listed structure. It was closed for over a year has operated in Whitchurch since in 1997 having been declared unsafe. Local goups including the Whitchurch the 18th century and its clocks Walkers campaigned to save the bridge and eventually Railtrack agreed to a can be seen in churches and complete renovation. The Institute of Civil Engineers declared the bridge to be many prominent buildings as ‘a Victorian gem’. far afield as South America and China. Naturally, St. Alkmund’s in The A-frame wooden vertical supports with iron bracing and joints are linked Whitchurch has a Joyce clock. For at the base to curved stone foundation blocks by iron rods. The decking has more information turn to page 19. wooden planks set into an iron frame with thin iron balustrades. The original suspension cables were made of forged iron link chains from which the flat decking was hung by iron rods. A famous son of Whitchurch Looking along the line to the south you can The composer, and also Mayor of see Whitchurch station and to the north the Whitchurch, Sir Edward German remains of the goods yards where originally was born in the Old Town Hall horse-drawn carts would have delivered Vaults pub at the junction of High and taken away the freight carried by trains. Street and St. Mary’s Street in Horses are not good at reversing which 1862. You can see his portrait in is why such a large space was needed to the Civic Centre. allow a broad sweep for forward turning.

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K T C L A N E R A R E E O L E A T P B P R L A C H E S T E R R O Walk 4: The Belton Bracer A D B T 5395 S IT P Y B A A LONDON ROAD L R C G Route description of a field gate. This will lead you AT ES

back to the old railway 5. ST Civic BR COUNTRY T O 1 S W From the Civic Centre walk Centre N N PARK H LO H JO W IG T H S S down the High Street and turn Keep to the left hand field S T T HILL S R MILL NE T S RRY W Y E ET HE T R E S O E STR W A T T N M BO right through the pedestrianised boundary through the next four T N END AL S REE T RY SM OAD G ST A L L B R O O K R C A S T area. fields. From the fourth field, you MI STLE H Supermarket A T E L ILL I O CH IN Jubilee Park N D T R O Chemistry E EE W A will have a good view of the N R A D ST T E AV L E Swimming Pool RIV RG ET The Oaklands Go along Watergate Street, D A RE distant tower of St. Alkmund’s, the PS L TE T R OAD SHAR IL S S C H A52 H T R I 5 R TE T W K E A N passing Bark Hill on your right, R E A A T EW N N parish church. The ground now B G E W R E X H A M R O A D RID W B5398 B P O and then into Dodington. You will R R 6 O T S slopes up towards Belton Farm . E R

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A A R D pass two disused churches, the D Y The route now goes back over the O A LAN Waymills R E O N United Reform on your left and St. L T Whitchurch bypass into Belton E A4 B Catherine’s on your right where 1 Road which you should follow all D A O there is an information board. R SEDGEFORD the way to its junction with N E O D T G E Continue past the Dodington G L E Y Wrexham Road. N Y R O A I D B5395 K A Lodge Hotel and into Sedgeford L W A E N on the far side of the Cross Wrexham Road towards the Q U E Cricket 6 Edgeley UE 7 EN 4 AV Ground 5 House mini-roundabout. In about 150 bus shelter on the far side. Go CH B B EE D P R E Belton A across the grass behind the shelter O metres you come to a cycle track, Y E LWA R S RAI K R the Hatton Way 2. and walk along the road in front of C O O A DISMANTLED T D the houses. Turn left on to the S L I Turn right on to the Hatton Way, T footpath at the end of this bit of The Fields College which runs between Whitchurch road which takes you between the Vineyard Cricket Ground and an 25 houses into Meadow View Road A5 embankment of the old Cambrian 7. A41 D P Railway. At the far end of the A R E O E S R

R N A straight section of the tarmac Cross the road and turn right. O D O A T 41 track, turn left and take the path There is a small block of flats on G Y N WA I DISMANTLEDRAIL K across the field. Turn right up the your left and immediately after The L A track and take the left turn at both them, take the footpath to the left Manor 0 KILOMETRES ½ forks. Take care when crossing the between the backs of the houses Whitchurch bypass 3. for about 150 metres before 0 MILES ¼ Dearnford emerging at the top of Jubilee Lake After passing through five fields Alkington Park 8. © Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data you approach the hamlet of Alkington 4. Cross the road in front of you and go through the gap in the railings. the railings round the play area. Turn right along Newtown and at Turn left on to the road and then You will notice St. Alkmund’s Follow the path round to the right the mini-roundabout turn left into right at the junction 100 metres Church ahead of you and St. of the railings and proceed up the Pepper Street past the Anchor and ahead. Opposite the junction look Catherine’s more distantly to your flight of steps on the bank Red Cow public houses and you out for a 19th century VR (Victoria right. Take the path to the left and opposite towards Newtown car are back at the High Street. Regina) post box. Just past ‘The when it crosses another path, turn park at the top. Manor’ take the stile on the right right towards the town centre and 16 17 Walk 4: The Belton Bracer RCH HU W C A IT L K H S W Walk 5: The Ash Brown Walk Cyclists’ and Walkers’ Ways W 5 Two noted Whitchurch cyclists, Cedric and Ruth Hatton, are ALK No. commemorated by a plaque marking the Hatton Way (point Distance: 8 miles / 12.9km • Duration: about 4 hours 3). At the same location there is a marker and a mosaic Start point: Whitchurch Civic Centre showing that you are also on the Mercian Way which is the A flat to undulating town/village/countryside walk featuring Shropshire section of National Cycle Route 45, which runs the Brown Moss Nature Reserve. between Chester and Salisbury.

