Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway (60km) Print

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 1

A 60km (38 mile) circular route around the Clun Valley in the Shropshire Hills. It is equally suitable for use by walkers, cyclists and horseriders. The Shropshire Hills are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Explore the striking hills and river valleys, enjoy the views, history and local culture, and experience the remoteness and quiet. This route was developed as part of the Blue Remembered Hills Project delivered by the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership and funded primarily by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Start from Grid Reference SO304808, the High Street in Clun (B4368 towards Craven Arms) turn down the road opposite the garage which leads down to the ford through the River Clun. There is a footbridge but if the river is too high for horses there is an alternative via Bridge Street and Church Street (A488) and over the main bridge in Clun. Follow Vicarage Road around to the church. Turn left onto the A488 then after 75m, turn left and begin the ascent of Church Bank. After about 1km take the bridleway (BW) on right through gate, by Glebe Cottage and go straight up steep pasture field. Follow BW through gates to join road.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 2

Cross straight over and start descending along firstly a field edge path, then diagonally cross two fields as the BW drops down to an old metalled road. Turn right and follow out to the A488 by The Tyndings. Carefully cross straight over road to join BW which runs through fields to join a stone track which leads down to a ford and footbridge crossing the River Redlake. Follow track to join road.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 3

Turn right and follow road for 1km then turn left onto another minor road at Curlew Corner. At T junction go left then shortly right onto BW which runs uphill following a sunken lane. At junction of tracks turn left and pass ruined building. Carry straight on through gate. Turn right at junction of BWs, through gate and continue with field boundary on left straight on through gates, crossing several fields to meet Offa s Dyke.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 4

Turn left then right, onto BW which runs down a field edge, through a dingle then across field in the same general direction to join stone track which is Jack Mytton Way. Turn left onto track, pass farm buildings and follow farm track round to the left. Join lane ahead and follow through Graig down to join another road. Turn right into Llanfair Waterdine, past the Everest Hall on your left, to the Church and The Waterdine pub.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 5

Continue along the minor road for 1.5 km. Pass Melin y Grogue on your right, cross bridge and take the next lane on the right. At T junction turn left and then almost immediately right. Go straight on at New House and after crossing brook take BW fork on right. Follow uphill, keeping right on joining a track and continue climbing hillside. Keep fence line on left to pass through pasture fields. At junction of BWs turn left onto track which runs past woodland to Hurgin Farm.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 6

At Hurgin Farm turn into the enclosure by the house then right through a gate in front of converted barn. Bear right and follow BW running uphill. Bear left to follow hedgeline along the hillside then climb up through fields (can be boggy when conditions are wet). After passing tree plantation leave track and bear right to bridlegate at top right corner of field. Go straight across field and follow BW out to road. Turn left onto minor road. Keep left at next junction and continue, ignoring a left turn, and take the next road on the right. Follow road for 2km taking a right turn to reach Upper Duffryn and the B4368.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 7

Turn left onto the Anchor to Clun road (B4368) and continue for 350m taking the next left turn. Follow the lane for 1 km as it climbs up out of the Clun valley. 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. After building on right take gate on right then keep left following BW along track which leads to New House Farm. Keep to BW above the farm then cross field down to join a track with fence line on your right. Keep to BW along hillside through three gates. After passing above woodland bear right down towards buildings of Badgermoor. Pass through gate and turn left past the dwelling and join access track. Follow this out to the road.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 8

Turn right then right again at T junction. Follow road down to Weals Farm on the B4368. Cross road carefully turning right for a few metres. Take BW on left which follows old track up hillside. After passing through gate keep old fence line on left and continue forward to reach gate. Cross fields to Curney Farm. On meeting farm drive turn left and follow track out to road.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 9

Turn left and follow road past the wild open heathland of Rhos Fiddle. Keep ahead after cattle grid, pass turn on left, then turn right onto track. Keep ahead along track through forestry to gate leading into grazing land. Follow track straight across, past the Cantlin Stone to meet the Kerry Ridgeway. Turn right. The Kerry Ridgeway has its own distinctive waymark. Follow this as it runs along the English Welsh border for 4km to Pantglas.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 10

At Pantglas the Ridgeway joins tarmac lane. Turn right here and keep to the Ridgeway all the way (4km) until junction of roads at Bishop s Moat where you will see the remains of the motte and bailey castle on your left. To visit Bishop s Castle carry straight on, to continue on the Blue Remembered Hills Bridleway, turn right.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 11

At junction of roads take right turn towards Mainstone. Turn off the road where it bears right, after about 400m and take the lane ahead. As the lane begins to climb take BW on the left which crosses fields then follows round the hillside to join a stone track. Just before Middle Woodbatch Farm there is a BW junction. Turn right up a sunken lane which climes uphill, crosses a field to a gate onto another BW. Turn right and follow track out to road. Cross straight over and follow the track which takes Shropshire Way over Reilth Top.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 12

At road turn leftand continue for about 1km. At Cefn Einion go straight over the crossroads and left at the next junction. After another 1km turn right into forestry and follow track through Blakeridge Wood. Where a track joins from left keep right then follow track as it bears to the right eventually reaching a track leading to the left out of the forestry into a grass field with a track leading out to the road by farm buildings. Turn left onto road and follow out to the A488 Bishops Castle to Clun Road.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 13

Cross straight over onto a minor road to Acton. In hamlet bear right towards Acton House then left onto a hedged lane which climbs up and along the side of Acton Bank to Brockton village. At Brockton turn right onto road and follow for 2km to Bury Ditches car park.

Blue Remembered Hills Waypoint 14

Keep left through the car park and here the route joins the Jack Mytton Way and runs along the hillside below the hillfort. The route turns left off the main forestry track. This joins the road at Guilden Down and descends into the town of Clun past the Youth Hostel and Memorial Hall. After passing the Memorial Hall turn left along Ford Street to High Street and the village centre.