More favourite walks around Oswestry and the Borders Oswestry Ramblers More favourite walks around Oswestry and the Borders First Published 2011 by Shropshire Area Ramblers Introduction © Oswestry Group of the Ramblers Tre Tylluan, Dolybont, Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant, Oswestry SY10 0LJ When we published our first volume of walks ‘Favourite Walks around All rights reserved. No reproduction permitted without the prior permission Oswestry and the Borders’ little did we realise just how popular it was going to of the Oswestry Group of the Ramblers be. It was received with enthusiasm by both visitors and residents to the extent ISBN 9780-9569021-0-8 that we had sold out in six months. We have been faced with constant requests to publish a second book of similar walks; the result is this new book. Design, maps and production by Jane and Ray Hadlow Covering the same range of countryside as book 1, this book has sixteen walks which will introduce users to the very varied countryside we have on our Edited by Peter Carr doorstep. Cover photographs of Old Oswestry Hillfort by Ray Hadlow The Walks in the Tanat Valley whilst relatively strenuous provide spectacular Typeset in Minion and Frutiger views of the Berwyn Mountains, the Tanat Valley and the Shropshire Plain. Printed by WPG Ltd, Welshpool The walks down in the south introduce the countryside around the confluence of the Rivers Severn and Vyrnwy. We have included four walks of different Great care has been taken in the compilation of this publication to ensure lengths and grades from Oswestry town centre to introduce the lovely accuracy. However, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors countryside literally on the doorstep. In the north we have two walks in the that may appear, changes post publication to the footpaths used, or the lovely but steep sided Ceiriog Valley and over to the east we introduce walkers consequences of errors or changes. If you are in any doubt about access, check before you proceed. to Overton and the river Dee. The Oswestry Group acknowledges with grateful thanks the efforts of all We love to walk in this area of unspoilt countryside, and are pleased to members who have checked, walked and re-checked these walks to ensure that introduce it to you and believe that you will come to enjoy it as we do. they are as accurate as possible. Nothing pleases us more than to meet people on our walks enjoying this area we call our Oswestry Ramblers’ area for the first time. The Ramblers’ Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Good walking England and Wales. Company registration number: 4458492. Registered Charity in England and Wales number 1093577, registered charity number in Scotland, Peter Carr number SC039799. Editor and Chairman of the Oswestry Group of Ramblers Registered Office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW Location of walks Summary of walks Walk Brief Description Start Point & Grid Ref Distance Grade Number (Approx) 1 Oswald’s Well and Offa’s Cae Glas Park in Oswestry 5.9 miles Moderate (page 1) Dyke – SJ 289294 Shrewsbury 2 Oswestry to Hengoed and Gatacre CP, Oswestry – 3.75 miles Leisurely (page 4) back SJ 324368 A5 3 A circular walk from Central CP, Oswestry – 6.2 miles Leisurely (page 7) Oswestry including SJ 291295 Ellesmere Brogyntyn Park Ruyton XI Towns Oswestry to Morda and back Central CP, Oswestry – 3.8 miles Leisurely Walk 8 Walk 4 (page 9) through Broomhall SJ 291295 5 A short walk from Glyn The Cross in Glyn Ceiriog 3.1 miles Moderate (page 11) Ceiriog – river and hill – SJ 202378 Melverley Overton Walk 9 Walk 6 The Glyn Valley Tramway The Cross in Glyn Ceiriog 5.5 miles Moderate Whittington Walk 11 Walk (page 14) and Llwyr Ceiriog Trail – SJ 202378 Knockin Walk 10 Walk 7 Both sides of the border CP off B4579 from Selattyn 4 miles Leisurely St Martins Gobowen Walk 12 Walk (page 16) from Craignant to Glyn Ceiriog – SJ 255350 A483 Oswestry Walk 4 Walk A circuit from Overton Overton, behind St Mary’s 5.6 miles Leisurely Walk 2 Walk 8 A5 Church – SJ 374418 A483 (page 18) A5 Queen’s Head and CP opposite the Queen’s 4.25 miles Leisurely Chirk 9 Llanymynech A483 (page 21 Montgomery Canal Head – SJ 339268 Walk 1 Walk Walk 17 Walk Walk 3 Walk Walk 7 Walk 10 The ‘Monty’ – Maesbury Canal Central café, 4.6 miles Leisurely Walk 13 Walk (page 23) Marsh, Crickheath and Maesbury Marsh – Trefonen Morton SJ 310249 Llangollen 11 Bausley Hill and the Layby at Melverley Bridge 4.8 miles Moderate Walk 6 Walk (page 26) River Severn – SJ 331158 Walk 16 Walk 12 A stroll around Melverley Layby at Melverley Bridge 5.6 miles Leisurely (page 28) – SJ 331158 Llansilin Walk 5 Walk 13 Blodwel Rock and CP at