Ramblers Routes Ramblers Routes Britain’s best walks from the experts Britain’s best walks from the experts Central England Central England 12/11/2013 12:26 07 Beacon Hill, Leicestershire 08 Melverley, Shropshire l Distance 16km/10 miles l Time 5–6hrs l Type Hill and country l Distance 22km/13½ miles l Time 5hrs l Type River and hill NAVIGATION LEVEL FITNESS LEVEL NAVIGATION LEVEL FITNESS LEVEL walk magazine winter 2013 winter magazine walk walk magazine winter 2013 winter magazine walk Plan your walk Plan your walk Wrexham l Nottingham l l Derby l Market Drayton MELVERLEY P BEACON HILL SHROPSHIRE N LEICESTERSHIRE ORGA l Birmingham A BARLTRO N l Builth EVE M Rugby Wells T l l HY: S HY: HY: FIO HY: Worcester P P WHERE: Circular walk from WHERE: Linear walk Beacon Hill along part of the starting in Melverley and PHOTOGRA Leicestershire Round via PHOTOGRA ending in Trefonen. START: St Peter’s Church, Bradgate Park. Situated in the northwest of 1. START The summit of Beacon The recent expansion of the church, and may well be the oldest Melverley (SJ332165). START/END: Beacon Hill Leicestershire is a distinctive Hill is just a short walk uphill to Shropshire Way has created a timber-framed church in the entire END: Barley Mow pub, Country Park upper car park, upland area known as Charnwood the northeast of the upper car vast network of routes weaving country. From here, walk back to Trefonen (SJ260268). off Beacon Road (SK509146). Forest, where the county’s highest park (SK509146). A toposcope around the far reaches of the the main road and take a L, until TERRAIN: Flat at first with TERRAIN: Country parks land and some of the world’s not far from the trig pillar county – and this walk offers a you come to a three-way junction lots of stiles, the route containing a mixture of oldest rocks are to be found. It is (above) indicates landmarks that good introduction to the varied with a sign for the caravan park. climbs steeply to join Offa’s heath, woodland, grassland also the most important area for can be seen from the summit. terrain it covers. Starting from the Turn L onto this lane and then Dyke before descending and rocky outcrops; wildlife in Leicestershire. Sites in Looking south-southeast, you picturesque 15th-century church in carry on until you come to a stile into gentle hills. elsewhere fields, woodland Charnwood Forest are now being can see Old John Tower and the Melverley (above), the route (the first of many) on your R. Take and country lanes. Part of the replanted as part of the National nearby war memorial in Bradgate MAPS: OS Explorer 240, 241 winds along the River Vrynwy, a moment to admire the church route follows the waymarked Forest. Two fine country parks – Park. The open heathland of & 257; Landranger 126 & 117. offering fine views of the from this vantage point, then Leicestershire Round. The Beacon Hill and Bradgate Park – Beacon Hill is grazed throughout GETTING THERE: Mainline Breidden Hills before joining the climb the stile and join the county’s paths are marked by are to be found here. Both provide the year by English Longhorn and trains serve Shrewsbury, then Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail at Shropshire Way. Not all parts of yellow-topped posts, which excellent walking and panoramic Highland cattle, as well as Manx take Arriva Midlands 70 bus Llanymynech. From here, you’ll this section are signposted, but make them easy to follow. views. 248m/814ft Beacon Hill Loaghtan and Hebridean sheep towards Oswestry and climb up to an abandoned quarry you’ll generally follow the course MAPS: OS Explorer 245, 246 is the second highest point in – examples of which you may spot. change at Ensdon Junction for breathtaking views over the of the River Vrynwy as it winds & 233; Landranger 129 & 140. Leicestershire, characterised by You may also see alpacas in the for the A30 bus to Melverley plains and hills. Tracing the hilltop its way west. ✆ GETTING THERE: Centrebus the rocky outcrops on its higher park: these have been introduced ( 0871 200 2233, www. along the ancient border, you’ll 154 from Leicester to slopes, while Bradgate Park is an to protect the sheep from dog travellinemidlands.co.uk). then gradually descend through 2. As the river curves round, rejoin Loughborough (weekdays) ancient deer park, notable for the attacks. From the summit, descend EATING & DRINKING: The woodland, before crossing farms the road for a short section then and Kinchbus 123 (Saturdays) Tudor ruins of Bradgate House – the slopes eastwards to join a Dolphin Inn, Llanymynech and fields to finish at the tiny bear L back into the fields. At this ✆ stop at Woodhouse Eaves, a the probable birthplace of Lady broad track at the bottom. Turn R ( 01691 839 672, www. Offa’s Dyke Brewery in Trefonen. point the path takes a more direct short walk from Beacon Hill; Jane Grey. Crowning its highest hill and follow it through trees to the thedolphininn.co.uk); The