Waymarker along William Joyce – clock man Hatton Way Railway Connections William Joyce began making longcase Whitchurch sits astride clocks in the village of the Shrewsbury to Crewe line. It was once Cockshutt. The family business, eventually also connected to Ellesmere, Oswestry and known as JB Joyce, was handed down from Aberystwyth by the Cambrian Railway. The line father to son and in 1790 moved to High closed in 1965 and unfortunately parts of the Street, Whitchurch, Shropshire. By 1834 track-bed have been lost, otherwise it would have Thomas Joyce was making large clocks made an excellent off-road walking and cycling for local churches and public buildings. In route to Oswestry and beyond. Cambrian Railway Signal Box 1849 the company copied the escapement mechanism used in Big Ben and went on to Whitchurch – ripe, mature and tasty make large clocks for many public buildings Belton Farm maintains Whitchurch’s tradition as a both home and overseas – notably the clock famous cheese town. Belton produces a wide range in the Shanghai Customs House. of award-winning cheeses available in leading supermarkets. A selection of these is available from Between 1945 and 1964, when Norman Joyce retired, the company installed shops in town. Look out for the distinctive Belton over 2,000 large public clocks in Britain and Ireland. The business was sold to tankers collecting milk from local farms. Smith of Derby but the JB Joyce brand name was retained for the maintenance Belton Farm of the many original Joyce heritage pieces still in operation in public places around the world. Jubilee Park – worthy of the celebration The park opened in 1887 In 2012, an auction was to mark Queen Victoria’s held to dispose of the Golden Jubilee. The surplus items accumu- bandstand was added in lated at the Station 1908 and moved to its Road premises and present position when the lovers of the work of JB park was extended around Joyce competed with 1990. The ‘Old Mill’ at the interior designers and far end is a reminder that collectors to purchase Staggs Brook still passes a piece of horological through the park albeit via history. underground culverts. 18 Bandstand in Jubilee Park 19 Hotel Cemetery Blakemere Cottage The Lodge Hill Valley Black Park Golf Club

Hotel Blake Mere Moat

Yockings Walk 5: The Ash Brown Walk Gate

D Alport A

O R Route Description After about 10 metres, turn left Moss Farm T Moat R O P L through a gate and go on to the A Supermarket T Hospital Leave the Civic Centre 1, go S IT P next gate where you turn right and Y B A A LONDON ROAD L R C G A down High Street and turn left at TE S

go through two more gates. From ST B RO ST W N N N the bottom by a Joyce clock into O H LO T H O W G I J IN G T here the path will bring you into S S T RD H EE Villa White House A S T T TR S R S Y T S T N R Y E BO Farm E E R L Farm W E E TA T T A T Green End. Continue to the traffic O T M W RS T END 6 N PE S EEN Ash Magna by some garages . EP R P G Jubilee CA STLE H Supermarkets lights at the top and cross into Park ILL Broughall TW EE A R T T E L S R IL G T The Oaklands A EE M TE R Old elds Turn right at the T-junction with LL S ST H R O A D A Talbot Street and on to and over I T C 52 R I 5 H RE E W K E T S T A T I O N T R T A R O A D A N A EW N N B G E RID W B P O 2 the lane and bear right at the one R R

the suspension bridge on your T O

S E R

M O

A A Waymills

R D Broughall Y L Meadows Farm right across the railway. way system. With the White Lion AN E Industrial House 7 Estate pub on your right go through a College

S E Follow the right hand hedge D E D G G wooden gate to the left, opposite F E O L E R Y R O A D D Y A B through two fields to a telegraph 5 Field Farm W 3 E N 9 the pump. Follow this path Q U E 5 6 Edgeley UE 7 pole with a waymarker where you EN Cricket 4 Broughall AV 5 House H B through three fields to a lane and EEC Ground B Y RO SPRE Fields WA D A

O turn left and follow a line of trees R

turn right, uphill to a gate on the K DISMANTLED RAIL C

O A D T Catteralslane to a stile beyond, follow the S L left. Take the path downhill across I T waymarked path to Moss Farm 3. College two fields to enter Brown Moss 8. Edgeley 5 A52 Edgeley Keep to the right of the farm A41 Hall Follow the path through the wood P R E E Ash Grange S R O Oak elds buildings and cross a stile in a A D Shropshire Way A to a lane. Turn left and walk on to a 41 Heath Ash Hall fence, then turn right and keep Shropshire Way signpost. The Lodge Edgeley Ash the hedge boundary on your right Farm Corner Shropshire Way signs will take you Ash The Fields through a series of gates to reach through Brown Moss to the north Magna a minor lane and go straight and on to a lane, and back to Brown ahead to meet the A525 Nantwich Moss Whitchurch. 0 KILOMETRES ½ 1 Road 4. Heathlane Take the right fork and then go 0 MILES ¼ ½ Cross the road and go a short way © Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data Brownlow through a bridleway gate on your Cottage down Catterals Lane to a bend and left and across two fields. You will then take a rough lane to the left. emerge on to Edgeley Bank. Take Carry on until the lane bends A bridge in suspense care here as it is narrow with no The single span cast iron and wood suspension bridge sharply left and follow the footway. was built in 1872 for the London and North Western waymarkers ahead eventually Railway Company. turning left 5 to cross a large Cross the A525, go down Edgeley field to a bridleway. Rd and back to town via Dodington Lodge 9, Watergate This is a very early and rare example of a pedestrian Street & the Bull Ring where you suspension bridge. For more information see page 14. will meet the High Street once more. The whys and wherefores of Ash With the departure of the Romans, Mediolanum became Westune – a small village with a manor on the western edge of Saxon Mercia. Two small clearings for hamlets in the ash woods on the top of the ridge were named Ash Magna and Ash Parva. 20 21 Walk 5: The Ash Brown Walk Walk 6: Brown Moss, Bombers, Despite its name, Ash Magna is a small village with around 75 houses and a population of Butterflies and Big Butties around 250. An 1888 map shows about 25 dwellings, one of which is Ash Hall. It is an Distance: 7.4 miles / 12km • Duration: about 3-4 hours imposing Queen Anne style building sitting at Starting point: Brown Moss Nature Reserve car park the highest point of the village and was originally No hills or banks to climb – a few stiles; in summer there designed as a hunting base. It now combines the will be crops in some of the fields. role of a working farmhouse and Bed & Breakfast. Prees Heath – Bombers to butterflies Brown (not green) Moss Prees Heath is now a butterfly conservation area, and as the heathland is Brown Moss is one of Shropshire’s most inter- being restored, more wild flowers are appearing. In late summer it is covered esting nature reserves with over 200 species in pink heather flowers, yellow St. John’s Wort, and edged with purple spikes of of wild plants including the rare floating water Rosebay Willowherb. plantain. Great crested newts are just one example of the fantastic variety of wildlife that live amidst its marshes, pools, The large, square, concrete structure at heath and woodland. In the late spring/early summer large numbers of the top end of Prees Heath is the recently froglets can be seen making a mass exodus from the pools. restored Air Traffic Control Tower used when the area was a wartime training airbase (RAF Brown Moss is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Tilstock). It is to be used as a learning and Interest, a Special Area of Conservation, and a Ramsar interpretation centre providing information site – a wetland of international importance named about the natural diversity of the Heath and after a treaty signed in Ramsar, Iran. its wartime history.