end of Underhill 3.7 miles Leisurely (page 30) Llanymynech Quarry Lane, Pant – SJ 271219 Glyn Ceiriog Llanarmon Mynydd Mawr CP in Llanrhaeadr Ym 5.5 miles Moderate Llanfyllin 14 (page 33) Mochnant – SJ 125261 Walk 15 Walk 15 Moel Hen-fache circuit CP in Llanrhaeadr Ym 5.9 miles Moderate (page 36) Mochnant – SJ 125261 Llanarmon DC 16 Llangedwyn and Briw CP at Craft Centre, 5.4 miles Moderate Walk 14 Walk (page 39) Llangedwyn – SJ 185241 Llanrhaeadr-ym- Mochnant 17 Trefonen to Craig Sychtyn Chapel Green CP, Trefonen 6 miles Moderate (page 41) Nature Reserve and back via – SJ 260267 the Mynydd Myfyr Walk Grades Oswald’s Well and Offa’s Dyke 1 • Leisurely Walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience. Chris Jenkins May include unsurfaced rural paths and fields. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are recommended. GRADE Moderate once extensive gardens and parklands around Moderate Walks for people with country walking experience and a good level of fitness. May • MAP OS Explorer™ Sheet 240 the hall. The last of several buildings on the site include some steep paths and open country. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing was demolished in 1949. are essential. START POINT Cae Glas Park in Church Street, Oswestry Offa’s Dyke, which is crossed by the walk, is an Strenuous Walks for experienced country walkers with an above average fitness level. May • – Grid Ref SJ 289294 earthworks embankment which is thought to include hills and rough country. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential. have been a political boundary between Saxon DISTANCE 5.9 miles (9.5 km) Mercia and Wales built during the reign of King Maps TOTAL ASCENT 700 ft (213 m) approx Offa of Mercia (757-796 AD). The Offa’s Dyke DURATION 3.25 hours Path runs for 177 miles from Sedbury Cliffs on Note: maps are sketches only and are not necessarily to scale TERRAIN Good paths, fields and woods the Severn Estuary near Chepstow to the North Wales resort of Prestatyn on Liverpool Bay. For This walk leaves Oswestry and goes to the The Countryside code about 70 miles it follows the course of the Offa’s west of the town via Oswald’s Well then over Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs Dyke earthwork. • fields via the remains of the walled gardens Leave gates and property as you find them • of Llanforda Hall to the Offa’s Dyke Path. Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home • Then climbs up through woods and returns DIRECTIONS Keep dogs under close control • to Oswestry via fields and lanes. Good views Consider other people Starting from the gates of Cae Glas Park • of the Shropshire Plain are afforded. 1 in Church Street go past the artillery Useful Information memorial and across to the opposite side Legend has it that after the Battle of Maserfield of the park and into Welsh Walls. Cross Footpath problems in Shropshire (642 AD) an eagle carried the severed arm of the Contact Countryside Service – Shropshire Council defeated Oswald of Northumbria to the location the road (carefully) and turn left in front Tel: 01743 255061 of Oswald’s Well and a spring then appeared. of the Walls restaurant, cross Brynhafod Email: [email protected] Though the Christian Oswald was defeated Road and enter the playing field. The row by the pagan Penda of Mercia, Oswald is Footpath problems in the Ceiriog Valley of trees on the right are a war memorial to remembered as a saint and the name Oswestry Contact the Rights of Way and Access Team – Wrexham County Borough Council ex-pupils from the old Grammar School derives from ‘Oswald’s Tree’ (in Welsh Croes Tel: 01978 292057 Oswallt literally Oswald’s Cross). (now the Magistrates Court) on the left. Email: [email protected] During the walk, the ruins and the walled Walk across the field to a gate on the left- Footpath problems in Powys garden, all that is left of Llanforda Hall, will be hand side beyond the buildings. Turn right Contact Countryside Services – Powys County Council encountered. This was home of the Lloyd family and on the left side of the road look out for Tel: 01597 827500 from the seventeenth century, and associated Oswald’s Well (see notes above). Continue Email: [email protected] with the naturalist Edward Lhuyd. There were up Maserfield Road and bear left along a Buses from Oswestry Route profile Traveline West Midlands Tel: 0871 200 22 33 1000 www.travelinemidlands.co.uk The Ramblers 500 Membership and any other enquiries: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW Height in feet Tel: 020 7339 8500 0 1 2 3 4 5 5.9 www.ramblers.org.uk Length in miles 1 tree-lined road to an iron gate into with two waymarks – follow the right- road junction.