gov.uk to request a copy. a request to gov.uk

Welsh/English border. Welsh/English

or contact 01743 253008 or transport@shropshire. or 253008 01743 contact or www.travelshropshire.co.uk/cycle

history of skirmishes over land along the the along land over skirmishes of history

A more detailed map of NCN455 is available free of charge from Shropshire Council, visit visit Council, Shropshire from charge of free available is NCN455 of map detailed more A

earthwork, which is evidence of the long long the of evidence is which earthwork,

Wat’s Dyke, another 8th century defensive defensive century 8th another Dyke, Wat’s is a fun place to visit with a beautiful glacial lake, castle mound and pleasure gardens. pleasure and mound castle lake, glacial beautiful a with visit to place fun a is

Just east of Oswestry, Offa’s Dyke meets meets Dyke Offa’s Oswestry, of east Just ride with public transport by catching the train to Gobowen to start the ride. Ellesmere Ellesmere ride. the start to Gobowen to train the catching by transport public with ride

Offa’s Dyke and Wat’s Dyke Wat’s and Dyke Offa’s

roads with low levels of traffic and is well signed, follow signs for NCN 455. Combine this this Combine 455. NCN for signs follow signed, well is and traffic of levels low with roads

Cycleway route, but would like to sample a highlight of the route. This section is on quiet quiet on is section This route. the of highlight a sample to like would but route, Cycleway

found elsewhere. The Meres and Mosses Mosses and Meres The elsewhere. found

and helps to fight climate change. climate fight to helps and

shorter ride suitable for less experienced cyclists who can’t manage the full Shropshire Shropshire full the manage can’t who cyclists experienced less for suitable ride shorter

to many plants and insects that are rarely rarely are that insects and plants many to

is an important feature which traps carbon carbon traps which feature important an is

The section of this route between Gobowen and Ellesmere is a good option for a a for option good a is Ellesmere and Gobowen between route this of section The

a wetland of international importance, home home importance, international of wetland a

of moss and insects and the preserved peat peat preserved the and insects and moss of Family friendly ride ride friendly Family

retreating after the last ice age. The area is is area The age. ice last the after retreating

levels, it is now home to many rare species species rare many to home now is it levels,

and raised peat bogs was formed by glaciers glaciers by formed was bogs peat raised and

of conservation, focussed on raising water water raising on focussed conservation, of

Visitor Information Centre. Centre. Information Visitor

unique landscape made up of pools of water water of pools of up made landscape unique

agriculture and forestry. After several years years several After forestry. and agriculture

founded in 1407 is now the Heritage and and Heritage the now is 1407 in founded

is known as the meres and mosses. This This mosses. and meres the as known is

commercial peat-cutting and drainage for for drainage and peat-cutting commercial

Oswald’s Church. Oswestry’s first school school first Oswestry’s Church. Oswald’s The area between Oswestry and Whitchurch Whitchurch and Oswestry between area The

after near destruction by large-scale large-scale by destruction near after

Meres and Mosses and Meres the Cambrian Railway Museum and St St and Museum Railway Cambrian the

bog wilderness in Britain. It was rescued rescued was It Britain. in wilderness bog

include the timber framed Llwyd Mansion, Mansion, Llwyd framed timber the include

which is the third largest area of raised raised of area largest third the is which

The many historically interesting buildings buildings interesting historically many The

www.cambrianrailways.com Station.

part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest Interest Scientific Special of Site a of part

centre is a designated conservation area. area. conservation designated a is centre

Cambrian Railways Museum at Oswestry Oswestry at Museum Railways Cambrian

Bettisfield Mosses Nature Reserve forms forms Reserve Nature Mosses Bettisfield

near Oswestry in 641AD. Most of the town town the of Most 641AD. in Oswestry near

about the history of the railway at the the at railway the of history the about

important moss areas. Fenn’s, Whixall and and Whixall Fenn’s, areas. moss important

was killed in battle by the king of Mercia Mercia of king the by battle in killed was

heritage train rides at each. Find out more more out Find each. at rides train heritage

Cycleway also takes you near to some some to near you takes also Cycleway

Cross’, after the king of Northumbria who who Northumbria of king the after Cross’,

have been restored and you can take short short take can you and restored been have

Approaching Whitchurch, the Shropshire Shropshire the Whitchurch, Approaching

corruption of ‘Oswald’s Tree’ or ‘Oswald’s ‘Oswald’s or Tree’ ‘Oswald’s of corruption 1966. The stations at Llynclys and Oswestry Oswestry and Llynclys at stations The 1966.