The pull of the Bullring Prees Heath was used as a WWI army base The Bullring was the place used for the baiting of bulls; accommodating up to 30,000 men who were once a great national sport. The bull was tethered to trained in the practicalities of trench warfare. an iron ring sunk into a large stone by a 15 foot length The scale and size of the camp brought about of rope attached to the root of its horns. The object the appointment of the first female police was to find whose mastiff or bull-dog had the most officers in the Shropshire Constabulary to courage and was the most cunning in taunting the manage and restrain local women attracted bull. The last bull-bait in Whitchurch was in 1802. The by the rewarding prospect of so many eager men. There was also a stores triangular bullring was the heart of Whitchurch – it is depot with its own branch line and, later, a WWII internment camp (subse- the site of the town’s original market place. quently a POW camp) for 2,000 prisoners.

The machinery for the market’s weighbridge was Ash Parva in Wycherley’s saddlery shop, where corn, coal and Ash Parva, or Lower Ash as it is sometimes other loose commodities were weighed, with carters called, is small and pretty. It has a classic receiving a ticket certifying the weight of their load. village duck pond and around 20 houses – The JB Joyce cast iron pillar clock was erected in 1994 mostly small cottages. There is a Methodist when the creation of the traffic-free Bull Ring area Chapel converted to a house and a large concluded the town’s street renewal scheme. restored 18th century farmhouse. 22 23 Walk 6: Brown Moss, Bombers, Butterflies and Big Butties

Ash Hall Route Description the waymarkers not the Ordnance Edgeley Farm Survey Map. At a pool, bear right at Ash Magna This walk starts at Brown Moss. You the wooden fingerpost along a Wood Farm could also start from Ash Magna 3, track until you reach a cross roads of Brown Moss Ash Parva Higher Heath 8, or Prees Heath !. tracks. Continue straight on – it From the main car park turn right might be a little muddy here. The on to the road and go on to the track leads to a ‘gated’ electric fence Holly Cottage Reservoir fingerpost by the bungalow called with green waymarkers going left The Boathouse 1 – the house name and right – ignore these, and go is on a board suspended from the ahead by using the spring-loaded eaves. Go through the wood (there handle in the fence (please replace are several paths so keep to the the hook in the wire loop). About 90 A41 waymarked one) to a galvanised metres on, there is a small hollow gate, and then on through two 5 – there should be a waymark Fox Field fields to a lane, where you turn post here; turn right to a stile about Twemlows Hall right. Take care as visibility for cars is 180 metres away. Warren House poor, and look out for the next path New Gorse Cross two fields (which may be Ashacres on the left – it is hidden in the cropped) and pass by two pools 6, hedge on a bank 2. Now cross two Airfield behind some farm buildings, to join horse paddocks to a wooden wicket A49 the farm track. (If there is any gate immediately before a stile, Shropshire Way problem with this path it is possible, The Twemlows which brings you to the village of Lonsdale although not a Right of Way, to go Cottage Ash Magna, just opposite the White Prees Heath through the farm yard, and close any Lion 3. The Firs gates as you go.) Turn right along the road – there is 0 KILOMETRES ½ 1 The farm track goes through a a pavement at first. At the village of 0 MILES ¼ ½ wooded area to the main road – the Ash Parva, cross the road to a metal Twemlows busy A41 7. Within this wood there wicket gate, and follow the Big Wood was once a wartime air force base; permissive path, which takes you off A41 remnants of Nissen huts can still be the road and then rejoin the road by © Copyright Ordnance Higher Heath seen in places. Survey Open Source data a junction. Cross over towards a large half-timbered house and keep Taking care, cross the A41 and go to the right hand side of the down Heathwood Rd, which goes #You will emerge on to the the dual carriage way.& At this Ightfield Road, taking care as it can through the village of Higher Heath. which you need to cross – take junction cross a stile on your be quite busy. About 250 yards on, After 270 metres, turn right along care, though traffic visibility is good. right and go across two fields of turn right 4 through a decrepit Twemlows Avenue 8, and after 135 Once across, turn right and go past pasture and then arable fields( to gate and walk along a restricted metres turn left at a sign for High the filling station,$ cafés, lorry park, Holly Cottage by Brown Moss . byway (or green lane). There is a Corner 9 and then right through a to the Raven pub . Turn right along a track, and then on to a lane, where a left turn will hedge each side and you may have metal kissing gate. This path leads on Take care crossing the busy dual bring you back to the start – along to negotiate an electric fence. The to Prees Heath. Turn right at a large carriageway. At the corner of a the way you will glimpse the Moss byway leads to a large open area of black kissing gate ! on to the junction with a minor road is a through the trees. mainly arable fields. heath. At an information board on a wooden fingerpost. Follow the concrete plinth, bear left following The path is very good along wide footpath to the next lane where you the Shropshire Way waymarkers. % grass headlands and tracks – follow turn left , leading back towards 24 25 Walk 6: Brown Moss, Bombers, Butterflies and Big Butties Walk 7: Grindley Brook Brown Moss – commoner’s rights and back in two ways Brown Moss was re-registered as a common in 1972. The area has Long route: 6.8 miles / 10.9km • Duration: about 4 hours commoner’s rights which allow for Short route: 3.5 miles / 5.6km • Duration: about 2 hours grazing, cutting of peat, taking of sand Starting point: The Horse & Jockey, Grindley Brook and gravel, collection of firewood, (Check with the pub, 01948 662723, if you wish to park there. swimming, skating and fishing by Or use the No.41 bus service from Whitchurch) the registered commoners. No one Mostly flat (only a few short, steep banks), with stiles, and gates. commoner can exercise all the rights, There are places where it can be muddy. which are attached to the ownership or In summer there may be crops to walk through. tenancy of specified properties. Two wells and a church The Award Winning St. Mary’s Church, Whitewell (also known as Iscoyd), Truck Stop is a whitewashed brick church which was a former At the junction of the A49 and A41 there is an amazing variety of food outlets. ‘chapel of ease’ (an alternative and more convenient The Midway – originally built as a cinema for the army camp – has won awards. venue) for parishioners of Malpas in Cheshire. It Here is an extract from a lorry driver’s blog: ‘This is a very good place, very much remains the only Welsh church in the diocese of like transport cafés used to be, every table a slightly different style but it adds to Chester. The present 1830s structure replaced an the character of the place. The staff are friendly and welcoming, the place is very earlier timber-framed building which collapsed clean. It has plenty of room and showers – it even has a library.’ during restoration work.