route, leaving the meandering East Midlands Trains connect is Old John Tower – a folly in the lower car park. Turn R on the outer Barley Mow, Trefonen 1. START The trail leaves waters to the south. Follow it, ✆ London St Pancras to shape of a huge tankard. This track, curving round to the R, then ( 01691 656889, www. Melverley along the river, but passing Pentreheylin Hall on your Leicester and Loughborough walk, which makes use of part of back L (signed for Broombriggs car offasdykebrewery.com). take a little time to visit St Peter’s R. Keep ahead and after crossing ✆ ( 0871 200 2233, www. the Leicestershire Round, takes park) to the road, and cross to the SLEEPING: The Cross Keys, Church (SJ332165). Largely dating the creek (near SJ290201), you travelineeastmidlands.co.uk). ✆ ▲ ▲ you through both parks. car park. Llanymynech ( 01691 ▼ from 1406, it’s Shropshire’s oldest can follow either the path along ▼ 59-60 walk41 ramblers route CENTRAL.indd 1 59-60 walk41 ramblersrouteCENTRAL.indd 2 Ordnance Surveymap Ordnance Surveymap Continued... FINISH Continued... START FINISH 1 831585, www.crosskeyshotel. EATING & DRINKING: Several info); The Pentre, Trefonen Map not to scale. tearooms in Newtown (✆ 01691 653952, www. Representation of 2 ping ©Crowncopyright.AM34/08 ping ©Crowncopyright.AM34/08 Linford: Bradgate Country OS Landranger thepentre.com). 6 Park Tea Room (www. VISITOR INFORMATION: MAP 126 1:50,000 www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk bradgatepark.org); Post Shrewsbury Visitor 5 Office Tea Rooms (✆ 01530 Information Centre, Barker 242709, www.postoffice ✆ Street ( 01743 258888, tearooms.co.uk); The www.visitshrewsbury.com). Bradgate (✆ 01530 242239, GUIDEBOOKS: Undiscovered 4 www.thebradgate.com). Shropshire: Fourteen Walks in SLEEPING: The Wheatsheaf North Shropshire by Eve Inn, Woodhouse Eaves Powell (Shropshire Books, (✆ 01509 890320, www. ISBN 978 0903802512); More 3 wheatsheafinn.net); Curtain Favourite Walks Around Cottage, Woodhouse Eaves Oswestry and the Borders by (✆ 01509 891361, www. Peter Carr (£4.95, Ramblers, curtaincottage.co.uk); ISBN 978 0956902108). 2 Moscow Farm self-catering LOCAL RAMBLERS GROUP: (✆ 01664 454833, www. 3 Shropshire Ramblers moscowfarmholidaycottage. ✆ Map not to scale. ( 01691 780722, www. co.uk). Representation of shropshireramblers.org.uk). VISITOR INFORMATION: OS Landranger MAP 129 1:50,000 START Loughborough Visitor Service www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk Centre, Loughborough the meandering river or the 1 Town Hall, Market Place 5 footpath across the field to rejoin (✆ 01509 231914, www. the road sooner. goleicestershire.com). GUIDEBOOK: The 3. Taking care to avoid the To download this route and hundreds of others, Leicestershire Round (£5, fast-moving cars, follow the B4398 visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes Leicestershire County Council, into Llanymynech and turn R, ISBN 978 0850223903). 4 following the A483 a short way a L, but follow straight on for the straight across. This section was LOCAL RAMBLERS GROUPS: before bearing L at the first Shropshire Way. The path now overgrown when I walked it, Loughborough & District junction. From here you’ll easily slowly begins to descend through making the exit to this field a Ramblers (✆ 01509 416195, To download this route and hundreds of others, spot signs for the Shropshire Way woodland, taking a few twists and little hard to find. Look for www.loughboroughramblers. visit www.ramblers.org.uk/routes and the Offa’s Dyke Path National turns along the way – but is always Shropshire Way signage and climb org.uk); Coalville Ramblers Trail, which climbs up through the well signposted. over the stile to rejoin a clearer (✆ 01530 833334, www. on up the hillside to Old John immediately R (not ahead). Carry Llanymynech Rocks nature reserve. path, then cross the road into coalvilleramblers.org.uk). Tower, from where there are on westwards towards the A50 Time permitting, have a little 5. At the bottom, turn R along the Sweeney Fen. extensive views (and again a and through woodland parallel to explore around this former A495 then carefully cross to pick 2. Continue ahead along the toposcope). From there, continue the road for a short distance. industrial area, though if you up the route on the other side. Go 6. Cross the stile and turn R up the bridleway through fields to to the nearby war memorial and take on the steep hills watch straight ahead and look for the hill, following the Shropshire Way the road at Woodhouse Eaves. then southwards down the 5. When the Leicestershire Round out for the sheer cliff edges. small waymark guiding you R – if signposts as you cross a succession Turn R along the pavement and open slopes to another car park turns L to go underneath the main Wind your way round to the you venture into another disused of fields until you arrive in take the next footpath on the L, at Newtown Linford.