Upper Duffryn to Bishop's Moat Heather and Highlands
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Upper Duffryn to Bishop’s Moat Route 3 Heather and Highlands Ride Kerry Ridgeway Shropshire The Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway follows many historic trails but the oldest of all such tracks must be the Kerry Ridgeway. Its origins are lost in the mists of time but it is certainly earlier than the Iron Age and Dark Ages earthworks that cut its line. Nearby are Bronze Age burials, stone circles and Offa’s Dyke. It has a history of use as an important drovers road in the 17th and 18th centuries. Imagine the gruelling journey for the drovers herding their stock from the depths of Wales across these exposed hill tops to the English markets. The Ridgeway never dips below 1,000ft above sea level and follows the crest of Kerry Hill which affords remarkable views Cantlin Stone over the Welsh Marches. Only part of the On Shadwell Hill you will pass by the Cantlin route is traversed by riders on the BRH Stone. This commemorates the death of Heathland once covered the Clun Forest Small scale peat cutting on Rhos Fiddle bridleway but the entire Kerry Ridgeway is a travelling pedlar. A dispute broke out hills but only fragments survive, the rest during medieval times left a legacy of pools worthy of an expedition of its own. Travel amongst the surrounding parishes over having been ploughed up, much of this which has attracted wading birds, particularly the whole route of 15 miles following the who should incur the cost of burying the happening as part of the WW2 war effort. the curlew and snipe. Along with the heather, distinctive fox waymark stranger but finally Bettws y Crwyn gave The land was then reseeded to improve the sphagnum moss and cotton grass are found from The Cider House, on him a resting place. 200 years later this act grassland or planted with conifers. The Blue in the wetter areas and there is a fine show the Newtown-Knighton of charity paid off as, on the strength on the Remembered Hills Bridleway passes two of the yellow mountain pansy, a plant once Road to Bishop’s Castle position of the stone, Bettws Parish gained nature reserves where the natural heathland common on Shropshire hilltops. – further details from several hundred acres of land. is being preserved along with its wildlife. Powys County Council. Where the surfaced forestry road comes to The haunting call of curlew over Rhos Fiddle an end and the Kerry Ridgeway becomes a increases the feeling of ancient wilderness. grassy track there is an area of heathland KEY to maps Public House Cafe / Shop This remnant of heathland, amongst tracts known as Lower Short Ditch Turbary. A Telephone Church Ride Route with direction number of improved grassland, is surely the most turbary was a commoners right to cut peat for Car Parking Public Toilet remote spot on the Bridleway. This land is their own domestic use. It would have been Jack Mytton Way Visitor Information Buildings now owned by the Shropshire Wildlife Trust. a job for the hardy to fetch their fuel from Bridleway Native breeds are used to graze the site. You this remote place. The Lower Short Ditch, Footpath INFORMATION may begin to think you are in Scotland if you is one of three defensive border earthworks Byway The Sun, Clun: 01588 640305 see the herd of Highland cattle or glimpse along the Kerry Ridgeway thought to have A Road / B Road The White Horse, Clun: 01588 640305 a dark Hebridean sheep . These animals are been a control point for travellers. Other road The Waterdine, Llanfair Waterdine: 01547 528214 able to endure the harshest of conditions and Lloyney Inn, Lloyney: 01547 528498 thrive on the grasses and herbs characteristic of the heathland vegetation Route 3 Duffryn to Bishop’s Moat: 11.5 miles / 19 km Start: Duffryn OS map 201 • Grid Ref: SO 226823 % & 1 Turn left onto the Anchor–Clun road (B4368) and continue for 350 metres taking the next left turn. Follow the lane for about 1 km as it climbs up out of the Clun valley. 2 On the right take the driveway down to Black Mountain Farm. Bear right in front of the $ farmhouse then left through yard and past buildings. 3 After building on right take # gate on right then keep left following bridleway along a track which leads to New House 0 KILOMETRES 1 2 3 4 Farm. 4 Keep to bridleway above the ! 8 On meeting farm drive turn left and farm then cross field down to join follow track out to road. a track with fence line on your right. 9 Turn left and follow road past the wild open heathland of Rhos Fiddle. Keep to bridleway along 10 Keep ahead after cattle grid, pass turn on left, then turn right onto track. 5 7 9 hillside through three 8 11 Keep ahead along track through forestry to a gate leading into grazing gates. After passing above land. Follow track straight across, past the Cantlin Stone, to meet the Kerry some woodland bear right 6 Ridgeway. Turn right. down towards buildings of The Kerry Ridgeway has its own a distinctive waymark. Follow this as it Badgermoor. Pass through 12 5 runs along the English – Welsh border. For 4km, to Pantglas, it is a grass bridle gate and turn left past or stone trackway. the dwelling and join access 4 track. Follow this out to the road. 3 13 At Pantglas the Ridgeway joins the tarmac lane. Turn right here and keep to the Ridgeway all the way (4km) until it meets a junction of roads at Turn right then right again at T junction. 6 2 Bishop’s Moat. Follow road down to Weals Farm on the 1 Anchor- Clun road (B4368). 14 When you reach a junction of roads you will see the remains of the motte and bailey castle on your left. To visit Bishop’s Castle carry straight on, to Cross road carefully turning right for a few 7 continue on the Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway, turn right. metres. Take bridleway on left which follows an old track up the hillside. After passing through Finish: Bishop’s Moat • OS map 216 • Grid Ref: SO 292895 gate keep old fence line on left and continue forward to reach gate. Cross fields to Curney Farm. Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Shropshire County Council 100019801. 2008.