The area is also a convenient viewing point for cycle trials, which regularly take The two wells from which the name Whitewell derived lie to the south of the place on the Roman-straight stretches of road in the vicinity. church. Some parts of the old chapel were used in the construction of the new building, especially the roof timbers and various oak panelling. The spire and Nissen Dorma clock were added in 1898. The remains of the huts in the woods near Higher Heath are Nissen Huts. These were semi-cylindrical prefabricated structures made of corrugated iron, Burial Ground and Mills at Iscoyd invented by Major Peter Nissen in 1916. Over 100,000 were produced in WWI The tumulus known as Warren Tump to the west of Iscoyd Park was probably and many more in WWII. a Bronze Age burial mound. This belief was reinforced by the discovery of a bronze axe in the grounds of Iscoyd Park in the mid-19th century. It is likely The Nissen Hut could be packed in that the ‘missing’ Anglo-Saxon manor of Burwardestone, which is named in a standard army truck and erected the Domesday survey of 1086, fell within the area of Iscoyd. by six men in four hours. The world record for constructing one is 1 A series of corn watermills were constructed, hour 27 minutes. possibly on earlier foundations, along the Wych Brook including Dymock’s Mill, Wych Mill, Llethr Nissen Buildings Ltd. waived Mill and Wolvesacre Mill from the later 18th their patent rights for wartime century onwards. The remains include leats and production during World War II. millponds as well as some surviving structures.

26 27 Walk 7: Grindley Brook and back in two ways Higher Wych

B5395 Bishop Bennet Longer Route Description towards the church. Nearby is a Way Wolvesacre Mill Llwybr Maelor large bronze-age burial mound now Way Start at Grindley Brook 1. Go Kiln Green covered in pine trees. Llethr Mill Grindley through the car park on to the Maes-y-groes Grindley Brook Farm Brook Grindley Brook Malpas road (B5395 – narrow and Go through the grounds of St. Locks quite busy). Just past a house is a Mary’s Church 6 and turn left Bubney Bryn Owen A41 stile to the left. This path is well way through an old iron gate then over Iscoyd Shropshire Way Wood marked – continue across several a footbridge. Cross a field and, after Gipsy Corner Iscoyd Brook Wolvesacre Sandstone Trail fields, with the brook to your left, to a stile, bear left to an old iron Hall reach a footbridge across the Red kissing gate leading on to a lane Brook. On the other side you are in and the hamlet of Whitewell. Turn Tumulus Iscoyd Danson’s Parkley Bubney Farm Wales. Cross a wet meadow, left, and about 90 metres after a Farm Hall Green Park Moor Iscoyd War Memorial Danson’s Bridge road junction 7 go left through a Villa through an open gateway, to a A41

PERMISSIVE PATH– waymark post directing you across a field gate, across pasture and Red Brook MORE ACCESSIBLE Tumulus Bridge culvert and through a steel field follow the waymarks into a wooded House Mannings gate. With the hedge to your right, dingle which is full of bluebells in Green Hadley A495 Whitewell Wrexham the spring. Lodge Bridge cross more pasture to a stile and Chapel Farm Broad A495 then a steel kissing gate. Turn right, Oak 0 KILOMETRES ½ 1

