Shrewsbury has some very special places for wildlife and is home to some unusual plants and animals – and you can see them in the heart of town. Allow time for stops on this ride and remember if you keep still for a few minutes you will have the best chance of seeing some of the shyer creatures. Remember to take your binoculars.
Family Friendly Rides: Wildlife & Waterways
An 11km / 7 miles family friendly cycle route around Shrewsbury, plus an optional short walk. Allow 2-3 hours. The route is mostly quiet roads or traffic-free paths. You can use any sort of bicycle but some paths are unsurfaced so may be muddy. There is one short stretch on a busy road where there is the option of walking if preferred.
Refreshments
Shops on Spring Gardens and in Coleham: buy a picnic to eat by the river. Town centre cafés, pubs and sandwich shops close to Greyfriars Bridge.
Ride directions
Step 1
From the sports village follow signs to
Route 81, Town Centre.Step 2
Turn right when you reach Route 81 signed Town Centre and Ditherington.
Step 3
Follow the old canal to Telford Way and cross by the toucan crossing.Keep straight on along the old canal
signed to Ditherington.Step 4
Turn left when you reach Spring Gardens. Take care: this stretch
has busy traffic so you may prefer to walk. If on foot cross Spring Gardens at the pelican crossing by
New Park Close (approx 300m).Step 5
Turn right on to Crewe St, and follow signs to Herongate and Harlescott, past Flaxmill and down
track.Step 6
Go under the railway and keep straight on signed Herongate and Harlescott.
Step 7
Take the fi rst right signed Hubert Way. On your right is the Old River Bed nature reserve/SSSI (for the best views cycle up to the top of Hubert Way – 750m). Retrace steps back to the Flax Mill (signed Castlefields and Ditherington).
Step 8
Cross Spring Gardens at Factory Bridge (plaque on wall) and join the old canal path, signed Town Centre.
Step 9
Continue to end of path and join New Park Road. Turn left then immediately right into Beacalls Lane (signed to HMPrison and station car park). One way traffic. Take first left into Severn Street (two way traffic, take care).
Step 10
At the bottom go straight ahead, crossVictoria Street, and down to the riverside path. Take care. Rejoin Route 81 and turn right signed Town Centre along riverside.
Step 11
Pass under railway and under English Bridge.
Step 12
Take the ramp up to Greyfriars footbridge and cross
the river.Step 13
Turn right on to Longden Coleham and then immediately left into Greyfriars Road. At the T junction turn right on to Belle Vue Road then immediately left into Trinity St (or use the pelican
crossing).Step 14
Turn left onto Bynner St. At the end turn right on to Betton Street and cross the two railway bridges(closed to traffic) on to Scott Street.
Step 15
At the bottom turn right on to Rocke St. Keep straight on. Rocke St becomes Reabrook Avenue.
Step 16
Continue straight on until the road bears right, then leave the road and go straight on under theunderpass to the Rea Brook Valley. Lock up your bikes, cross the footbridge and walk along the Rea Brook Valley. Collect your bikes for the return
journey and retrace your route back up Rocke St.Step 17
Cross Old Potts Way at the pedestrian refuge and turn right on the cycle track on the opposite side.
Step 18
Turn left at the roundabout and follow the cycle track along Bage Way and over the railway.
Step 19
Turn left off the cycle track just before the next roundabout. Follow signs to Castlefields.
Step 20
Keep straight on at the crossroads and follow Crowmere Road. Follow signs to cross Monkmoor Road at the toucan crossing. Turn into Tankerville St
Step 21
Cross Underdale Road to the cycle track, following signs to Castlefields.
Step 22
Cross the river on the footbridge and bear left, then turn left down to the riverside path, signed TownCentre and Harlescott (you should recognise this bit!). Turn left along the riverside path. From hereyou will be following signs for Route 81 to Sundorne for the rest of the ride.
Step 23
Join the road along the river, follow it when it bears left away from the river and take the next right into
Darville, signposted Route 81.Step 24
Turn first right at the top of Darville,
and shortly afterwards right down a path between
houses (the signs are on the opposite side of the
road).Step 25
Stay on Route 81 to cross Telford Way by thetoucan; or alternatively use the underpass (can be muddy) and then rejoin Route 81. Return to the sports village along the canal path.