The name ‘Oswestry’ is thought to be a a be to thought is ‘Oswestry’ name The also available. available. also stopped running passenger services in in services passenger running stopped

of the castle, which date back to 1086. 1086. to back date which castle, the of views over the mere. Boat trips and hire are are hire and trips Boat mere. the over views

h riwy a frt pnd n 88 and 1848 in opened first was railway The and is very popular with holidaymakers. with popular very is and

and Welsh town walls and the foundations foundations the and walls town Welsh and place to stop for refreshments, with good good with refreshments, for stop to place

the railway lines in the Oswestry area. area. Oswestry the in lines railway the century. The canal is open for leisure use use leisure for open is canal The century.

history, still visible in the encircling English English encircling the in visible still history, walks. The Boathouse at the mere is a nice nice a is mere the at Boathouse The walks.

Cambrian Heritage Railways are restoring restoring are Railways Heritage Cambrian constructed in the first half of the 19th the of half first the in constructed

as a frontier town has given it a turbulent turbulent a it given has town frontier a as glacial lake with gardens and woodland woodland and gardens with lake glacial Cambrian Heritage Railways Heritage Cambrian

Shropshire Union Canal. The canal was was canal The Canal. Union Shropshire

the foothills of the Welsh hills. Its position position Its hills. Welsh the of foothills the Shropshire’s meres. It is an impressive impressive an is It meres. Shropshire’s

and on to Whitchurch where it joins the the joins it where Whitchurch to on and

on the English/Welsh border, nestled in in nestled border, English/Welsh the on The mere at Ellesmere is the largest of of largest the is Ellesmere at mere The

Canal runs from Llangollen to Ellesmere Ellesmere to Llangollen from runs Canal

Oswestry is an ancient market town located located town market ancient an is Oswestry

traverse the countryside. The Llangollen Llangollen The countryside. the traverse

out more about the area. the about more out

Oswestry

in north Shropshire is the canals which which canals the is Shropshire north in often run interesting events to help you find find you help to events interesting run often

Another significant feature of the landscape landscape the of feature significant Another as they they as www.themeresandmosses.co.uk

Canals

it’s worth checking out the project website website project the out checking worth it’s

If you have some spare time in this area, area, this in time spare some have you If

Roman conquest. conquest. Roman working to preserve and restore this area. area. this restore and preserve to working

thought to have remained in use until the the until use in remained have to thought landscape partnership project is currently currently is project partnership landscape

first settled around 3000 years ago and is is and ago years 3000 around settled first

an impressive 40 acre hill fort which was was which fort hill acre 40 impressive an THE NORTH-WEST THE IN HIGHLIGHTS

views. Old Oswestry Iron Age Hill Fort is is Fort Hill Age Iron Oswestry Old views.

Shropshire Cycleway Shropshire of beautiful countryside with stunning stunning with countryside beautiful of Further out of town there is a wealth wealth a is there town of out Further

Visitor information in north-west Shropshire Mile End Visitor Information Centre, Mile End Services, Oswestry, SY11 4JA. A5/A483 junction. Tel: 01691 662488 Email: [email protected] Oswestry Town Visitor Information Centre, Oswestry Visitor & Exhibition Centre, 2 Church Terrace, Oswestry, SY11 2TE. www.oswestry-welshborders.org.uk Tel: 01691 662753 Email: [email protected] Shropshire Cycleway Whitchurch Visitor Information Centre, 12 St Mary’s Street, Whitchurch, SY13 1QY www.northshropshire.co.uk Tel: 01948 664577 Email: [email protected] NORTH-WEST: The Meres Main line rail stations: Gobowen and Whitchurch www.nationalrail.co.uk The north-west of Shropshire is fairly flat with Find more cycling routes some lovely gentle cycling through rolling Visit www.travelshropshire.co.uk/cycle for details of cycle routes across Shropshire countryside. You can also explore the unique including the award-winning National Cycle Network; to download or order free cycle habitat of the glacial meres and mosses. leaflets, including the Oswestry transport guide with detailed maps of cycle routes in Oswestry; or to use the online cycle journey planner. Follow in the footsteps of ancient Mercian kings along the route of Offa’s Dyke, an 8th century Cycle shops in north-west Shropshire defensive bank which ran the length of the Welsh Cycle hire Cycle repairs border. The area is rich in historical landmarks and unique geological features. Colour Supplies, Whittington Road, Wheelbase Oswestry, SY11 1HZ 21 Watergate, Whitchurch, SY13 1DP 01691 653444 01948 663323 www.coloursupplies.com/bikes Stuart Barkley Cycles Mobile bike mechanics Central Car Park, Salop Road (all based south/east of Shrewsbury) Oswestry, SY11 2NU 01691 672943 Go Cycling www.oswestrycycles.co.uk 07950 397335 www.gocycling-shropshire.com BikeWorks (mountain bike specialist) 95 Beatrice Street, Oswestry Cycle Tech Shrewsbury SY11 1HL Stapleton 07712 183148 01691 654407 www.cycletechshrewsbury.co.uk www.bikeworksoswestry.co.uk Halfords, 2 Penda Retail Park, PJ Cycle Repairs Salop Road, Oswestry, SY11 2RL Condover 07722 530531 01691 677920 www.pjcyclerepairs.co.uk www.halfords.com Bicycle Smart Colour Supplies, 1 Mill Street, Newport 07528 785844 Whitchurch, SY13 1SE www.bicyclesmart.co.uk 01948 665353 www.coloursupplies.com/bikes