Go down into the dingle, across the Whitewell A495 and then left along a grass bank. Broad Oak footbridge and up the other side to Farm 0 MILES ¼ ½ Below is Wolvesacre Mill, which is a wooden wicket gate. Now cross © Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data now a cottage. two fields to a horse paddock and From here there is an alternative, gates, and go through the second Another kissing gate leads on to a double wooden gates and a stile at easier and more attractive permissive one. Cross another large field to track, turn left, and after passing a a house. Having crossed, bear right route which crosses the rushes and reach the line of the old Shropshire cottage, Llethr Mill 2, go over the and follow a track leading on to a bears right following the Red Brook Way# where a stile crosses on to a stile to your right. Cross four fields lane near a T-junction. Just to the along a faint path before turning left concrete track, and then over to a stile by a gate which leads on left of this junction (amongst on to the bridleway from Hadley to another stile $. to a lane. This is Maes-y-groes 3. rhododendrons) is the Iscoyd War rejoin the official right of way at $. Turn right, then left down Kiln Memorial 8. Crossing two more fields will bring On the official right of way (from !) you to the canal at Danson’s (No. Green Lane until the cattle grid and At the T-junction turn right, with a sign for Foxes Hole Farm 4. you pick your way through rushes, 30) Bridge %. Iscoyd Park on your left, and turn bearing left to a field gate and turn Go through the steel kissing gate The signpost will direct you through left at a signpost 9, along a track. right up a grassy bank to another on to the towpath of the canal, turn a wooden gate, up a steep bank to a At the end of the track is a gate. After crossing the next two left, and continue to the locks at steel gate and along the edge of waymarked post, turn left here fields you come to a concrete track, Grindley Brook, and the café &. afield with a wood to the left. After down the footpath, which passes negotiate the electric fence, and find the next gate, but just before the through woodland, and may be a steel gate. This is Bubney Moor, To return to the Horse & Jockey, field boundary, there is a footbridge muddy. When you meet a track, now a modern mega-dairy farm. keep to the towpath (, going to your left; cross this and turn right turn right. More mud! Ignore the under the main road (A41) to The fields here are very large and it is along a grassy track, eventually first footbridge to the right, as a Bridge No. 28. Go left here through difficult to find the line of the path leading to some houses on a lane – short way on is a more substantial a wooden wicket gate where a which can be obstructed by crops Iscoyd Villa 5. Turn right at the lane footbridge !. Now you are back in short lane leads to the busy A41. such as maize. Bear left to two steel and then left through a gateway . Cross carefully to the pub. 28 29 Walk 7: Grindley Brook and back in two ways Walk 8: Wet your Whistle The Short Route with some trees, and down a bank to a little wooden gate into a wood. in Ash Follow the Longer Route to Llethr Again more mud! Cross the Mill 2, but instead of crossing the footbridge B and it is a short way Distance: 3.2 miles / 5.2km • Duration: about 1½ hours stile, stay with the track to to a field gate, across a large grass Start point: Brown Moss Nature Reserve car park Wolvesacre Hall A. The stile is on field, a concrete track, and another A pleasant walk along quiet lanes and undulating fields the left just before the farm large field to the junction with the with some lovely views of surrounding countryside. buildings. It is very muddy here, old Shropshire Way #. and you might prefer to turn left The White Lion in Ash Magna offers an early opportunity through the gate before the stile Now follow the directions for the for a rest and a drink. (making sure to close it). The path Longer Route from #. crosses a pasture passing by a pool Grazing to protect Where Canal crosses Brook rare species After extensive consultation The Llangollen Canal ascends from Shropshire Council has put Hurlestone Junction in Cheshire to up fencing around the main Llangollen and is a branch of the Shropshire part of Brown Moss to allow Union Canal. It was to have been part of a cattle to graze throughout network linking Shropshire and Wales to part of the year, as they the River Dee but was never completed. The would have done in the past. Llangollen Canal was finished in 1806 and is The idea of this is to keep very popular because of its spectacular aqueducts and splendid scenery. the overgrowth of naturally dominant species down and At Grindley Brook, the most northerly settlement in Shropshire, there are to allow rarer, more sensitive plant species to prosper. three locks rising in a staircase and then three further locks as the canal passes through the village. The village is the starting point for four long-distance Unfortunately, in recent years the site has been invaded by Crassula Helmsii footpaths: the Maelor, Shropshire and South Cheshire Ways and the Sandstone (New Zealand pigmyweed), a very successful non-native, which is smothering Trail, and several others run through the village, including the . some of the more delicate plants on site. When visiting this site please keep to the paths and away In the mood for Danson from the edges Danson’s Bridge, more prosaically known as No. 30, was originally Dawson’s of the pools. This Farm Bridge. The change is probably explained by boatmen’s abbreviation, will help limit the different accents or just poor hearing! spread of this plant and reduce the The Woodland Trust acquired and damage to fragile planted Danson’s Wood in early 2001 marsh areas. with a mixture of native broadleaves and created a small pond. There is a pleasant circular walk through the wood and several paths allow visitors to explore the site.

30 31 Walk 8: WetVilla your WhistleWhite House in Ash Farm Farm Route Description Follow the waymarked path through five fields to join Broughall Leave the main Brown Moss car Catterals Lane where you turn Old elds park 1 and rejoin the lane H R O A D A5 sharp left 5. This quiet lane has a W I C 25 N T heading south to a fingerpost by series of interesting, well spaced N A the bungalow called The out and varied properties on Boathouse 2. Leave the lane Broughall Meadows Farm either side. At the end you will House walk in a north easterly direction come to a T-junction 6. through some woodland and College then through gates across two Cross the road and go slightly to fields rising to a lane and a the right to an old narrow iron viewpoint. kissing gate. Follow the path Field Farm through horse paddocks and four At the top of the hill stands the Broughall kissing gates to meet the Fields Former Railway village of Ash Magna. Walk on and Shropshire Way 7. Workers Cottages turn left on to the road and you will soon arrive at a T-junction 3. Turn left on to what is in fact a Catteralslane At this point you may decide you bridleway and follow the want a drink so turn right to Shropshire Way through two arrive shortly at the White Lion. fields to join a quiet tarmac lane Edgeley on a bend. Turn to your right and Edgeley Hall Depending on your choice either bear left following the Shropshire Ash Grange retrace your steps and carry Way signs towards Brown Moss. straight on at the junction or if Shropshire Way Ash Hall you have resisted temptation turn At the ‘No Access’ sign on your left and walk on the roadside to a right keep straight ahead through Ash Edgeley Ash Magna Christmas tree plantation on the a wooden gate into the trees and Farm Corner right. follow the path to reach the Whitchurch Walkers’ 30th Turn right here 4seemingly anniversary commemorative along a driveway for a short way wooden bench for a well earned Brown and follow the path into a field. rest and contemplation of the Moss On a clear day there is a good largest pool on Brown Moss. The view from this path over towards car park 1 is through the trees the Welsh hills and South to your left. Shropshire. Heath Road Brownlow 0 KILOMETRES ½ House Farm Cottage 0 MILES ¼ Reservoir

© Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data

32 33 Walk 8: Wet your Whistle in Ash Walk 9: Working up a Unusual cottages on Catterals Lane head of steam The cottages at the southern end of Catterals Lane are distinctive in that they are built offset to one another so each one is not overlooked. Originally they Distance: 7.1 miles / 11.5km • Duration: about 3¾ hours were built for local railway workers. Starting point: Whitchurch Heritage Centre An interesting walk over varied sloping and flat terrain on Whitchurch Walkers’ Bench a mixture of paths, tracks, green lanes and minor roads. The wooden commemorative bench to Expect a number of stiles, some road crossings and at be found just to the north of the central Brown Moss car park overlooking the certain times of year, soft ground underfoot. main pool was installed in 2006 by local walking group – the Whitchurch Waymills Brook (3 on walk) Walkers – to mark their 30th Despite its unpromising position on an industrial estate this brook is still anniversary. home to a colony of water voles. Maybe its isolated position has protected them from predators such as the American mink. Harding’s Horses Mr Henry Harding who runs ‘Colour No steam without Supplies’ – a large hardware store – in Staggs Brook Whitchurch and a number of other local The brook used to supply water enterprises is a keen horse breeder. to Whitchurch Station in the days At any one time he can have over 50 when the steam engines of the horses of varying breeds and ages in Cambrian Railway needed to stables and paddocks. replenish their boilers.

The White Lion at Ash Hinton Bank, home of The White Lion is a traditional two bar local pub. At the time of writing it is blue Cheshire cheese renowned for serving an excellent pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord bitter Until quite recently, blue Cheshire cheese was made at Hinton Bank Farm. and tasty German schnitzels. The pub has a good collection of water jugs and Apparently, the secret was rediscovered when a Cheshire cheese was left in beer/brewery paraphernalia including framed bar towels. (01948 663153 for a car boot during the foot-and-mouth epidemic in the late 1960s. opening times). Grindley Brook – a multi-use intersection Roads, the canal and once a railway joined and crossed at Grindley Brook. Now it’s a ‘Crewe Junction’ of major footpaths, where the Shropshire Way, the Sandstone Trail, the South Cheshire Way and the all meet. There are six locks including a flight of three adjacent to the A41.

34 35 Jackson’s Bridge Walk 9: Working up a head of steam

B5395

Bishop Bennet Route Description side. These should become visible Way South Cheshire Way Hinton Manor as you go over the rise. From the Civic Centre 1, walk The Fields down the High Street to the clock. On reaching Mile Bank Road, turn Bubney Farm 0 KILOMETRES ½ 1 Grindley Hinton Turn right through the pedestrian left and then right into Terrick Road. Brook Bank Grindley Brook Hinton area and turn left into Watergate Follow Terrick Road for about 800 Locks Old Hall 0 MILES ¼ ½ Grindley

A41 Brook T

Street. Now follow the Shropshire metres passing Terrick Hall and the A

R P

A49 O

R L

Way up Watergate Street and past Golf Club car park. Just after a house E Hotel

Y

R

O A

the Dodington Lodge Hotel. After on the left you take the path Sandstone Trail D

B Hill Valley

5

Shropshire Way 4 7 Cemetery the mini-roundabout 2, cross over through the gateway on the outside 6 Golf Club Brooklands D A 6 T . O and walk down Edgeley Road. You of the left hand bend E R R K R N Danson’s I A P Mount Farm C B E K E A L Wood R I will go under a railway bridge R T R EE L M A N E O You now cross the Hill Valley Golf A (Crewe – Shrewsbury) after which Danson’s D Course passing to the left of the Bridge C H E S 3 T D you take a footpath on your left . E R R O A pond and then following the line of A D O Alport Staggs R B5 D 395 T A Greenfields Supermarket R O Brook P O R L Yockings K A R Nature Reserve A a ditch, until you reach another Bridge B Follow the path with the hedgerow P A LO Gate R NDO T K G N RO S C House A AD IT T P A E Y Hospital L S LA B S C pond. Continue along the tarmac A525 T to your left and into the Waymills STRY EMI SM CH ALL BROO ON K ROAD SHERRYMILL HIL NGT L DI H R I YA G path until it starts to move away H Civic Centre Industrial Estate. Take the path on N E W S T T R O E Chemistry W E

L T I Jubilee N N D the right just past the Groconti- from the hedgeline. Leave the path VE E C SH DRI N AS ARPS Park TLE REEN EN A H G D V I LL REET TALBOT ST ET TRE and follow the hedge, looking out S W nental cold stores. The path crosses LL Supermarkets W I A D R E A S A41 R O X H M T T N A E A O M R T L T R O G I E A D A O B B T N 53 E 9 S ET R 8 T E O for a footpath running down the R R a brook. Turn left and follow the T A E R S D E TE T EWA IDG N R BR E O W S E P M O

bank on the right. R

path between the brook and the T

A

R R

Y O

L A A D The Oaklands N E Grocontinental yard. A D R O Cross a stile and turn left on to the O N G T Old elds N Waymills Belton I K L S Industrial A E The path emerges on to Station tarmac lane and go straight across D G Estate F

O A Y R E E N W D D G Q E E U B L Road beside a bungalow. Cross the the A49 and along another lane UE 5 E Broughall CH AVEN 3 Y BEE 9 5 R O A House 6 Cricket 7 D 7 4 road and turn right. Continue past opposite. As you enter a field , 5 B DISMANTLED RAILWAY Edgeley Ground D