This leaflet ©Shropshire Council 2015. Part funded by the Department for Transport Leaflet edition: SCW4-1a/Feb2015 • Designed by MA Creative Limited www.macreative.co.uk A41 A49

Route 45 Mercian Way to Chester Shropshire Cycleway NORTH-WEST: The Meres Whitchurch Key to symbols Shropshire Cycleway Route A525 B5398 NCN Route 455 NORTH A539 NCN Route 45 INSET MAP Take Care Shops A495 Visitor Information Centre Toilets Cycle Shop Car Parking Route 455 / 45 Cycle Parking Museum Chirk A528 Fenn’s Moss Tilstock Cycle Hire Gardens Route 455 Playground Wildlife Reserve Dudleston B5068 Whixall Historic Building Leisure Centre Heath Moss A41 St Martin’s Café Country Park Welsh Hollinwood Public House Heritage Railway Weston A5 Welshampton End L Elson Railway Station la Rhyn n New Marton Bettisfield Prees Branch g The Mere o Canal B5069 l le Whixall 0 1 2 3 Kilometres n Wem Dobson’s C Moss a Ellesmere Bridge Route 45 n 0 1 2 Miles Selattyn a Mercian Way Gobowen l Cole Mere Tetchill Welsh Lyneal Northwood Hindford Prees Frankton Colemere A49 Route 455 A495 B5063 B4579 B5069 Old Oswestry B5476 Whittington A528 Route Profile Hillfort 500 B4580 375

B5065 HEIGHT (feet) B4397 Oswestry 250

INSET MAP 125 Wem y River Morda B5009 OSWESTRY Whixall 20 miles 40 mile s Oswestr Gobowen Ellesmere Crewgreen

On-road advisory cycle route Whitchurch B5063 Services A5 Halfway point Morda Traffic free cycle route Route 455

V. A483 A Gatacre Recreation CRE

TA Ground GA VE DRI TS e WA WHITCHURCH B School 4 Maesbury 5 AD 7 RO D RT A 9 D FO LL OAD OL O O OOL R W R A P LIVER Y N K N E H Canal G RO W U L I O LO TT AD R Y B S D Montgomeryshir S IN O Route 45 B T TR STREET G 4 A E Mercian Way R T LBE E 5 E T 8 O R 0 E T ROAD to Chester A R M T Llynclys D S Morton OU S W NT K A RO R N AD O Y LA N Cambrian E y a w l O i Heritage AK a T R ST. REET EE E ST R e TL T g Railway S S CA a E t i Crickheath C r I R e RAILWAY T H ENUE W A STATION Knockin I BE D AV L A Pant L O Cambrian Railway O R W LD Museum ARK S WA P T LEG STREET S R O S E L E A N E L T I N L A C A B W H S EL W Cae Glas T BB4 E 4 A41 W E 5 Maesbrook E Park R 7 LS T 9 H S W S A H AAL L C L Llanymynech L R O L S U P A H RRO B LL U WE L A C O S N R D’ E Heritage 9 AAD L 6 D N A Centre 0 U S W 5 M O B Route 45 D R and River Vyrnwy T IV REE E Route 455 ST LOW OK ER B School O ROO R K B ST ER . P VIC P . T U T OR S IA ROAD IA School R O T IC V Melverley A525

. Green V A

These maps are based on Ordnance N O Survey material with the permission of T S E

Her Majesty’s Stationery Office W © Crown copyright. Melverley Unauthorised reproduction infringes WESTON LANE Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Shropshire Council 100049049. 2015 Crewgreen River Severn A41