A D A O R S E E R P O House R

the roundabout towards ‘Oldfields’ look for, and cross, the stile diago- K C O T S L I the first house of a group. Take the nally on your left. Go down the T © Copyright Ordnance Survey path to the left immediately after green lane and continue along the A41 College Open Source data the brick wall 4 . hedgeline through several fields. In A525 the field by a farmhouse, walk diag- have a choice – either straight ‘Town’, either direct or via Green- Follow the path through several onally to your right towards the stile across the main road to the walker- fields Nature Reserve on the other fields along the hedgerow – NB the in front of the bridge under the old friendly Horse & Jockey pub or side of the valley. path changes sides after the first railway line to Chester 8. along the canal to the Lockside Café field – and you will arrive at, and When you reach the road at Sherry- (closed in winter). cross, a railway bridge with Staggs You reach Grindley Brook by mill Hill, go straight across, through Brook running parallel to the track. crossing the Llangollen branch of You now follow the Shropshire Way the car park and then through or the . The and Sandstone Trail along the canal round the fenced-off part of Jubilee At Yockings Gate 5, turn right and walk now continues to the left for about a mile into Whitchurch, Park. Go up the steps, turn right and then take the footpath immediately along the canal towpath past the crossing a lift-bridge 9 on to the at the mini-roundabout turn left into after the farm buildings. Cross the well-known locks. If you are looking short canal mooring arm towards Pepper Street, which joins the High field going slightly to your left for refreshments at this point you Whitchurch. Follow the signs to Street just below the Civic Centre. towards a gate and stile on the far 36 37 Walk 9: Working up a head of steam Walk 10: Farms & Halls Danson’s Wood Danson’s Wood adds a pleasant detour The Southern Circular to this walk. It is about halfway along the canal section and is accessible via Distance: 9.3 miles / 15km • Duration: about 4½ hours Danson’s Bridge. It was planted as a Starting point: Whitchurch Civic Centre Millennium Wood by the Woodland A longish walk which takes in parts of other walks and the Trust with the help of local volunteers. revised Shropshire Way with plenty of interesting houses and farms along the way. Greenfields Nature Reserve As an alternative route back into town, Blackoe Cottages and you can walk through this small but Spark’s Bridge varied reserve managed by local Canal Bridge No. 35 at Blackoe volunteers of the Shropshire Wildlife Cottages, known as Spark’s Bridge, Trust. Water voles and otters use the was originally a typical brick-built brook and in summer the grassy slopes arched bridge, but following its are an excellent habitat for butterflies near collapse, a modern metal and wildflowers. footbridge was erected in its place. As you climb the slight rise after Whitchurch Canal Arm the bridge, note the fine views of The first section of the the Welsh hills to the west. Whitchurch Arm was reopened in 1993. The Whitchurch Waterway Alkington Hall Trust have plans to extend it By far the largest building in the through two more bridges and hamlet of Alkington, the brick- create a basin for eight boats. built Hall dates from 1592 when The original route of the canal it was constructed for the London into town has been largely built merchant William Cotton. In 2010, on so this is as far as the recon- prompt action by the owners and local fire brigade extinguished a potentially struction will probably go. dangerous fire before it did anything more than minor damage. Hinton Old Hall Dearnford Hall Hinton Old Hall fell into disrepair The Hall was built in brick, dressed by the 1970s but has been well with stone in the late restored along with the farm 17th century. Originally U-shaped, buildings. The footpath used to one rear wing was demolished go across the front garden but leaving the building L-shaped for now circumvents it via the golf many years. In 2005, the original course. wing was reinstated and extended along with its partner.

38 39 Red Brook

Walk 10: Farms & Halls – The Southern Circular

Route Description cross a stile and go round the end of a narrow bit of woodland and Start at the Civic Centre 1. For this then back again on the other side Sandstone Trail Shropshire Way walk you follow the same route as 4. Hadley Walk 2 – the Stockton Walk – as far Danson’s Danson’s 1 Wood A4 A Bridge as the canal at Danson’s Bridge 2. From the far side of the next field Blackhoe 525 you descend into a cutting that Spark’s Bridge Cottages Wrexham Here, instead of joining the was once part of the Cambrian Bridge towpath you walk across the fields Railway. Take the path on the other P E A R T Brooklands ahead going diagonally to your R E side towards a lane. Turn left and in E

L A N right. On the far side of the large E about 150 metres turn right at the CH EM IS 1 TR Blackhoe Farm Y A4

S Mount Farm second field cross a track and then M junction 5 followed by left at the A L Belton L C B R H Chemistry O E B O S go over a stile. E K T L T Pan Castle O N R E next. After about 800 metres this O R R A O D Motte & Bailey A D R DI O COUNTRY A S D MANTLED R S B lane joins another at Alkington Hall PARK 5 H A 3 R 9 Turn left and follow the hedge on P 5 S DR IV SH E E A R which dates from Tudor times. Turn R I Y

LW M

L I

I

L B

3 N

A L

the other side . This bridleway A

W D H Y R

E

IL G L

R N

L A O

T

E N

A

E D

X S

V Jubilee

O

right at the junction and almost H S N

Park A T Supermarke R t O

M Park N A formed part of the original line of E

D W

R T

Farm O O

A W

immediately go left to join the D N

B C P 5 EP the recently altered Shropshire 3 A PE S R 9 T ST 8 L

E CLAYPIT ST

H

O A D I

R L

restricted byway running between L N ST T O JOHN Way. A L K I N G A K I N G T ST L O N Alkington R G O R T A D T E E E E

E N E

R R

E R O T

The Beeches farmhouse and Hall DISMA N T

S

S

D S E Supermarkets

E M T

A W

A G R R O E L Y T N

N A The Beeches L W A W O TLED RAIL B R Go down a slope and cross the farmyard. E N B B R EC E IDGE T H WAT AL A E S V R STR BO E E T N ET T U A S E T A4 T R D E WA A I E bridge over Red Brook. The path 1 RO O T

Y Q ORT N U WP E NE R E N O After a short length of green lane, W A A Y D

takes you through the yard at 5 9 3 Cricket 5 B D turn right and follow the hedge R Ground O F Hadley Farm. G 5476 D A D B E R O S O C K round the field. In the next field T I L S T

AD P

R Edgeley

Walk down the drive towards the you need to go slightly to your E College E

S A 5 P R E E S R O House

25

R O

A Waymills

A525 and about half way along right towards a hedgeline halfway D

A The Oaklands

4 1 take the small gate on the right across. From a field gate6 follow Oak elds hand side which leads you round the hedgeline on your right. About Dearnford Dearnford Hadley Pool. Cross the A525 with halfway along, you cross to the Cottage Hall Heath Lodge Broughall care going diagonally to your left other side of the hedgeline and go Fields to join the track opposite. slightly diagonally right. The Fields Edgeley Hall Go along the track taking the right This takes you through the front Edgeley hand fork towards Blackoe garden of Dearnford Cottage and Heathlane Edgeley Cottages. After the cottages, cross through a gate on to the road. At Heath Road Farm House Farm the canal via a modern metal this point congratulate yourself on Shropshire Way Catteralslane bridge built following the near your navigational skills (or retrace Brown Moss collapse of the original structure. your steps!). 0 KILOMETRES ½ 1

Cross the next field diagonally to Cross the road and walk to the 0 MILES ¼ ½ your right towards the far top right right of Dearnford Hall through

hand corner. Follow the hedgeline, some parkland. © Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data Directions continue overleaf 40 41 Walk 10: Farms & Halls – The Southern Circular Acknowledgements Continue towards a hedge 7 Cross the stile on the right hand some 500 metres from the road side and then three more before and follow the left-hand side of it. you emerge on to Brown Moss. Whitchurch Walkers would like to thank the following for their contribution: Cross the railway line and go up Take the path almost opposite and the lane through the farm, across head towards the centre of the Neil and Ann Moore, Malcolm Monie, Gerald Moss – the dual carriageway and up the Moss. You should emerge from the walk design and directions track opposite through the trees into a more open grassy area Whitchurch ‘P3’ Group – maintenance and improvements to the local antiques centre. where there is an oak bench dated rights of way network At the end of the green lane 8, 2006 celebrating 30 years of Whitchurch branch of Shropshire Wildlife Trust cross the stile on the right and walk Whitchurch Walkers. From here you diagonally to the left aiming for the follow the Shropshire Way (Route Whitchurch Town Council 22) back into the centre of corner of the hedge opposite. Walkers are Welcome in Whitchurch Whitchurch. Shropshire Council Market Towns Initiative Programme Brown Moss Shropshire Council Rights of Way team – advice and path maintenance The name 'moss' derives MA Creative Limited – graphic design – www.macreative.co.uk from the local word for a Archive photos on pages 10,11,15 & 19 reproduced with permission from peat bog. Brown Moss is 'Whitchurch Remembered' published by Whitchurch History and Archaeology a flat site that was created Group. Cambrian Railway photo p18 courtesy of Middleton Press. at the end of the last Ice Other photos by Neil and Anne Moore, Gerald Moss, Malcolm Monie Age over 10,000 years and Mike Ashton. ago. As glaciers retreated, pools were formed by Peter Dunhill – editing and co-ordination the stranded ice rocks, Simon Moore – Whitchurch Walkers logo design forming kettle holes. Peat Philip Walker – Whitchurch Canal Town Trails waymarker design is still being created and Sphagnum moss, which is very important for the creation of peat, is found here in abundance.

This Shropshire Council managed Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest is also a Special Area of Conservation and part of the inter- Countryside Code nationally designated Midland Meres and Mosses Ramsar site. There are lots of paths around the Moss and if you have time you could take a detour round the main pool before following the Shropshire Way back into Whitchurch. • Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs • Leave gates and property as you find them You might also like to visit Melverley Farm, one of Shropshire Wildlife Trust's • Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home nature reserves, which is 2-3 km north-east, within easy walking distance. Hay • Keep dogs under close control meadows, high hedges and small fields take you into a different world. • Consider other people If you wish to offer feedback or report a problem with any rights of way go to A roughly circular walk of approximately 8 km (5 miles) is possible on footpaths www.shropshire.gov.uk/outdoorrecreation and follow the outdoor recreation and country lanes. feedback link. Alternatively ring 0345 678 9000. 42 43 Finding your way Whitchurch Town Centre

We suggest that you use this book in conjunction with Ordnance Survey Maps. Unfortunately, Whitchurch is right C H E S T E R R O A D B5395 Hospital on a join so you will need: Supermarket (minor injuries) LONDON ROAD B A Civic RG 1:25,000 Explorer Maps AT Centre Greenfields ES BR Nature Reserve OW 241 ‘Shrewsbury’, and 257 ‘Nantwich & Crewe’. N N O LO T H W NG I I G Heritage RD H S A S T T HILL S R MILL Y T S Centre RY R E T HER NE E Y EE 1:50,000 Landranger Maps S W E R E STR T T A T T O T M O W RS T EN ALB N PE S EEN D T Canal D PEP R K ROA Jubilee G 117 ‘Chester & Wrexham’, and 126 ‘Shrewsbury & Oswestry’. SMALLBROO CA S T STLE H Supermarket A T Park ILL I O N W R Chemistry ET A O E T A D R E ST R Swimming Pool LL G T Note that the routes shown on OS maps may be different until they are A495 I AT E M E E L TR IL S H D ER K T R O A updated to reflect recent changes. A D EW N B NI G E W R E X H A M R O A D B536 RID W 4 B P G O R T R O O T S E N R

M O

A A R D Y LAN E RCH Waymarking HU W C A IT L K H S D W A O S Walks 1-5 use this Walks 6-10 use this R E D N E D O G G T F E G O L E type of waymarker W type of waymarker N R Y R O A I D 5 D A . K L o K N L B 5 A 3 9 5

Cricket 6 7 Ground 4 5 B

All the walks in this book can be viewed and downloaded from the Whitchurch Walkers website www.whitchurchwalkers.co.uk © Copyright Ordnance Survey Open Source data

Public transport In 2014, the following information was correct: Key to map symbols

P R E E S Rail, Whitchurch Station – R A O D A Between 25 minutes and 2 hourly to/from Walk Routes Car parking Golf course41 Crewe and Shrewsbury (3-4 hourly on Sundays). Footpath Public House Nature reserve Buses to/from Whitchurch – Bridleway Church Leisure & sports centre No 41 & 41A to Chester every 2 hours A-road Toilets Camping & caravan site No 511 to & Shrewsbury, about every hour (weekdays only). B-road Picnic area Built-up area No 146 to Wrexham (approximately every hour). Minor road Refreshments Woodland No 72 & 73 to Nantwich (infrequent 4 per day for each service) Note – services on a Sunday can be limited or non-existent. Railway with station Bus service or bus station Streams, ponds and lakes The website www.travelshropshire.co.uk offers excellent information and search facilities. Alternatively, ring 0871 200 2233.

44 45